No Changes Means Stanton is Staying Healthy

Amanda took Stanton in for a check up yesterday and all is well. There has been no change in Stanton except that he continues to get stronger every day. He's enjoying school and spending time with the family. His cousin Jordan is staying with him for a while and Stanton loves having another boy in the house.

The whole family is doing well, settling in to their routine and getting back to life as they once knew it. As the news on Stanton's health gets better and better the postings on the blog will be fewer and fewer, but when ever there is any news it will be posted here.

In the meantime, if you need to get in touch with Amanda you can always follow her on Facebook.

New MRI Results

No news over the past month has turned out to be very good news. Stanton had an MRI done last week and the results were very good. They believe there are no tumors anywhere along the spine or brain, the smudge they have been watching is gone and the doctors are even more convinced that all the spots are for sure scar tissue. The scar tissue spots are also reducing in size. They will continue to do regular MRI's to monitor his progress but for now we have reason to celebrate. Thank you all for your continued prayers! Thank you Jesus for your healing power and the power of hope you have given each of us!

Vacation Pictures

There is Good News

The MRI results are there is no new growth anywhere and the spots that were in question in July are getting clearer. The doctors are even more sure that these spots are scar tissue and not new tumor growth. This confirms the last diagnosis we got in July. Thank you God for a clean report!

The not so great news is that Stanton had another seizure on Saturday night. Doctors believe it's as a result of not staying on his medication schedule. The time change in Hawaii and all the travel got him off schedule but he's back on and should be returning home from the hospital any day. They are also even more convinced that the seizures are from the location and pressure of the scar tissue and believe that if he is given his meds on schedule he should be fine. They also think that the swelling from the scar tissue will go down and at some point he will no longer need the meds.

Stanton is scheduled to return to school this week and is excited to get back, see old friends and make new ones.

Have a great day at school Stanton, we all love you!

Back From Hawaii and A New MRI

Amanda and the kid returned from Hawaii late last Tuesday night. She said were able to get to everything they wanted to see and do. She was so thankful for everyone who made Stanton's Make A Wish vacation come true! I have not gotten pictures from Amanda yet but my dad sent me a few and I am posting them here.

Stanton had an MRI last week, we have not gotten the results back yet. As soon as we get them I will post them here.

For now, enjoy the pictures!

Aloha Friends & Family

The Krause family is in Hawaii on their Make A Wish vacation and loving it!
Amanda said they are having tons of fun and finding making sure to make time for relaxation. Stanton is doing great, he's constantly on the go but also rests when he needs to.

Amanda asked me to send out a huge thank you to all the people who made it possible for them to go. So far they have snorkeled, surfed, played in the pool, shopped, enjoyed the local food and right now they are at a Luau.

She promised pictures from their paradise getaway, I'll post them here as soon as I get them.

Enjoy the sun and surf kids, we love you!

Update on the Great Report

Not much has changed, the reports from the doctors at MD Anderson are consistent. They believe that the spots on Stanton's brain are scar tissue and inflammation from his Proton/radiation therapy. The Proton doctor called Amanda last week and let her know that this is very common in Proton patients. At first Amanda was afraid to hope after hearing the most devastating news any parent could ever hear. But today is a new day, she is hopeful and is helping Stanton get stronger and recover from his chemo treatments.

My girls and I spent 2 weeks with the Krause family and I can say first hand that Stanton is doing great. His balance is off a bit from the seizure but he's improving every day. I had several conversations with Stanton about God and how I believe He made Stanton very special. I told him that while God did NOT give him cancer He has used this situation to reach out to so many people and show them that even when time are dark and you don't know how things will end up God is always there. I was also able to share with Amanda an outsiders view of God's blessing through this devastating situation. She admitted that the last year has been hard and she has seen His hand at work every step of the way. She said it was only by His strength that she was able to go without sleep, she hoped with a fierceness that was of Him and only Him and when she received the most devastating of all news, He was not done, He was still moving and healing Stanton.

Lastly we talked about the past 2 weeks and how she felt. Here is an overview of what took place:

Saturday night (7/4/09) Stanton had a seizure and was rushed to the hospital. By Monday the doctors basically told Amanda that the chemo did not kill all of the cancer and that there was new growth and his chances of survival were 20% at best. Basically he was given a death sentence. While prepping Stanton for another round of chemo on Wednesday, the doctor got a call from 4 other doctors telling her to send Stanton to Houston for treatment using a new drug. Amanda was scheduled to go to Houston to see if Stanton could do the new chemo on Monday and released from the hospital that night. On Friday 2 ladies, Amanda, my daughter & I laid hands on and prayed over Stanton. On Monday they went to Houston and were told by a team of doctors that they did not believe the spots were cancer at all, rather scar tissue & inflammation from the radiation. The following Thursday Amanda got a call from one of Stanton's radiation doctors and she agreed with what she was told on Monday, that it was consistent with other radiation patients side effects and that it was not cancer.

The plan for now is for the family to go on their Make A Wish Vacation and to let Stanton heal and regain his strength. He will undergo another MRI in 4-6 weeks. He continues to take the final chemo treatment (a very low dose of Acutane (also used as a treatment for acne.) It has very little side effects. If all continues to go well Stanton will go back to school. Amanda is breathing a little deeper now. Madison is excited about fewer trips to the hospital, she is ready to have her family back together under 1 roof.

These past two weeks have been earth shaking for our family. I am so thankful that God is still in control. I want to give Him all the praise for giving Stanton his life back.

We praise you God for your healing power and for giving the doctors wisdom. You have moved in a mighty way and we are all blessed to have witnessed it. Thank you Jesus that you still heal today and that you have given us the authority to overcome the plans and attacks of the enemy. You have done amazing things in Stanton and have allowed us to watch, you have increased our faith. You are good and we thank you Lord. Lord I ask that you will show every person who is reading this blog that healing and provision are not just for Stanton but for them too. God you are so good, we praise you and thank you. Amen.

The Report From Houston

Amanda met with a large team of doctors today regarding treatment of what was believed to be a tumor on the brain around the temporal lobe. The team at MD Anderson believes that the spot on the MRI is not a tumor rather it's inflammation and possibly some scar tissue from the proton therapy (radiation treatment) that was done several months ago. They said that this side effect is very common in proton patients but each patient's response time is different so it's hard to predict.

The doctors would like to have Stanton come back for another MRI in 6 weeks. They don't want to put him on any treatment other than the low dose of Acutane that he has been on until they know for sure there is something to treat.

When I spoke to Amanda she was relieved and hopeful that the diagnosis is correct. For now the Make A Wish vacation to Hawaii is back on. Praise God for the good report and keep praying that the next MRI comes back clean and that he is completely healed.

Work Party Coming Soon

I am in the process of planning a work party to help get Amanda's home a little more organized so that her time at home is spent focused on the kids and not on unnecessary clutter control and cleaning.

So far the list of things that need to be done are:
Install a ceiling fan in Madison's room
Help clean out the garage & box up items for long term storage (setting aside items for sale or garbage)
Clean out the hall closet & prep for some kind of sale (she has tons of stuff from when she lived in Houston)
Build shelving in the garage
I expect this list will grow as things progress.

If you would like to contact me please email me at kacienesby@yahoo.com

The Plan Has Been Made

Today Amanda met with Stanton's Doctor and made a plan for treatment. At the recommendation of 4 well respected and recognized neuro-oncologists he will be doing a new study treatment that will require he visit Texas Children's Hospital in Houston for 1 day every 2 weeks. All the other meds he will get in Austin. The really good news is that the new chemo he will be on will not be as taxing on him physically. While there are some side effects, they seem more mild than the chemo he was on previously.

He was released from the hospital today and will be in Houston for a meeting with his doctors on Monday. Amanda was encouraged that all for doctors were unified in their recommendation and that Stanton was able to come home earlier than expected.

I will update the blog again after the meeting with the doctors on Monday and of course if there is any new news between now and then. Thanks to all for the encouraging words for Amanda and the prayerful support. God Bless you all for standing in faith with us.

The Prognosis

I just talked to Amanda and she met with the doctors today. The MRI does show that there are the beginnings of new tumors and they were the cause of the seizure. Stanton's last dose of chemo was 1 month ago and while the MRI was good then it turns out that this cancer is stubborn and has returned quickly.

The doctors are working on a plan for treatment. They are also talking to doctors at MD Anderson & St. Jude's Hospital. It was made clear to Amanda that while this fight is not over it is more serious now than before.

To say that Amanda was emotional is an understatement, there were conversations about Stanton's quality of life on treatment and how long he would have if he didn't do the chemo and the worst case scenario if he did treatment but it did not make the disease go away.

I am calling the airline now to get a flight home. My daughters and I will be staying with Amanda to help with Madison and anything else that needs to be done. Things are going to be hectic again so any support that is available is welcomed but most of all we need all of you to pray and to not give in to hopelessness.

Amanda is feeling pretty hopeless right now and she needs to be surrounded by people who can build up her faith.

Jesus said that "everything is possible for him who believes". Please stand with me on these scriptures. Pray them out, declare them out for Stanton.

He that has begun a good work in Stanton is faithful to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Greater is He that is in Stanton than he that is in the world.
No weapon formed against Stanton will prosper.
When the enemy comes at Stanton from one direction he will have to flee in seven.
All things work together for good for Stanton who loves God and is called according to His purposes.
Stanton may be hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. Stanton will always carry around in his body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in his body.

Throughout the new testament Jesus healed people, after His death and resurrection God sent the Holy Spirit to the disciples. That same Spirit lives in us as believers today and it's by that same Spirit Stanton will be healed.

Time To Pray

I just got a call from my dad letting me know that Stanton was back in the hospital. While spending the night with his dad, he began having difficulty speaking and was not very coherent. Michael took him to the hospital and since then they have been running tests.

The doctors just met with Amanda after getting the report from the MRI. While the doctors are going to be looking at the reports more closely they did have some information.

As of right now there are some new spots and the doctor thinks they may be a new kind of cancer or other disease. Previously the kind of cancer he had was specific to the central nervous system, these new spots are outside of that which is making the doctors think it's something else. Both doctors made it clear that this could be a variety of things and the report was preliminary. Once we get the final report I will post it here.

Amanda is devastated of course, she was feeling so good to have all the treatment behind him and now it seems there will be a new plan of attack and it will start immediately.

So we need everyone out there to pray, beginning right now. If you don't know how or what to pray then pray the prayer below and then keep praying. Pray every time that you think about Stanton & his family.

And just as important as prayer is faith for his healing. We need to believe that he will and is healed, believe that God has life for him and not death, believe that his body will get in line with the word of God, believe that he is well and not sick, BELIEVE what your praying for before you can see it. If you have trouble believing for what you cannot see then ask God to stir up your faith and help you with your unbelief.

Heavenly Father, you are the healer, you are the one whose stripes at Calvary were for our physical healing. Jesus we ask you to heal Stanton's body. We ask you to uproot whatever disease has taken hold in him. We ask you to heal him from all sickness and disease by the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus there is no name higher than your name, the name of cancer is not higher than your name so it must bow before you and flee in your presence. Jesus your word says that you are the same yesterday, today and forever. You showed us that you are for healing when you went through the cities healing people and we are asking for that same healing power today to fall upon Stanton. Lord we ask that you would hear our cries and raise up our faith, that we would see a miracle and that our faith would be forever changed. Jesus we know that Stanton was created for a purpose and are holding to your promise to fulfill it. Lord we love you and we trust you with Stanton's healing, we are standing on faith that what you promised has been done. We commit to watching with the full expectation of total healing and restoration. We thank you Jesus that you have called Stanton healed and we stand on your promise, Amen.

Back From Camp

Madison went to camp 2 weeks in a row and according to Amanda, had the time of her life! She made great friends and caught the biggest fish of all the campers. The first week of camp was just for kids who had siblings with cancer. Along with the fun that camp provides there is also group counseling. Amanda said she came home and she could see that Madison was a little different, she said she seemed "really happy". She was even a little nicer to Stanton...but that of course is temporary, it is still her annoying little brother.

The 2nd week of camp was for both Madison & Stanton. Madison seemed to pick up right where she left off and had new friends in no time and did not miss a single activity. Stanton didn't waste much time either. He did not let anything hold him back. If an activity was offered he did it, from horse back riding to swimming to riding the zip line. Both kids got up before 7am every day to go fishing....so why can't they get up before 9 for school?

While Amanda enjoyed her quite time at home, by Thursday she was eager to see the kids again. All the way home from camp she got to hear how much fun they had. Stanton & Madison, we are glad to hear what a wonderful time you guys had and I know you can't wait to head out for Hawaii in July for your Make A Wish vacation. We want to hear all about it...and Amanda, we EXPECT pictures!

Results From Another MRI

Stanton underwent another MRI last Friday and the doctors are extremely pleased with the success of his treatments. All of the tumors along the spinal cord are gone. The two small spots remaining on the cerebellum (each about 3-4 millimeters in diameter)are still there however, the doctors are still not concerned and are still unsure if the spots are scar tissue or remaining small cancer cells that may disappear with the residual chemo treatments. While he is done with his more intense chemo treatments, Stanton will still be monitored closely and is scheduled for another MRI in about 8-9 weeks. Also, he is on an oral chemo treatment schedule for the next six months.

We are excited with this report and thank everyone for their continuous prayers and support. Stanton has lost some weight over the past months due to lack of appetite during the more major treatment phases, but hopefully will now resume physical therapy and begin to rebuild his strength and coordination. He should have a fairly normal summer and is scheduled to return to school full time this fall.

So all in all a good report and we are believing that his health will continue to improve!

Home Again, Home Again

Stanton was released from the hospital last Sunday. The whole family was excited to get back to normal...and knowing that there should be no trips back any time soon is mind blowing and a huge relief for them all.

Not only is the chemo behind them, Stanton is scheduled to go with his sister Madison to a week long camp for kids and siblings of kids with cancer. They are both really excited. Madison is also getting to go to a second camp for siblings of kids with cancer. It's a great opportunity to talk to other kids and adults about her experiences and feelings about the past year. She is both excited and nervous about going to her first overnight camp. The best part about it for Amanda is that her kids get to have a great experience (at no cost to her) and the bonus is that she gets time off....even though she finds herself wondering what to do with all her free time.

Have fun Madison & Stanton...I can't wait to see you guys in August!

Stanton Got Sick

Stanton contracted a bad cough last weekend and ended up back in the hospital. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and he responded very well to the antibiotics. He's feeling much better but the doctors want his his white blood cell count to go up before he can go home. The hope is that he will go home Monday. As of Monday he will have been in the hospital for 8 days. Everyone is tired and ready to go home. Please pray that his white blood count rises quickly so the whole family can get back to their own home, their own beds and their own routines.

The Last Round Of Chemo

Stanton is finishing up his last round of chemo this week, I spoke with Amanda on Thursday and she said he's doing great and they should be going home on Saturday. They are all excited that this part of his treatment is soon behind him and from here on out the focus is on health & not sickness.

The Make A Wish vacation is scheduled for July. Amanda and the kids are super excited about going to Wiki. I know they all plan on soaking up the sun, playing in the sand & surf and finding tons of fun things to do to keep them busy. With so much fun to be had, I hope they find time for some R&R.

Stanton is scheduled to go back to school next year. He's excited to get back to friends and a seemingly regular life. He's missed a lot but Amanda is sure he will bounce back quickly.

Once Stanton gets his next round of test results I will let you know. In the meantime keep praising God for the miracle of healing! Blessings to all.

The Doctor's Report

Amanda heard from Stanton's doctor today. While they have still not heard back from the doctors at MD Anderson the team of doctors at Dell Children's have determined that the "smudge" is not a tumor or any other kind of growth. They believe it to be scar tissue.

Based on the MRI films they do not see any need for a biopsy. Praise God that Stanton has been declared tumor free! He has 1 round of chemo left, then he will be on a mild dose of an oral medication that is an acne treatment.

Thank you Jesus for the work that you have finished in Stanton, for his total healing and protecting him from unnecessary procedures. We thank you that he continues to heal from his surgery and that his body has responded to your healing promise.

Thank you all for your prayers and continuing to stand in faith for his life.

It is my hope that there is very little information to share over the next few weeks...that there are no changes and that he continues on his current path of wellness. If anything changes I will update the blog immediately.

More Prayers

Hi Prayer Warriors,

As you may remember when Stanton was undergoing treatment at MD Anderson he met an angel named Caroline. They both had the same cancer and were going through the same treatments. I just received word that another member of Caroline's immediate family has also been diagnosed with cancer. I can't even begin to know what this family must be going through.

Please stand with me in prayer that both Caroline & Chris will be healed and their family will be blessed with a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Caroline & Chris we love you and are believing for your healing! If you have time to email me an updated picture I would love to post it here so people can see who they are praying for. Please keep us posted on your progress so we will know what to be praying for.

All our love and hopes are with you!

The Plan for the Smudge

Today Amanda & Stanton went back to the hospital to find out what the plan would be to address the smudge that is still appearing on the MRI. The doctor told Amanda that she met with Stanton's surgeon and that together they decided to sit down with all the doctors at Children's and review the film as well as send it to Dr's Woo & Wolf at MD Anderson for review.

They will all put their heads together to come up with a plan on what to do next. Amanda goes back to the hospital next Thursday to find out what they want to do.

She was relieved this morning to know that Dr's Woo & Wolf would be included and feel encouraged that so many doctors will be consulting.

We are praying that the smudge is nothing more than some scar tissue, nothing harmful at all.

I will post the results of Next Thursday's meeting as soon as I get the information.

God Told Me To Share This With You

Last night I was at a conference and the focus of it was Healing. The speaker was so gifted and he spoke from the heart of God. As I sat there and listened I felt the Holy Spirit speak me and I wrote down what He was saying...as I wrote I knew this word was for the blog, it was for the believers that are praying for Stanton's healing. Below is what God asked me to share with you (it's in first person, which is weird for me but I am following His instructions):

There is evidence that I am healing Stanton, all the tumors are gone and only 1 spot is in question. You are to continue to stand in faith that he will be COMPLETELY healed.

You can't close your eyes to the evidence of what I have already done and am still doing. When I died on the cross, I provided healing for all of you, and for Stanton. The healing evidence is here, you must continue to stand in faith and expect all that I have for Stanton!

You must not give in to fear and doubt, you must stir yourselves up & remind yourselves of the evidence of what I have already done and am doing. I am moving, I am healing-you have to open your eyes & remind your brain to see it, that what you see is the supernatural invading earth as a result of your cries. You have to stand in faith.

To have faith though, first you have to have hope. Your hope is in Me who has saved you and set you free from all things. You have been made alive in Me and you must stand firm on that foundation of truth, only then can the hope of Christ begin to build your faith.

So, stir yourself up, remind yourself what I have already done, 98% healing is great, but you are believing for 100%. Don't quit, stay in the race and stand firm. I am not done yet, don't miss what I am going to do today!

For those of you who are struggling as well, know that this truth does not just belong to Stanton, but to every believer out there. Christ took on all sin and ALL sickness, so that we would be made clean (healthy). Pray, apply scriptures to your circumstance and believe that you are healed, believe that you are worthy of God's attention for healing!

I pray that this word has blessed you and that you will continue to stand in faith for that final 2% miracle that will set Stanton loose from the bonds of cancer. Thank you for standing firm and never giving in to doubt!

The Results Are In

Amanda just called with the results from yesterday's MRI. The spine and brain are still clear of any tumors but the "smudge" is still there. The doctor says it is clear that the smudge is in the cerebellum which is the location of the original tumor that was surgically removed in August. Stanton's doctor is meeting with the surgeon who removed the tumor on Tuesday to discuss biopsy options which would most likely take place next week as well.

Amanda said she will call me as soon as she knows more on Tuesday. She admitted she's freaking out a little with the idea of a biopsy....and the idea that this could be something "new".

Please pray with me that this smudge is nothing more than scar tissue or something insignificant. Please pray that Stanton is and will continue to be completely healed! We have seen God move and remove all the tumors, this last little smudge is not beyond His control, nothing is.

Thank you for your prayers for healing and peace!!

Another MRI

Stanton went into the hospital this morning for an MRI and to get us usual dose of platelets. I am super anxious to get the MRI results back and am praying that they are as good as last month's. The last MRI showed all his tumors gone!

As soon as Amanda gets the results she will call me and I will let you guys know what I know.

Check back soon!

1 Chemo Round to Go

Stanton is doing great after his 5th round of chemo. The whole Krause family is excited that he's doing so well and that the light at the end of the tunnel is so close. Only 1 round of chemo left to go in May and then Stanton is done with the tough stuff.

He will be taking regular low doses of acutane but it has does not seem to have any negative side effects for him.

Stanton should be having another MRI soon and as soon as we get the results I will post them here.

Praise God for continued good reports!

Happy Birthday Stanton

March 27th was Stanton's Birthday and he had 1 big birthday weekend! He kicked off his weekend with a fishing trip. He loves to fish! On Saturday Kevin Fowler was playing at the rodeo. Kevin Fowler is Stanton's favorite musician and he really wanted to go. Amanda called a friend of hers to see if he could get her tickets. He got with a few of his friends and together they pulled some strings.

Saturday evening started out with Stanton, Madison & Amanda having dinner with Kevin Fowler in his trailer. They also met all the band members. After dinner they toured the band's bus and got free t-shirts, hats & cd's. Stanton could not stop smiling. Then it was off to the concert where Amanda and the kids got to sit in seats brought up just for them on the front row. Stanton sang along all night long! At one point when the stage turned toward him he got out of his seat and a crew member took his picture as Kevin was looking down at him.

Amanda said it was just like a Make A Wish event. It was unforgettable. Thank you to all who helped make Stanton's dream come true! And thanks Kevin for being so nice to the Krause family and making them feel so special!

On Sunday Stanton had a wonderful birthday party. Amanda rented a bus that brings interactive video games to you. There were 24 kids in and around that bus playing games & having fun.

Amanda is suppossed to be getting pictures from her meeting with Kevin Fowler but does not seem to know how to download them off of her camera. As soon as I get them I will post them.

He's Home

I am so sorry I didn't update the blog sooner, I thought I had let you all know that Stanton went home this past Tuesday. All is going well, he's had no fever and the leg pain is gone so there was no need to do any procedures.

Everyone was thrilled to leave the hospital! They go back Easter weekend for his next round of chemo. Only 2 rounds left to go and then he's done!

I will let you know how his next round goes as soon as I hear from Amanda.

The Results Are In

Stanton's white blood cell count was zero so he is getting the usual transfusion and is on 10 day antibiotics. The leg pain is a result of a swollen lymph node. The body will naturally heal the lymph node if it has the white blood cells to do it. If for some reason his white blood cell count does not bounce back fast enough to take are of the issue, the doctor will use a needle to drain it.

The length of the hospital stay depends on how quickly Stanton's body responds to the transfusion and the antibiotics. So, as it's a waiting game. I will continue to update you as soon as the reports roll in.

Thanks for your continued prayers & support.

Back To The Hospital

Stanton was admitted to the hospital again today. He was complaining of pain in his leg and was running a fever. Amanda thought for sure that he needed platelets and while she was right the doctor was concerned about his leg.

They are expected to do a CAT Scan on Stanton to check out his leg pain and as usual he will be getting the routine blood transfusions to help his platelets and white blood cell count.

Amanda said she is disappointed to be going back in so soon, being in the hospital means eating out all week and no rest. So it costs her physically & financially. Neither are good.

As soon as we have the CAT Scan results I will post them. In the meantime please pray that Stanton will bounce back very quickly and that the leg pain is minor and that they will return home soon.

Home Again

Stanton was released from the hospital today, after a very long week. His chemo ended on Wednesday but once again his kidneys were not functioning 100%, so they kept him there for fluids and observation. One day rolled into the next and soon a whole week had passed. Amanda was at her breaking point on Friday when the Doctor said he wouldn't be going home until Sunday.

They all returned home today and were more overjoyed to sleep in their own beds with out the hourly nurse interruption.

If you have been trying to reach her, give her some time. She is exhausted and still has to work as much as she can. She'll be back to her old self soon. Stanton's attitude was great when I talked to him today, he just said he was bored and ready to go home...he missed the dogs!

As soon as there is more to report I will be sure to fill you all in! For now, enjoy your evening and thank God for all you have.

More Results

I promised more information and here it is. The doctor believes that the spot left on the brain is not a tumor but fluid as a result of the Chemo. So that is good news, no tumors left.

The spinal tap results are not in yet but no news is good news. Amanda would have gotten a call if cancer cells that showed up in the fluid.

So as of right now, there is nothing to see to speak of so we are giving God all the praise and thanking Him for the wisdom he has given the doctors.

Keep praising and I will update you when there is more to share!!

A Day of Praise!

Today Stanton had his MRI done and Amanda met with the doctor after she had time to review it. The doctor showed Amanda the MRI film and all but 1 of the spots are gone. The doctor said this is very good and she is really pleased with the results so far.

The 1 spot remaining looks more like a smudge so she is having a team of Oncology doctors review the film. They may order a 2nd MRI to rule out a problem with the film. We are also waiting on the spinal tap results to hear back if there were any cancer cells found in the spinal fluid.

We have been praying for this type of report, a clean MRI. Praise God for what He is doing in Stanton. He is moving, He is healing and He is restoring him to fullness. Thank You Jesus!!

Please continue to pray that the 1 area in question will come back as a film issue and that the spinal fluid results come back clean.

If the doctors find all the tumors gone, the treatment plan will be to finish out the chemo treatments, he has only 2 left after this round. Then he will be taking an oral form for an additional 6 months.

Amanda promised to let me know as soon as she received any more information. I will post more results and information as I receive it. Today is a day to celebrate, take a moment to praise the Healer for what He has done!

Washington Fun

Amanda, Madison & Stanton visited us last week. While it was a really short trip we did have some fun! We took the kids sledding and they had a blast. Stanton told Amanda that he was having a lot of fun, he was happy to be away from the hospital. Stanton has always been a really active kid so he was in his element on the snow hill. All the kids had a great time.

Friday night all the kids went to a family dance at the local school. The kids had a good time, it was Stanton's first dance. Afterwards we went out to eat with my husband's mom (Beverly) who was elated to see them all. It had been over 2 years since she had seen the kids and she couldn't get over how much they had grown. Later Amanda and I watched a movie while the kids played.

Saturday they came to my daughter's soccer game and then it was already time to head to the airport We hated seeing them go so soon! We are hoping to see each other again in Hawaii some time this summer.

Enjoy the pictures, they are just a snap shot of the memories we made!

A Whole Lot of Stuff You May Not Have Known

Getaway, Here We Come:
As I posted previously, Amanda got a great deal on airline tickets and planned a visit for her and the kids to come up to Washington and see me. Those plans were changed when Stanton got sick last week. (My kids were super bummed.) Yesterday Amanda talked with Stanton's doctor and she gave the thumbs up for Stanton to travel. We will spend some time day sledding and having fun in the snow. The kids & Amanda are excited for the break from the hospital and are looking forward to some fun with family.

Next Steps for Treatment:
Also during that conversation the doctor scheduled Stanton's next MRI, he will go back in to the hospital on March 2nd for the MRI and his next round of chemo. This is good news, now that the doctors are doing an MRI monthly they can more closely monitor his progress and change anything that needs to be changed based on how the tumors are responding. This is a shift from the quarterly MRIs that they were doing. Once I hear MRI results I will post them here.

Make A Wish
A few months ago Stanton was selected by Make A Wish foundation and was told to choose three dreams and that they would make 1 come true. Of the 3 (I can't remember them all) one was a trip to Hawaii with his family. Stanton hoped to play in the ocean, visit a volcano and take a surf lesson. This was the dream they are granting.


Leander ISD has volunteered to sponsor Stanton's wish by fundraising. So far Amanda has been contacted by some students & teachers that she knows who are learning about Stanton and how they can make his dream come true. To all of you out there who will visit this blog after learning about Stanton, Thank You! Thank you for your prayers, support and the hope you share with us.

The Blog:
I started this blog about 2 weeks after Stanton was diagnosed, we were learning things daily about his prognosis and calls were being made almost hourly with new information. I thought it would be easier to create a place where all our family and friends could come and get the most updated information. Since that time I have found out that this blog is been viewed by more people than I ever could have dreamed. Through sharing Stanton's story people have found hope and committed their hearts to not giving up.

I know that everyone that has seen this may not be a believe in Jesus or the power that He has to heal and restore His children. It is my deepest hope that those of you who read these updates see what I have seen, a people who have come together and prayed with a united voice to the God who not only hears but answers our prayers. His heart for Stanton is a life filled with love and hope, as is His desire for each of us. God has been revealing His goodness through story after story of love and compassion. I have heard from so many people who are praying, so many people who have reached out and countless others who have shared their own stories. We have had the privilege of praying for other kids who have cancer, like Caroline. Children that we never knew of before. Until Cancer touched Stanton we were blind. Our eyes have been opened and we are standing and fighting through prayer and outreach for those who need our help.

If you visit this place often and look for updates from time to time. You can also sign up as a follower in the upper right hand corner of the page and you will receive an email when an update has been posted.

How You Can Help:
We are praying for wisdom for the doctors, Stanton to remain healthy and that the family will have peace and rest. Thanks for continuing to pray and hope with us.

Stanton is Home

Saturday was a great day for Stanton and the whole Krause clan, Stanton was released from the hospital. Amanda got tapped on the leg while she slept next to Stanton in the hospital and the doctor whispered "you guys can go home whenever you are ready". At that Amanda shot up and began packing their things...she did not want to sit in that hospital room 1 more minute.

The last few days of last week were really tough because Stanton felt fine but could go home because his white blood cell count was still too low. He and Amanda were going nuts. They did have a couple of nights where they got a 4 hour pass (this is when you get to leave the hospital and go home for a while, but then have to return). Amanda said Stanton never made waves about going back. All in all Stanton was a really good sport, by day 3 he felt fine and it was a waiting game. Waiting 4 more days couped up in the hospital would drive an adult nuts, this 10 year old champ was awesome. So everyone is home, resting up from lack of sleep and getting back into the groove.

Next on the Krause agenda is a trip up here to Washington for a visit. Amanda still has to get the doctor's approval for Stanton to travel (and we are not super sure we will get it) but if all goes well they will be here Wednesday for a little fun and relaxation.

Amanda is also trying to schedule an MRI for Stanton so we can know how he's progressing. As soon as that is scheduled I will post it. In the meantime, keep praying. I know that our God hears and answers our prayers.

Little Stuff Can Be A Big Deal

Last week Amanda thought her allergies were kicking in but after a day or 2 she realized that it was more than that, she had either a really bad cold or a not so bad case of the flu. Either way she did everything she could think of to make sure Stanton did not get sick.

Unfortunately for him it was too late. On Sunday nurse Madison was taking every one's temperature and found that her little brother had a temp of 103. Amanda called the doctor right away and she said to bring him to the hospital.

So off they raced to the usual spot for a full inspection and tons of fluids & meds. They did a platelet and T-cell check and found that he was really low so they added the usual transfusion to the list of things to administer over the next 24 hours.

As of now Stanton is doing really well, he has been fever free for almost 24 hours and thinks he's ready to go home. The doctor is keeping him there for observation and may let him go home tomorrow depending on how he does.

Amanda & Madison however are exhausted. Neither have slept well over the past few days and Amanda is not completely over her cold because of the lack of rest. Michael gave her a break today and she tried to sleep a bit.

Please be praying that Stanton will continue to be fever free and that he is healed. Pray also for Amanda and Madison to rest and be healthy, as their health drastically affects Stanton's.

I will let you know more once I get more information tomorrow.

Moving Right Along

As you remember, last month Stanton could only do a portion of his chemo because they were concerned for his kidneys. Stanton completed his kidney tests last week and they came back great! This means that he can do his full dose of chemo this coming week which is very good news.

Stanton goes in for his next round of chemo this Thursday or Friday. He should be having another MRI very soon. Once we get the results I will post them.

If you remember, Stanton met a wonderful girl named Caroline when he was undergoing treatment in Houston. I heard from Caroline's family letting me know that she is doing well. She is in San Antonio doing her chemo. Caroline, we are praying for you too! We want to keep in touch so update me as you get new news.

Home From Houston

I spoke with Amanda this morning and got the 411 on her trip to Houston. She got to spend over an hour with Dr. Wolf who showed her the fist and latest MRI's so they could compare them. She could see how there were only 2-3 spots left on the spine versus the original 6-8 and how there were fewer on the brain as well and all were smaller. She was excited to see the progress first hand. He also advised that she request monthly MRI's so the doctors could more closely monitor Stanton's progress and make any necessary changes in treatment at a faster pace rather than the usual 3 month evaluation process. Amanda was encouraged by the recommendation and called Stanton's doctor to make the request and she agreed.

Overall the Houston trip went well. His results and evaluations came back positive with the most concerning thing being the base of his spine. Proton treatment commonly stunts the spine growth and so far the MRI results that to be consistent in Stanton's case, of course we have no idea how much growth is to be expected...or if God will change that and let him grow as normal.

She was also told that 8 rounds of the current chem he is on is known to cause permanent hearing loss which requires a permanent hearing aid. She was relieved to hear that Stanton would only be taking 5 rounds of it but is still praying for no side effects.

Stanton went with Michael to the Kidney doctor today and so far the has been labeled as healthy. They are doing 1 more urine collection sample this week to be reviewed just to rule out any possible variations to today's evaluation. He will also be going in for his usual blood transfusion tomorrow.

Amanda left Houston encouraged by the results and hopeful that as Stanton is monitored more often his results will continue to improve.

Pictures from Christmas

This Christmas included lots of time spent visiting family and playing with cousins who visited from Washington...the 4 were inseparable.

Back to Houston

The Krause family headed for Houston this morning at 7am. The visit is to follow up on Stanton's progress after the chemo & Proton therapy he received a few months ago. The doctors have decided to use the MRI done at Dell Children's Hospital last month and not do another one.

So over the next 24 hours Stanton will undergo rounds of tests and examinations to assess his progress & reaction to the medicines he received. As far as we know now, this will be the last trip to Houston. I know Amanda is excited about that! I pray that Stanton will be a great patient today & that the results they find are in his favor.

Once I hear back from Amanda on all the results I will post them.

On another note, I have posted the link to the photography company that awarded the free session worth $1300. I think companies like this are wonderful and I want to let others know that they are out there and if you are looking for a good photographer with a great heart that you can look no further. Thanks again Dawn!

A Special Gift for the Krause Family

Below is an email I received today and wanted to share with those who are follwoing the blog. Things like this just keep happening to Amanda's family and we all continue to be amazed by the new and continous blessings they have received. No one would ever wish for cancer but I am convinced that God is doing something here, He did not give Stanton Cancer but He is most certainly using this experience to reveal Himself to His people as well as those who don't yet know Him.

Enjoy the email!

Hi Kacie,

You don't know me but I am writing to you today to give you some news. I am a professional photographer in the Austin area and last month, a fellow photographer, Mollie Kendall and myself offered up a free Portrait session to one deserving family in our community. People from all over the city nominated families in need and we selected a winner on Christmas eve.

I am telling you this because a wonderful woman named Delisa Kirby nominated your sister's family and Mollie and I are pleased to tell you that Amanda and her family have been selected to receive our donation. We are trying to contact Amanda, and we located your email in your blog. I am hoping you can assist us in passing on the gift to her and her family.

If you would like to direct Amanda to all the details, there is information on Mollie's blog at http://molliekphotography.com/blog/2008/12/the-one-where-giving-really-is-awesome/ and she should also contact Mollie as well to arrange the session. Her email address is mollie@molliekphotography.com

I hope you are enjoying a pleasant and hope filled new year! We look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes,
Dawn Fry
DLM Photography

Thank you Delisa for nominating Amanda's family and thanks so much to Dawn & Mollie for selecting them and thank you Jesus for continuing to surprise me!

Another Chemo Round Down...Happy New Year

Stanton was released from the hospital late last night after completing his 2nd round of chemo. Amanda and both kids were exhausted when I talked to her. She was looking forward to a good nights sleep in their own beds.

So far, Stanton is doing really well, no major side effects as of yet. I will let you know as the week goes on if there are any changes. They were not able to do one of the usual meds because his kidneys were not up to it. He will be seeing a kidney specialist next week sometime just to check things out. Once I have a report back I will post it on the blog.

Amanda mentioned wanting a weekend away possibly next weekend after she sees how Stanton responds to the meds and after the kidney doctor visit. She's hoping for the kind of getaway where you go to a hotel to just sleep, take a long hot bath and do nothing but watch tv, read a book, just veg...no thinking, no getting up and down to help the kids & no entertaining anyone, maybe even get a massage...you know, just rest. If any of you have any suggestions on where she can go for a mental getaway that is near by please let her know, she's not looking to go far, just far enough to get a little R&R.

We wish you all a Happy New Year and pray that 2009 will be a year of healing for Stanton and overcoming for the whole family!

Look for an update next week & please keep praying.

Quick Update

Stanton is doing really well, he is his usual active and silly self. His current side effects are episodes of nausea and vomiting, lack of appetite and weight loss which was made worse by a recent growth spurt. He is also bruising very easily.

Both he and Madison had an absolutely wonderful Christmas, so many wonderful people adopted their family for Christmas and showered the kids with gifts. Thank you all so much for your kindness, the kids were so excited and Amanda was more than relieved. I will post pictures soon of the kids on Christmas morning. They were smiling from ear to ear.

Stanton goes in for his 2nd round of Chemo tomorrow night. First he goes in to the doctor's office to do the necessary rounds of tests to make sure he's ready for chemo and to ensure they have good data to measure his progress with...(start and finish data). He will check into the hospital tomorrow night at 9:30 and will stay until at least Thursday.

Once they get settled I will update you with any information we get and how he's handling the meds.

As of right now Amanda is waiting to hear from MD Anderson on when they want her to bring Stanton to Houston for his MRI to finalize the Proton results. Once that is scheduled I will post the date. Please be praying in the meantime that the MRI will show complete healing and that the chemo will not cause any negative side effects.

Thanks again to all who are following this blog, blessing the family and praying for healing and provision. I pray that you will all have a happy New Year and that 2009 will be a year of blessing for you and your family.

Madison's Blessing May Be Coming

While I was on the phone with Amanda this morning she mentioned wanting to redecorate Madison's room to be more fitting for her age, you know...a little cooler, hipper now that she's in middle school.

That made me think of HGTV, which is so good at helping families in crisis. So I emailed a designer named Vern who does projects for families like Amanda's and asked him to consider this one.

Specifically I said that since Stanton was diagnosed the family had been blessed beyond measure but that often times Madison feels left out. While she reaps the benefits of the many blessings the talk is always about Stanton these days and just like any 11 year old girl it's easy to feel forgotten and left out.

So I am hoping that Madison's project will be selected and that she will be reminded just how special she is. I will let you all know as soon as I hear anything back.

1 Round of Chemo Down

Stanton's 1st intense round of Chemo went really, really well. He only got sick once and other than sleeping a lot he had no negative side effects. The doctors told Amanda to expect him to lose the last of his hair really soon so she is loading up on beanie caps for winter. Look how handsome he looks bald though !

Here is a picture from Thanksgiving.


So here is what the doctor told Amanda that she can expect. Stanton can have mouth sores from the meds so he is using a mouth wash to help prevent them. He will be tired and is sleeping quite a bit now. And last but most certainly not least, Amanda will need to give Stanton a shot in the arm or upper thigh for 10 days after each round of chemo. She did great when she practiced on the doll but when it came time for the real thing, it did not go all that well. Luckily, she has a nurse that lives a few houses down who has volunteered to help.

Correction But Not All is Lost

I just heard from Amanda and she let me know that 2 of Stanton's tumors are gone but there are some spots left on the brain and on the spine. The good news is that all are smaller than before. While this is a slight let down from what I first reported, all is not lost, God is still moving and He is still healing Stanton.

Don't be discrouraged, so far he's still not had any negative side effects from his most recent intense chemo treatment. Please continue praying for Stanton's healing.

Day 2 of Chemo

Today is Stanton's 2nd day of Chemo and he's doing really well. They are keeping him full of anti-nausea medication and so far, so good. Amanda said that he started on the meds & fluids late last night so they were up ever 45 minutes so Stanton could go to the bathroom, she is hoping for a less active night tonight.

Stanton is taking it all in stride. He is enjoying the kids playroom at the hospital. He and Madison played there until 9pm. Madison has asked if she can sleep there tonight again...since when is going to the hospital fun? Dell Children's Hospital has changed that. Thanks to all who made being sick not so bad!!

Once we have more information on how Stanton is doing or when he may be going home I will update you here.

Keep praying friends & family, only 2 tumors left to go. He Will Be Healed!

Love you all,
Kacie

Thank You Jesus!

We just got the preliminary results back from the MRI that was done this morning and the results show that all but 2 tumors are gone. The remaining 2 are smaller than before. The doctors are very excited about this outcome. Please join me in praising God for his work in Stanton and believing for every tumor being cast out of his body.

Jesus, thank you so much for who you are and what you have done. The doctor's said stage 4 but you said life. You have touched Stanton with your hand and I know that his body will continue to recover. Thank you for the great body of believers that you put in Stanton's life who have spent hours interceding on his behalf. Thank you Lord, Thank you Lord, Thank you Lord. Amen

Change Of Plans

We were expecting for Stanton to have an MRI today but it was changed to tommorrow. Amanda is planning on calling me as soon as we have some information which I will be posting right away.

Please be praying that tomorrow's MRI shows that the cancer is gone!

Check back throughout the day tomorrow.

MRI Coming Soon

So it's time we had some good news right?! The next MRI has been scheduled for November 23rd, please be praying between now and then that the results will show no tumors and total healing.

If that is not the case, then Stanton will be checked into Dell Children's Hospital again the week of Thanksgiving for 4 days for his first chemo treatment. They are doing inpatient because the chemo can be pretty rough and they will need to monitor him. Please also be praying that if this is necessary that he will experience no side effects and stay healthy.

Amanda said that her sales have slowly been going down partially because of the market, the season and the inability to be out in the field every day all day. So please continue to pray that God will continue to bless her, the blessings so far have come in so many ways, it's overwhelming to think about.

Once we have the MRI results I will post them right away. Check back on the 23rd for an update...I am not sure what date we will know something but I will know when to expect an answer after the MRI appointment, in the meantime...PRAY!

I was at a Women's Conference last week and heard 2 testimonies of how someone with a brain tumor was completely healed...the doctor's couldn't find it. Let's continue to hold onto God's promise for Stanton, that he was formed with a purpose and we know this is not it. God has so much for him, pray and stand with me against the attacks of the enemy.

Pictures At Last

Stanton & Caroline - They both have the same diagnosis


Stanton Paddle Boating


Stanton & Proton Nurse Keysha


Stanton & Chemo Nurse Paula




Marvelous Madison


Stanton's Proton Mask


Hot Mama


Madison Paddle Boating


Carolyn The Miracle Working Case Worker


Madison & Caroline


Brother & Sister Fun in the Doctor's Office


Mom & Son




Dr Woo & Stanton

Finally Some New Pictures

Ok, well they are not really new, but they are new to us. These were taken a few weeks ago when a group of kids from MD Anderson went to an Astro's game.

Eyes Wide Open

Hi again all,

I talked to Amanda on the phone tonight and wanted to share what she shared with me. As we were talking this evening Amanda shared with me that the past months have been a whirlwind but she has gained clarity since returning home, like waking from that place where you're in between awake and asleep and you are not sure if was all a dream or not. Well, she knew it was not all a dream but she feels fully awake now and more so than ever before.

As she walked the halls of MD Anderson over the past several weeks she could never get used to seeing all the children who were fighting this disease that has invaded her family and dared to threaten her son's life. She met amazing children and their parents who's stories she will never forget. She said that she thinks about them every day. She thinks about how it was a miracle that the doctors found Caroline's tumor, how it was on a whim they did an MRI just to make sure everything was ok. Caroline's mom said she knew it was God.

Max looked up to Stanton since he was so much younger, Stanton was showing him how to do treatment and take it all in stride. Max was in awe, he had a really cool buddy in Stanton. Amanda shared that seeing these kids and sharing her story and hearing theirs opened her eyes to an entire community that she had never had the privilege of knowing before.

Amanda would have never have asked for this to fall upon her son but now that it has, she is forever changed. She sees the blessings in even the smallest moments that she and her kids share, she sees the way God uses His children to bless others and the miracles He will work out for the good of His kids. She knows now more than ever before that she is loved in a way that she could have never even begun to imagine and she is humbled as a result and does not take the sacrifice that was made to save her lightly, she had a new found understanding of who her savior is and what he has waiting for her. He has a plan, and it is good and she has a heart filled with desire for it.

Amanda went to church tonight for the first time in a long time because of being gone so much. She said it was the first time she had allowed herself the opportunity to release emotions...she has had to be "on" for so long and constantly moving that there has been no time to stop and feel anything. Pastor Earl, who is an amazing man of God prayed for her and had the church pray for Stanton. God continued to pour out His blessing and His peace over her throughout the night.

I am so thankful that Amanda has a heart that receives and sees God in all things. We are all blessed when we can see His plan unfolding in the midst of a difficult situation. I know that you have all been praying for Stanton but I would ask that you add Caroline & Max to your prayers and every child that is suffering from the curse of cancer. I am asking you not just to pray but to intercede for them, that any time your mind wonders and settles on Stanton that you would begin to pray right where you are for him and every child to be healed.

Max and Caroline, we are praying for your healing and the strengthening of your family's peace and hope in Jesus. We will believe for a miracle for you just like we are believing for Stanton.

May you be blessed and healed in Jesus Name, Amen!

Dinner For 3

Hi all,

Summer asked me to get the word out for folks who were willing to provide meals to Amanda & the kids to sign up on the Care Calendar. Now that they are back home we would like to provide Amanda as much support as possible so she can focus on spending time with the kids and at work...there is a lot of ground to recover from all the time spent in Houston in both arenas.

If you can help please log on to the care calendar and sign up.

Thanks so much!

Kacie

The Krause's Are Home & Under 1 Roof

Hi all,

This is a quick update to let you all know that Amanda, Stanton & Madison are all home and once again living under 1 roof. I know they are all so happy that the Houston trips are over. Amanda said she expects to go back to MD Anderson once in January for a MRI.

Here is the 411 on Stanton:

The next MRI will be in the next week or 2. The Proton (radiation) will continue working for about a month even though he's done with treatement. If they do the MRI too soon it may not show all the progress so they are determining the best time to get the most accurate results.

Stanton will probably go into the doctor's tommorrow for a blood transfusion. This is a normal part of treatment, the chemo can lower his platelett count and a transfusion is needed to get the numbers back up.

Other than that all is going really well. He is so excited to be back home! Now it's a wait and see game for the results. Amanda promised lots of pictures this weekend so as soon as I get them I will load them for all to see. Keep praying & keep the faith!

Kacie

4 days left

Hi all,

I am so sorry I have not updated you more but there has not been a lot to report. Stanton will have 4 days of treatment this week and then he's done in Houston and won't be returning. Amanda and Stanton are both so excited to be done.

Stanton will undergo an MRI in Austin some time next week or the following week to see how successful the treatment was. After that he will have another 5 weeks off and then he will resume chemo treatment only in Austin. He did not get to do much physical therapy in Houston so he will start back again once he gets home and into a new routine.

Over the next 6 weeks Amanda plans on hitting work hard because she knows it's only a little while before she is creating yet another new routine of trips to the oncologist office.

I am patiently awaiting lots of new pictures of Stanton and the family. Once i get them I will get them posted.

Well, that is all for now. Once we get the MRI date I will post it as well as once we get the results. Please be praying with me that the MRI shows no tumors remaining.

Thank you for your prayers and continued support!

Kacie

Going Home in Less than 2 Weeks

I am sorry it's been more than a week since I updated the blog but there has not been too much to report. Stanton is doing well. He had his last spinal proton treatment today, now it's just chemo and proton on the brain tumors only. This change shortens his proton treatment by about 30 minutes a day, he is really happy about that. They are scheduled to be done with the first round of chemo and proton on 10/16.

Stanton has lost pretty much all of his hair but other than that he has had not any major side effects from the treatments so far. He's lost 6lbs after getting off the steroids. His face is back to normal for the most part (the swelling from the steroids has decreased). He has only had nausea a few times as well. Last week he had a blood transfusion, his platelet count was low which is common with the treatments so he received a pint of blood. The interesting part of treatment for Stanton is that he has learned how to clean and seal his port before and after each chemo treatment, the nurse offered him 1/2 her pay since he almost treats himself. He does a really good job.

Overall he's doing really well, Amanda on the other hand is going a bit stir crazy. Stanton is by her side 24/7 and seems to have forgotten how to entertain himself. He is completely dependent on Amanda to keep him from getting bored. Having no time for herself, she is a bit tired. She can't wait to get back home permanently and get back into a somewhat regular routine.

While at MD Anderson she has met some amazing staff who have taken wonderful care of Stanton. They adore him and he knows it. She has also had the privilege to meet some wonderful families that are going through similar situations. She has had the opportunity to hear encouraging stories and share encouragement with them as well. There seems to be an unspoken bond between 2 moms that are holding on to hope that their children will be healed and live the life they were created to live. With less than 2 weeks to go Amanda is reminded that hope is alive and she is full of it, she's not wasting an opportunity to share it with others.

Since meeting so many families she never stops realizing how blessed she has been with such an amazing support system. She never expected people to be so kind to her family and has met so many others with so much less than she has and it reminds her everyday to be thankful for all the wonderful people who have surrounded her...So we say it again, again and again...THANK YOU!

If you are anything like me you are anxiously awaiting the results from the next MRI. I am waiting to hear from Amanda as to when they will do it and how quickly she will get the results. Please pray with me that the tumors will be completely gone from his body and that he will be totally healed.

Amanda has some new pictures for me to post and I will get them up on the blog sometime this weekend. I will update you all again once there is more to report. In the meantime don't give up hope and keep praying.

Many blessings,
Kacie

Can You Believe It....More Great News

I have to start with the miracle of the day! In a time of such trial and heartache it is amazing to watch God pour out blessing and favor over the Krause family. Yesterday Amanda & I were talking about how well Stanton was doing as she opened her mail. To her surprise she opened an envelope that contained a letter from Medicare for Stanton. This means that all of the medical bills that her insurance does not cover will be covered by Medicaid. This is an answer to prayer and puts a stop to all fear and worry about how she is going to pay for his care! Amanda thought for sure she wouldn't qualify, thank you Jesus for provision!

Now for news about Stanton...He is doing well, however he did get sick once last week from the chemo. He has not gotten ill from the Proton at all which is great news. Amanda gives him meds to offset the nausea from the chemo and so far he's only had 2 not so great days. In addition to the nausea episode this week there was another change...Stanton's hair began falling out. Amanda is going to have his head shaved today so the change is not so drastic. He was a little scared when he first noticed it but seems ok with it now. I have sent him a picture of his uncle Troy (who shaves his head) so he can see that lots of boys don't have hair by choice and that it's a very "in" look.

Stanton is completely off steroids which is good news. Since he has stopped taking them his appetite has gone back to normal and so far he has lost 3lbs. As a result of taking the steroids Stanton's face has been swollen and he just hasn't looked the same. The doctor said the swelling should go down with in a month. In the meantime Amanda has taken an opportunity or 2 to squeeze his puffy little cheeks...he was so skinny before, you almost can't resist doing it now before they go away.

Wondering how Madison is handling this big adjustment? Until recently she has felt very left out, however Amanda was able to take her to Houston so she could spend Tuesday experiencing what they experience each week. She got to see the apartment where they are staying, how the proton process works and how the nurse accesses his chest port for his daily dose of chemo. She seemed a bit shocked but now feels like she has a better understanding of everything that is going on and feels included.

For those of you asking how you can help, I have a suggestion. After spending a week at Amanda's house I found that she needs someone to go to her house while she is gone and do the kids laundry from the week before, put clothes away and simply straighten the house. If someone would be interesting in doing basic housework that would be great. (Things like sweeping & moping the downstairs, vacuuming the upstairs and cleaning the bathrooms every other week.) This does not need to be a 1 person job, it can be shared from week to week. Amanda has so little time on the weekends and she wants to spend that time really focusing on the kids as much as possible.

What else can you do? Please keep praying. We expect the doctors to do an MRI in about 4 weeks and we are praying that it comes back totally clean with no tumors.

Thanks to all who continue to pour out their support. We continue to be amazed at the heart of so many!

Fill you in again soon,
Kacie

A Few Days with Stanton

I spent the last couple of days with Amanda, Madison & Stanton and enjoyed it immensely. I am exhausted but joyful none the less.

Last Wednesday Stanton experienced some nausea & vomiting due to the treatment, it had stopped by Thursday and he didn't react to Thursday's treatment at all. Please continue to pray that he will not be affected negatively by the medicine.

As I spent time with him this week I was amazed by the change that has taken place within him. Many of you may not have known Stanton before all this happened, he is a different child today. In years past Stanton struggled with ADHD, his symptoms were aggression, inability to sit still, irritability, unexpected mood changes and defiance, all of which are very typical of ADHD.

Now, Stanton has none of these symptoms. He is kind, gentle, quiet and seems to have a peace and joy that is incredible to experience. He laughs at everything and loves to be with his family. While he can still annoy his sister like no one else, he is such a different child than before and while I loved him then, I thank God for the work He has done. Stanton has a peace I cannot explain and I know it was a gift from God.

Amanda said that the nurses that give him his treatments adore him and love to hear him laugh, as that is what he does most while he is there. He brings joy and laughter wherever he goes. The transformation is truly amazing.

Amanda is calling tomorrow to find out if the roads are opened to determine when she will be heading back to Houston for next weeks treatments. She is hoping to gain an extra day, Madison is needing some mom time and an extra day at home would really help.

Amanda was given more donations to help with the travel and we continue to be amazed by every one's generosity and God's faithfulness. She has been blessed with neighbors who lend a hand (or a vacuum cleaner) whenever we need it and none of it goes unnoticed, by Amanda but more importantly by the Father. He sees all that we do and I believe that He is smiling down and saying "those are My people, they show My love and compassion, they are My light to this world. Well done."

Thank you all so much for the continued prayers and support. I will update you again soon.

Still praying for a miracle,
Kacie

Heading Into Week 2

Amanda and Stanton arrived safely in Houston yesterday evening. Stanton has still not suffered from any side effects from the treatment (thank you Jesus) but was not looking forward to being in Houston again. Last week was busier than anyone could have expected. There were treatments, tests, tests & more tests. On average their day starts at 8am and doesn't end until 6pm. That is a long day of dashing here and there for a 9 year old.

We are continuing to pray that the side effects don't impact Stanton in any way. I will be sure to keep you all updated if something changes.

If you would like to volunteer to help or need help accessing the care calendar you can contact Summer Jowers at davidandsummer@sbcglobal.net. I am managing the blog and Summer is heading up the support efforts to include the fundraiser.

We are hoping to host a fundraiser sometime in October. Summer and others are putting their heads together and are coming up with amazing ideas, unexpected contacts and lots of options. As soon as there is a final plan in place I will post all the information here.

Thank you for your continued and amazing prayer and support!

Kacie

First Day of Treatment

Today was Stanton's first day of Proton and chemo treatments, as of this afternoon he has had no ill effects from either one. Amanda said it was a long day and they are both exhausted but she was relieved that he was not feeling sick. She said Stanton seemed as though he wondered why she even worried, almost like "what's the big deal" mentality...I will take that as a good sign.

Summer asked me a while ago to let others know what the possible side effects are from these treatments so people would know what to be praying for. Amanda said some of the ones she could remember were nausea, temporary hearing loss, learning disabilities or stunted growth...those were the big ones that stuck out in her mind. Please continue to pray for healing but also that none of those side effects would affect him in any way.

On a side note...Some friends & family members are working together to put on a fundraiser for Amanda to help with some of the medical debt and to help cover potentially lost income while she is not actively working. I will be in town next Wednesday - Sunday to help with Madison, Stanton and support the fundraising efforts in any way that I can. I will be working on a project and may ask some of you to share with me pictures of Stanton & the rest of the Krause family. If you come across any in the mean time and you can email them to me please do. Otherwise I can get hard copies while I am in town. I can't wait to see you all soon and meet some of the amazing people who have been so kind to my family!

Thanks for your prayers and endless show of support.

In Unending Hope & Faith,
Kacie

Here We Go

Stanton and Amanda have arrived in Houston ahead of the hurricane and are getting settled before treatment begins on Tuesday. A lot has happened in the past week, especially the generous outpouring of support for Amanda and family. Our prayers are being answered and we ask you all to continue keeping Stanton on your prayer list as he begins the difficult weeks ahead.

He begins a series of test for the chemotherapy on Tuesday and starts Proton Radiation on Wednesday. Stanton is also being set up for physical therapy to help recover his motor skills and classroom education (4th grade). He is expected to have a full day, Mon-Fri for the next 6-7 weeks. We’re all anxious to learn how he will adapt to the treatments, both physically and emotionally.

As you pray this week, please speak these scriptures out:
Mark 10:27 All things are possible with God.

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Saturday Football & More Miracles

Saturday was an exciting day for Madison & Stanton. Stanton's team had their first game and Stanton got to be a part of it. He went out on the field for the coin toss and was on the sidelines through the game with team members. His initials could be seen on the back of every teammates helmet. I know that he loved every minute of it and can't wait for the next one.



Not only has the football team been so welcoming and supportive of the entire Krause family but the entire league has blessed Amanda in ways that have brought tears to her eyes, joy to her heart and constant a reminder that God will use His people to show His love. Most recently Amanda was given over $800.00 in financial support from parents of players who heard about Stanton, these people don't know Amanda or Stanton, they just heard about him and wanted to help. Another mom from the peewee league of NWA let her know that she has arranged for Amanda to be able to fly via private jet to and from Houston whenever she needs to for Stanton's treatment or to bring Madison back and forth if necessary. Family members, friends & neighbors have continued to pour out their support with financial blessing, meals and house cleaning services.

The outpouring of love & kindness have not only blessed Amanda & her family but have given her the opportunity to share with others that she believes that this kindness is an act of God's love and mercy and that His blessings and miracles come in all ways and she knows that He is at work here.

The words Thank You don't even begin to let you all know how much your kindness means to us and we want you to know that we see the love in each gift and it truly means the world to us. So hear the words Thank You but feel the love, appreciation and heart behind the words. We are so thankful.

Reaching Out

I was going through my 116 emails in my yahoo account (sorry to all those I just got back to) and came across one from the Director of Communications of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology in Fairfax, VA. She somehow found Stanton's blog and asked if she could link his blog to their website.

Their website provides information about all kids of cancers and provides links to blogs of individuals who are fighting cancer. She asked if she could include Stanton's blog on their link list.

I am hopeful that someone out there, that we don't know will read these posts and see not despair but rather hope, that they will see people who are standing on truth and supporting Amanda & Stanton in amazing ways and know that they too are not alone. It is also my hope that if they need prayer or an encouraging word or other information that they would contact Summer or myself (our contact info is listed on the blog). Lastly, it's my hope that by the end of all this they will see an amazing child of God fully healed and believe that the same healing will happen for them too.

So, in our times of prayer for Stanton & Amanda...please pray that others will be inspired to believe in the amazing love and power of Jesus and know, maybe even for the first time, that they can hope too.

Blessed Again

Just last night Amanda and I were talking about being mindful not to miss God's miracles & blessings during this difficult time and to be watchful to see Him moving in ways we would never expect.

In His amazing way and His glorious timing He showed Amanda yet again that He has a plan and it is good. This morning Amanda received an email from a mom on Stanton's football team. This mom works for a corporate housing agency and has arranged for Amanda and Stanton to have an apartment in the Galleria area of Houston just 8 minutes from MD Anderson....RENT FREE! It's so wonderful to sit back and watch how God uses His children to give good gifts to those hurting around them. I also don't want to miss God's sense of humor...Amanda, staying right next to one of the biggest malls in the world..He totally gets her!

Another topic of conversation that truly touched Amanda's heart recently...
During a conversation with a client, Amanda was sharing what is going on with Stanton. The gentleman told her to think about how much she loves her son and to think of what it would do to her to lose him, as this terrifying thought and emotion entered her mind at the mention of this possibility he then said, that is what God did for you. He allowed His son to die, His one and only son whom He loved with all His heart, more than we earthly parents can even imagine, and He did it for her, for me and for you. Amanda said that it shocked her to think of what she is feeling right now, faced with an indescribable possibility and to think that God watched as His son experience unexplainable pain and suffering and that He allowed it all to happen so He could save her. She said she has a deeper understanding of God's love.

God is good and He does have a plan, keep praying family, God is moving and He will not leave Stanton or forsake him, not ever.

Decisions Made

I spoke to Amanda while she was driving home from MD Anderson tonight and she shared with me that she made a decision on which medication they will use to treat Stanton. You may know that she had some options to choose from. She has chosen Arm D of the clinical study, which means that she did not choose to allow the computer to randomly choose which arm she would get and that he will receive the very strongest medication.

This medication has a history of some side effects and we are praying that he will not be affected.

Amanda said it was an emotional day and she didn't know in advance she would have to make this decision today. She has committed to not 2nd guessing her decision and will be faithful in believing that she made the right one and that God will honor her heart and take away all fear.

She and Stanton will leave for Houston on Monday and his treatments begin on Tuesday.

As we talked tonight she shared with me that she has met some other parents with kids also diagnosed with cancer. It's our hope that she will have opportunities to shine the light and offer the hope of Jesus to families that need it.

Please continue praying for Stanton's healing, Amanda's peace and strength and that Madison will be comforted and know that she is loved and that she will be protected while her mom is away and she staying with friends & family.

Thank you for the continued prayer & support.

The New Plan

The trip to Houston was considered very successful. Dr. Woo and his team have prepared Stanton for Proton Radiation Therapy, to begin on September 2nd and continue until about mid-October. We consider this a most fortunate opportunity, as MD Anderson’s Proton Radiation treatment facility is one of three in the US, enabling the radiation to focus more directly on the tumors rather than a “blanket approach”. This provides more effective treatments and reduces the risk of collateral damage to the brain and other parts of the body. Amanda and all were very pleased and impressed with Dr. Woo and his team – very “kid oriented”, informative and committed to doing all possible to help kids win the battle. We also visited briefly with another parent from Stillwater, OK whose young daughter is being treated at the facility for the same disease.

Additionally, Amanda met with social workers and other staff members to start setting up other treatment and support services, such as physical therapy and schooling. The medical center operates an in-house school for children of all age groups, providing an academic atmosphere and teachers to help kids continue their education while undergoing treatments. Stanton was not overly thrilled at this news, thinking he would get to be home schooled, but he’ll do okay and the home part will come later. This will take a little pressure off of Amanda by knowing he is getting off to a good start this semester in a formal classroom environment.

After the holiday weekend, Amanda & Stanton will travel to Houston on Sunday afternoons for the weekly treatments and return on Friday afternoons for the weekend. Anne and I are working with Amanda to set up a plan for one of us and/or other family member to stay at Amanda’s house with Madison from Sunday-Thursday nights to help keep her routine as normal as possible. She has been staying with her father and friends most of the past two weeks and is bound to feel somewhat neglected.

Our special thanks to Summer for setting up the Care Calendar http://www.carecalendar.org and especially all the prayers and support you have and continue to give. People ask how can I help and unfortunately we have not been a very helpful source of information lately or for the immediate future until we all can settle into a new routine, perhaps next week. If you would like to help support Amanda you can doante gas cards, HEB Grocery gift cards, or volunteer to provide meals on weekends while they are home. Amanda and Stanton are working to catch up on “thank you” notes to everyone and hopefully a lot will be out after the holiday.

Home & On The Road Again

Amanda took Stanton home from the hospital at 5:00pm on Sunday. His 3 day stay in the hospital was due to an infection, however the antibiotics worked and he's home again now.

Today Amanda is preparing for the trip to Houston. She and Stanton along with dad & Anne will be meeting with Dr. Woo tomorrow morning.

As we can only imagine, Amanda's brain is on overload. She has had very little sleep over the past few days, was given different options for treatment not knowing which one to choose and the fear of what happens if she chooses wrong is overwhelming, add fact that she was told less than 2 weeks ago that her son has been diagnosed with cancer....it is just too much for 1 person to handle, so please pray for her to be wrapped in a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Once Amanda calls me with the outcome for the meeting I will post all the information.

In addition, I have been praying that the doctors would for some reason do another MRI prior to beginning his treatment, As we have all been praying for total, miraculous healing I began to wonder "how would they know not to treat him if they didn't know he was healed". It was just a few days later of me having this conversation with God that Amanda said if he is accepted into MD Anderson that they would do another MRI. So please pray with me that he will be healed and that the MRI will show that the cancer is gone. I don't know when the MRI will be done so there is not time to wait. I know so many are already praying, please keep crying out to God for healing. God moves in response to our prayers, this is not His will but rather He will use it to move and reveal Himself in a mighty way.

Home Again

As many of you know, Stanton experienced another headache Thursday evening and when he went to the Dell Hospital for a doctor visit, he was readmitted for evaluation. The CT scan did not reflect any changes since the surgery and the spinal fluid test was also negative. He also had another headache on Friday afternoon, but the doctors could not identify the cause. The administered pain medication and steroids and if no additional problems, expect to release him sometime today.

We are taking Amanda and Stanton to Houston on Monday for an appointment at MD Anderson with a Radiologist colleague of Dr. Brown (Dell Radiologist). The MD Anderson doctor is one of the best and his clinic is one of three offering special radiation treatment that can specifically targets tumors and “spots”, much more effective than general treatment. If the doctor agrees to take Stanton as a patient, he will need to be at MD for six consecutive weeks of radiation treatment, available to return home on weekends and then resume the programmed treatment plan.

This is both encouraging and disappointing news – good for Stanton , as he stands to get the best possible treatment available. However, it will be extremely costly in a number of ways for Amanda and Stanton to have to set up temporary residency in Houston to work with MD.

Amanda also told me last night that she received news that Stanton qualified for the Make a Wish Foundation’s services. He will be allowed to submit three wishes of which one will be granted.

Madison (age 11) starts school on Monday and everyone is working to keep her life as normal as possible. She has a limited understanding of what’s going on, knowing that her brother is very ill, but has spent several days and nights away from home with family members during the latter days of summer vacation.

We are all grateful for everyone’s prayers, calls, gifts and expressions of concern and we will keep you posted on the news.

God Bless You all,
Dwain

Change in Plans & a Stumbling Block

Stanton had another headache last night and Amanda took him for a scheduled Doctor’s visit this morning. They ran a CT scan, and found no change in the existing spots and due to his fever they opted to do a bone marrow check to see if there was some kind of infection. He was admitted to Dell Hospital (4th Floor North – not ICU). She is to call me back later when more information is known.

Also, she and Stanton have an appointment with the Radiation specialist at MD Anderson on Tuesday at 9AM. I plan to take them to Houston Monday night and attend this meeting. The appointment was arranged by Dr. Brown at Dell, recommending Stanton work with his colleague, based on Amanda's conversation today with MD Anderson it seems very likely that the doctor will take on his case.

This doctor is one of the best in the land and MD Anderson has one of three special radiation treatment machines in the nation that can specifically target tumors and “spots” better than others. If the doctor agrees to take Stanton as a patient, he will need to be at MD for six consecutive weeks of radiation treatment, available to return home on weekends and then resume the programmed treatment plan. This is both encouraging and disappointing news – good for Stanton, as he stands to get the best possible treatment available. However, it will be extremely costly in a number of ways for Amanda and Stanton to have to set up temporary residency in Houston for the next 6 weeks. We’ll have more information as it becomes available, but want you to know the latest news.

Thanks for continued prayer and support!

More Scriptures to Pray & Stand On

Psalm 103:3 The Lord forgives all my sins & heals all my diseases.

Jeremiah 30:17 The Lord has declared that He will restore me to health & heal my wounds.

James 5: 14-15 When I am sick, I will call the elders of the church to pray over me & anoint me with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make me well: the Lord will raise me up.

Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise.

Decision Making Time

Hi again friends & family,

Amanda, Michael, Dad & Anne met with the doctors today to discuss the treatment plan for Stanton. He has been officially diagnosed with Medullablastoma but the good news is that there were no cancer cells in the spinal fluid or bone marrow. The 1st step to combat it is radiation, the 1st question is do they treat with chemo therapy at the same time or do they wait and do it after. The other question is what type of chemo do they use? There is one that is a clinical study medication versus the one traditionally used.

Amanda's head is swimming and she is weighing the pros & cons of each. She is faxing me all the information and once I get it I will scan it and post it as a link so you can see it.

What can you do? Please, please pray that Amanda will make the right decision and that she will have peace about that decision. In addition, remain hopeful and only share hope with her, if you have fears please do not speak them out loud to her. She needs to be surrounded by faith of restoration during this time. She is hanging on to hope for his healing and that is what we are not only praying for but fully expecting. We want to make sure we are standing firm in faith and hope and not allowing words of hopelessness to be spoken.

So here is what I am doing to reaffirm that hope & faith, I will post a new scripture on this blog whenever God gives me one and ask that we all pray it out continuously. Whenever God gives me a new one we will do the same thing all over again until Stanton is fully healed from this. I also encourage you to let me know if God gives you a scripture, I will post those as well, I certainly know He speaks to more people than me and want to stay within His perfect will for this situation.

So here is today's scripture: Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me wth all your heart. I will be found by you" said the Lord.

Thank you Jesus that you have a plan for Stanton and that plan is not to harm him but to give him hope and a FUTURE! Thank you for restoring our hope and faith in you through this trial. I trust Your perfect will for Stanton and stand on your word for restoration. In Jesus name, Amen.

Ahhh, Home At Last

I just spoke to Amanda & the news is good! Stanton is home and healing even faster than anyone expected. The first day he was home he began walking on his own. In typical Amanda fashion the family made a trip to the mall where she pushed Stanton around in the wheel chair, since that trip he has not used the wheel chair again.

They are expecting to begin radiation the 1st or possibly 2nd week of September, we will know more after the Tuesday meeting with all of the doctors. In the meantime Amanda could use some help watching the kids for a couple of hours so she can get a little work done, the baby sitter, Courtney, will be leaving for school very soon

Good Luck Courtney and thanks for a great summer and your support for Amanda during this time!

I believe that God is moving in response to all of our prayers, keep praying and expecting continuous miracles, I know that the Great Healer is just getting started!

The Real Stanton

A Plan For Going Home

It looks like Stanton will be going home tomorrow, which is great news. The doctors expect the radiation treatments to start in the 2-3 weeks. This means the Krause family will be home for a while without any more trauma.

This Tuesday Amanda is scheduled to meet with team of doctors to finalize the plan to treat Stanton. So far the doctors say treatment may go on for up to a year & a half. We will know more of course on Tuesday and as the treatment moves forward.

I asked Amanda if she needed anything & she asked for meals that were either ready to eat or frozen so she could re-heat them as needed.

She didn't ask for help with house cleaning or laundry but if you are willing I am betting she will accept it...it's not her favorite thing to do and as Stanton begins treatment she said she wants to make sure the house is as clean as possible so if his immune system weakens he is not at risk at home.

Ok friends & family, that is it for now...keep praying!

Today Is A Good Day!

I just talked to Amanda and the news is good! Stanton had his port put in this morning and while he was under they did the spinal tap and bone marrow test. He is IV free & loving it! Michael came up took Stanton outside for some fresh air. He loved being wheeled around in the chair and visiting the cafeteria, gift shop and outdoor courtyard.

The best news yet is that Stanton is out of ICU and in his own room, no more machine's beeping through the night and fewer nurse visits means better sleep for everyone! Amanda is cleaning her room at the Ronald McDonald house as we speak and is thrilled with today's results.

A Heart Felt Story:
Last night while Madison was at Cheer practice Michael took a moment to update Stanton's football coach. The coach shared with Michael that he is a cancer survivor of 9 years and then took off his Lance Armstrong "race for the cure" bracelet and asked Michael to give it to Stanton for him. Thanks Coach, your hope for Stanton means a lot!

Don't lose hope, keep the faith, don't stop praying...God is moving!

Until tomorrow,
Kacie

Photo taken of Stanton today, sitting outside of the hospital getting a little sun. The doctors removed the drain tube from his head today and plan to insert the port and perform the other test tomorrow morning. If all goes well, he should move to a standard room by Friday or Saturday. Don’t know how long he will remain in the hospital after ICU, but expect a few days to monitor his progress.

Any way, his attitude is good and he’s more active and talkative than previous days. Something is working.



Take care and keep him in your prayers,



Dwain

Quick 411

The Medical 411
The good news is that tomorrow the doctors may take the shunt out of Stanton's head because his brain is now draining properly. If they do take it out they will most likely sedate him and do the MRI, Bone Marrow test, Spinal Tap as well as put in the port all in 1 day. Of course he will be sleeping so he won't feel a thing.

The Good News
I got to talk to Amanda for a bit today and her spirits were up. She shared that she is tired but will get more rest once they are out of ICU (next couple of days if things go well tomorrow). Right now Michael is with Stanton from 12pm-8pm and Amanda is there the rest of the time.

She mentioned how wonderful all of the support has been and how blessed she feels knowing that so many people are praying for Stanton and her, we determined that more than 1000 people are praying and how we wish we could thank each of them personally! She shared how touched she was that Stanton's football team was so supportive and how they refunded all the money she paid for Stanton and Madison, and how the gave Madison a full scholarship for cheer leading. She said she was overwhelmed by their generosity.

Toward the end of the conversation she said that while she still can't believe this is all even happening she knows that it will change Stanton's life forever, that his future will be so different. She wonders now if all of this will affect what type of career he will choose, will he chose to help others in some way because he was helped. As we talked we shared how amazing God is and how there are blessings in the midst of chaos, we just have to make sure our eyes are open and we are waiting in expectation.

Awaiting in Great Expectation,
Kacie

An answered request for prayer

Below is a response to my request for prayer to Global Fire ministries which is a healing revival ministry:

Dear Kacie~

Greetings in the Love of Jesus! My name is Mary and i am part of the Global Fire prayer team. Thank you so much for writing us with your prayer request. We consider it an honor and privilege to bring Stanton before God's throne! We are thankful for your faith in God and so we want to unite our faith with yours!

Father, we come to you in Jesus' Name and we lift up little Stanton before You. We hold him before Your throne. We thank You for creating him perfect. We thank You for sending Jesus and allowing His sacrifice on the cross complete our salvation, including Stanton's complete healing! We are so thankful that You are faithful to all Your covenant promises to us and that means Stanton is healed! We call forth the manifestation of that healing right now, Lord! Let it be on earth as it is in heaven to the glory of Your Holy Name! HalleluYah! We speak life and health over Stanton right now! Thank You, Lord! Let it be! In Jesus Name, amen.

I encourage you to continue declaring that he is totally healed and offer thanksgiving and praise to the Lord! The alternative is doubt, right? :)

Please write us with any testimonies and also any other prayer requests you may have. We do answer all of our emails and pray over every request. We may take awhile to get back to you but we haven't forgotten! Be blessed in the Father's Love~
In Jesus,

Mary@ Global Fire Ministries

A look ahead

Stanton continues to become more alert and aware of his surroundings each day, moving around and communicating at times. He’s still on pain medication and not too energetic, but you can see that each day is better than the previous.

Late yesterday afternoon Dr. Schaffer met with Amanda & Mike to discuss future treatments for Stanton. Most likely he will not begin radiation treatments until after released from the hospital, probably late next week. The analysis of the spinal fluid did not reflect any cancer cells, so they are confident that all of the “spots” are on the outside of the brain and spinal column. The drain tube in his brain should be removed in the next couple of days and they will also do a bone marrow test to check for cancer cells and insert a port for the chemotherapy treatments due to begin after completion of radiation. Needless to say, he will be undergoing some form of treatment for the next few months, or longer.

The doctors are establishing a base line measurement of all of his motor and mental skills, planning to closely monitor for any abnormal change. He may experience minor learning deficiencies from the radiation treatments, and if so, they will work to add additional help to recover the lost skills to aid his learning development.

Amanda said his football team will present Stanton with a jersey bearing his number and put his initials on all of the players’ helmets, honoring him this season. He is proud and can’t wait to attend a game and show his appreciation.

We’re all grateful for your prayers and offers to help, as not only are you a comfort but also the prayers have been successful. It’s hard at this time to suggest what anyone can do to assist Amanda and the kids, but we will keep you posted on developments and provide suggestions that you may wish to consider. In the meantime, please keep Stanton in your prayers and thoughts, as he has a long ways to go before we really know what his future will be.

Stanton Says Hi

The above picture is Stanton waving hello. He is still taking pain medication, but he continues to improve daily. His eyes are still sensitive to bright light (eye patch), but his vision is fine. He is still in ICU and will remain there for several more days.

Once Amanda knows when radiation will begin I will get it posted. In the meantime I will be working with her and Summer to coordinate a schedule for family and friends to help whenever possible. We will be using a web service called carepage.com. Once it's up and running we will link it to this blog so you can check it out and sign up to help if you are interested.

Thanks for all your continued prayers and support!

Kacie

The Begining of Stanton The Unstoppable

So I have decided to start a blog specific to Stanton's recovery. This way, you don't have to look through all my info to find updates. Check out the link to go to his page. I am thinking once he's feeling better I can get Amanda to send me pictures and he can even tell me what he wants you to know about how he's doing. Maybe even a video clip every now and then. I am thinking if he gets into this it's something the family can do together from home as he recovers.

What did we learn today? Amanda met with the Onocologist and they decided he would start radiation in teh next few weeks. Stanton will be home schooled with a tutor in the fall returning to school at a later date.

Amanda is going to need some help with both the kids so she can work. She will be taking Stanton to and from his treatment sessions. If you would like to lend a hand to watch the kids, help with the chores or prepare a meal let me know. I will be asking my cousin summer to help coordinate some assistance as they work through the next few months.

Of course, all of these needs come 2nd to prayer. There are more folks than we know that are praying. Stanton is on prayer lists all over the state of Texas and Washington but it's never too much. So, that is our largest request, don't stop praying until we know he's healed.

Thank you so much for your support! Keep checking Stanton's blog for more updates.

Many blessings to you and your family,
Kacie

A Day of Praise

Today was a good day! Stanton had surgery to remove the large tumor that they think is at the root of what they beleive to be Medulloblastoma. What was expected to take 8 hours or more took less than 4 and they were able to remove all of it with only one tiny fragment behind. The doctor saw some of the other tumors during the surgery but did not try to remove them. Stanton was a model patient and the doctor said it was a textbook procedure, not one that happens all that often! Thank you Jesus!

The surgeon told my sister that today's hurdle was the biggest and Stanton came through with flying colors. The doctor said he believed all the other tumors were treatable and that he believed that Stanton is going to overcome this.

The word releif is not strong enough to describe how everyone is feeling today. I am praising God for His miracle working power and beleive it is by His might that Stanton will be healed.

Thank you all for praying and continuing to pray, but take some time to rejoice tonight, for the Lord is good!

Here is a link to a list of scriptures that declares healing. As you pray feel free to declare these out for him or for yourself if you too need healing or know someone who does. https://healingrooms.com/index.php?src=content&cid=5


Love you all!
Kacie

The First of Many Updates

I just got a call from my sister and the prognosis is not what we wanted to hear. The MRI revealed that Stanton has a very aggresssive tumor at the base of his brain where it meets the spinal cord. They also found some other very small tumors in the brain and along the spinal cord. Stanton will undergo surgery tomorrow to remove the large tumor.

We still don't offically know if the tumors are malignant but the doctor seems to think because of the aggressiveness of it that they are. We will wait and see to say for sure.

Amanda was heading to her church for Wednesday night service to ask for prayer then back to the hospital. After getting the news she just needed some time to grasp the information and regroup.

I will continue to update the blog. Thank you all for your committment to pray for my family.

On a smiliar note, I going to Spokane on August 16 for what has been called "The Flordia Outpouring". This is a healing revival that I am taking my mother in law to in hopes of healing for her hips, currently she is headed for a double hip replacment surgery. However, while I am still praying for her healing, my motives have changed. I will be praying for Stanton at the Revival and hope with all my heart to hear of his compelete healing.

If any one is in need of healing or simply wants to go for the experience please let me know. So far I know of at least 4 of us that are going but have had a couple of others express interest.

Check back for updates soon and email me at kacienesby@yahoo.com for more info on Stanton or the revival.

In Hope and Faith,
Kacie

A Call For Prayer

Just a few hours ago I spoke to my sister who was in tears when she told me her son had just moments ago been diagnosed with a mass on his brain. My nephew, Stanton, is 9 years old, and has been suffering from headaches that caused vomiting for the past week. After 2 doctor's visits she took him to the ER where they did the KAT scan and found the mass. He is now at Brackenridge Children's Hospital where they will do an MRI and strategize their plan of attack.

My call to you, yes all of you, believers and unbelievers alike, is for prayer. Prayer is just asking God for healing, however, I would encourage you to do more than that, to call out the scriptures that declare that Stanton is healed according to the Word that is our promise for hope and life.

So please pray this prayer with me

God, I ask for Your mercy for Stanton, that he would be healed and that those who know of his story will give You glory for Your mighty work in him. Lord, in the book of acts it says that You released Your Spirit on those that believed and God I believe, so by that same Holy Spirit I ask for healing in Stanton's body right now. Jesus, You told your followers that they will lay hands on the sick and that they will recover, and to go out and heal ALL kinds of sickness and ALL kinds of disease, Your word says that the prayer of faith will heal the sick and we are standing on that faith for healing. It's by Your stripes at Calvary that he is healed today. God we call heaven down to earth and declare that Stanton's body is made whole in this very instant and that all will marvel at Your goodness and glory. Thank you Jesus for your mercy and goodness.

In Your holy and mighty name,
Amen

Thank you for praying and standing in faith with us for Stanton's recovery. I will update the blog as we continue to get reports of his condition.

With love and great HOPE,
Kacie