June 2016 David's leukemia has relapsed.

David's leukemia has relapsed. 

Thank you all who have had a part in praying for the past 3 ½ years for my grandson, David (Jacob and Kiki Hantla’s son). Three weeks after he had been declared cancer-free, no more chemo, “ever”, David's leukemia is back.  

Jacob wrote:

We finished the marathon and have been asked to run another one. It doesn't feel like we have the strength, but one day at a time, one step at a time, we know that God will sustain us, and we are begging for healing for David.

So now, we start the process again. Bone marrow biopsy, multiple spinal taps and intrathecal chemo, risk stratification, induction, then depending on results, we will have to run down bone marrow transplant or further chemo options.

The prospect of having him go through that again (and this is just the start) is almost too much to consider. Yet we know and keep reminding ourselves that we don’t need the strength or faith today for tomorrow, just for today. God will provide what He asks, and so our marathon begins again one step at a time, one day at a time (Matt 6:34).

The sweet thing of cancer and these trials is that they bring us to the end of ourselves. My mind and conversation with David keeps swirling around 2 Cor 4:16-18 "So we do not lose heart...For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient but the things that are unseen are eternal." And "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me....For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor 12:9-10). As I was talking with David about these things--things he knows well--I was so grateful I memorized them last time, and all those verses so sweet to me then and since came flooding back out of my memory. And at the end, David said confidently as he squeezed my hand, "I trust God, dad." And then he closed his eyes, fell asleep, and rested well.

         Thank you for joining me in prayer for:
              1. Comfort and pain relief for David 
              2. Complete remission and healing
              3. Peace, strength, and faith in the process
              4. Wisdom to know how to proceed with treatment