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Walk by Faith Mother and son fighting cancer together

John Stephens started a new adventure today. He visited USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital as a volunteer. He dressed a...
06/11/2025

John Stephens started a new adventure today. He visited USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital as a volunteer. He dressed as Thor and made rounds with Mrs. Beth from the Child Life Department.

Five years ago, he had a clear PET scan, but the cancer came back three months later. Three years ago, there was an area of concern that turned out to be cancer in his lung.

BUT, this year, he was able to give back and serve in the same hospital where he was once a patient. He got to see many of the caregivers who took care of him and some kids he knows from camp. It was a great day (although it was bittersweet to be on a hospital adventure without Hunter). I am proud to see John Stephens using his gifts and abilities to bless others.

John Stephens and I both got clear scan results today!!
17/09/2025

John Stephens and I both got clear scan results today!!

One of our fellow pediatric oncology families is relocating and cannot take their family pets with them. These sweethear...
18/06/2025

One of our fellow pediatric oncology families is relocating and cannot take their family pets with them. These sweethearts are a brother and sister pair. They need to rehome them as soon as possible. They are located in the southern part of Alabama. Is anyone able to provide a good, loving home for these sweet pups?

This week is the 4th anniversary of John Stephens’ amputation surgery. I would have forgotten the anniversary this year,...
21/04/2025

This week is the 4th anniversary of John Stephens’ amputation surgery. I would have forgotten the anniversary this year, but I saw a Facebook prayer request for a young man undergoing an amputation this morning. I went back and read some of my posts. I am reminded that I committed back in April 2021 that we would learn to regard April 26, 2021, as the day God saved John Stephens’ life through an amputation. I am excited that this date no longer looms in my mind, but I am thankful for the reminder.

I will not lie and say it was easy. It was hard. Sometimes it is still hard. I do think we have laughed more than we have cried. We are different now than we were then. I like who we are are now. We are each different people than we were before, and our relationship is different. My son knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that if survival is possible, he and I will survive whatever comes our way. I think that’s powerful.

These are my thankful pics for Year 4! John Stephens got his driver’s license and a car. He attended cancer warrior camp. He started his Junior year of high school. He will finish his third and fourth college classes this week. He went to Homecoming and Prom. He got his class ring He represented our school at the Alabama HOBY conference. He is part of Student Council and Beta Club. He met Gov. Ivey and received a proclamation for our community. He helped with presentations to local Board of Education members. He holds a part time job.

He is happy. He is healthy.

We thank every one of you for your kind thoughts, your prayers, and your support. We are thankful for the village, both physical and spiritual, that surrounded us and helped us through the dark days.

27/03/2025

We are thankful this evening. Dr. Imran called to let us know that the nodule did not light up on the PET scan. According to the radiology oncologist, it is within the normal range for the nodule to have grown a small amount even though it was treated with radiation in June 2023. It does not represent disease and is not considered a threat!! He is still cancer free.

Thank you all for the prayers, kind words, and all the other expressions of love. We are thankful for a most gracious God who heals and a community of family and friends who stand beside us.

There are not as many PET scan comics as I thought there would be, so I will substitute a CAT scan joke!Our oncology tea...
20/03/2025

There are not as many PET scan comics as I thought there would be, so I will substitute a CAT scan joke!

Our oncology team was able to schedule John Stephens’ PET for Wednesday, March 26 at 12:30pm. The PET scan should provide clarity on the issue shown in the CT scan.

A friend of mine commented yesterday that she was praying for the Lord to remove anything that was not His will. I love that prayer for JohnSt in all areas of his life.

Four years ago today, I brought John Stephens home from his first four-day chemo hospitalization. It is so far in the pa...
19/03/2025

Four years ago today, I brought John Stephens home from his first four-day chemo hospitalization. It is so far in the past that it seems like another life.

I remember that he wanted Taco Bell, and Walker Bennett got it for him. I remember that I was terrified to bring him home and overwhelmed by the follow-up meds and protocols.

We made it through that night, seven additional four-day rounds of chemo, an amputation, five rounds of radiation, several lung biopsies and surgeries, port removals and placement, dozens of trips to clinic, and the loss of his best friend, Hunter. I truly thought we had passed through the hard times.

Earlier today, we went for his six-months scans. Unfortunately, there is an area of concern in one of the scans. His oncologist is working to schedule a PET scan.

We do not know what this new development will mean, but we ask for the prayers of our family, friends, and community as we move through the coming days. I have no doubt that God was there ahead of us and holds John Stephens securely in His hands.

27/01/2025

Because you all have been so faithful to care about John Stephens and his journey, I need to share difficult news. His dear friend Hunter, the other young man who was an amputee fighting cancer, passed away last week.

To be honest, I have hesitated to post because I cannot grasp the horror of this loss. I truly believe that Hunter now walks on streets of gold and has probably already cracked a couple of jokes with Jesus; but for those left on earth without him, the loss is enormous.

Please pray for Hunter’s family, friends, and caregivers.

Camp Rapahope 2024 kicked off this morning! JohnSt was even excited about “lice check” because he has hair this year! T...
02/06/2024

Camp Rapahope 2024 kicked off this morning! JohnSt was even excited about “lice check” because he has hair this year! This is the best week of the year, and I wanted to share it with everyone who has loved on us and helped us get this far.

48 months… We walked into this waiting room in June 2020 to have a “ganglion cyst” removed from John Stephens’ ankle. Th...
15/05/2024

48 months… We walked into this waiting room in June 2020 to have a “ganglion cyst” removed from John Stephens’ ankle. The cyst had been there for a while, but we hadn’t done surgery because it was close to a growth plate and there was a risk that it wouldn’t heal well, and he might end up with a limp.

He was in the summer between 6th and 7th grades. Now he’s in the last week of his Sophomore year.

Back then, the Covid pandemic had just started. Now, we are on the other side, but the world has changed. Sitting by myself that first day was hard. Surgery is so routine for us now that he asked me if we had any errands to run after he’s released this afternoon.

I don’t have words to describe how we have changed. I will probably spend the rest of my life unpacking everything I’ve learned on this journey. There aren’t enough words to say how thankful we are for all of the love and support we’ve received from family, friends, community, school, and our medical team. We are forever grateful.

This may be our last visit to USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital. I feel like someone should play “Pomp and Circumstance” when we leave today. It’s been a long four years, and he’s ready for this graduation.

Please pray for us today as John Stephens’ chemo port is removed.

Also, a shout out to the Lady Bears playing in the state softball tournament today. We watched the guys win the 2022-23 Football title from a hospital room here. We’d love to see y’all win today.

What an amazing day! John Stephens had his one-year scans this morning. The initial reading of the scans shows no areas ...
06/05/2024

What an amazing day! John Stephens had his one-year scans this morning. The initial reading of the scans shows no areas of concern. (They will do a complete reading later, but we are confident that he is clear.) He had another round of genetic testing last month due to some potential problems identified in some bloodwork. Those tests also showed nothing new to worry about. His chemo port will be removed next Wednesday.

The only sad part of the day was the knowledge that he has graduated from the Hope Clinic. The staff in the Hope have taken amazingly good care of us since the first time we walked through the door. I didn’t even stop to say goodbye. I refused to cry today. Today is a day for joy!

Thank you to our friends at the Hope and to everyone who prays for us and supports us. And, we are always thanking God for His healing touch.

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