Prayers Needed

The phone rang last night.

It was my dad confirming what some in our family were fearful would be validated. 

My 13-year old cousin was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia...a rare cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells demonstrated by a rapid growth of white blood cells in the bone marrow that disrupts the body's ability to produce normal blood cells.

Our cousin has had a condition since birth that has interfered with his ability to produce white blood cells that mature and consequently, has taken nightly shots to keep his immune system healthy.

And so far, so good...until last week, when he got sick.

When I got the call that he was at Children's Hospital, I brought him the first Harry Potter book and a blizzard.  We talked a little bit about the hospital.  It's kind of cool...they have a Wii in the room....the nurses are super nice...the food's not too bad...and according to him,  the view of Dodge street was amazing (they're not from Omaha).

Our next steps are to find a bone marrow donor match immediately.  Our odds are challenging and we're up against a clock.

But how can God take a child at 13 years of age?  Seventh grade?  Basketball games?  Friends?  Hopes?  Dreams?  So much life to live?  So many milestones to see?

I went to church alone this morning and prayed for a long time.  Please God, heal my cousin.  Please God, give him more time with his family and friends.  And if it is your will to take him home, please give him the most amazing last days here on this earth and give his parents and family strength and courage.