Sammie Hartsfield-Wall of Dedication

Please visit Sammies Wall of Dedication and sign it to show your support.

Also, don't forget to visit her Caringbridge Page to get the latest on her condition.

Specific Requests for Kate

Kate's Mom is asking that we pray for the following:

1. Improvement in Kate's right arm and hand, as we are not seeing much at all
2. Protection from any sort of outside illness for Kate (and Aaron and I for that matter)
3. Sleep for Kate especially, as she desperately needs it to heal.
4. Wisdom for everyone involved in her care, that the best plan of action would be developed for her.
5. No, absolutely no, cancer cells in her spine.
6. Protection for Kate's hearing specificall

y during the chemo
7. Protection for Kate's kidney's during the chemo
8. That the tumor would shrink (miraculously, or through medicine)
9. That God would get glory through Kate's horrific journey
10. Kate's healing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Special Needs Children Lose Parents During Robbery

Please pray for the family and children

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Update On Kate

Kate Video Update

Please join in the prayers for this sweet little girl.

Caring Bridge Page

Prayer Focus Sunday-Madalyn

Madalyn (mentioned here) is back in the hospital and struggling with G-Tube issues which snowball into a myriad of nutrition and medication issues. She also made two visits to the OR this week which is unusual even for here! Please continue to pray for healing, answers and comfort for Dan, Tami, Paige,Evan and of course Mad. Also special prayers of blessing for Mad's Aunt Robin who has been able to step in and help the family while Dan works or takes cares of the other kiddos.

Here is a blurb from their Caringbridge page:

" Madalyn has been through so much, this illness has tested her strength (and ours!) and exposed her to more than I would ever wish for my 11 year old child. She has become mature in a way that hurts sometimes, to lose time of your childhood and the ability to be carefree hurts. She always seems to bounce back, she's very athletic and loves to run, play tennis, ride horses and swim when she is feeling good! Someday, I hope all the suffering she has endured in the last year and a half will be evident to her in her life, it will stay with her and we hope she will go on to do great things despite this uncertainty in her life. We are so grateful for our family, especially "Auntie" Robin who uses her vacation time frequently to come to our rescue."

Sammie Hartsfield

Sammie Hartsfield has been feeling better for a few days. Please pray that she is able to get as much joy and blessings as possible as she continues to fight this terrible disease. Today is her 12th Birthday! Please pray that she will have a sweet birthday!

More Prayers for Kate

Please continue to pray for Kate and check in on her story. Her mother needs extra comfort and strength to continue on taking care of this precious child.

Kate's Caringbridge Page

URGENT Prayer for Kate

Website

This is Kate McRae. Her parents are praying for a miracle. This sweet little girl was diagnosed with a brain tumor and is fighting for her life. Please read their story or watch their video. That is all this family is asking for is your prayers. As always, click on photos to visit this family's site.

Video

More Prayer for Moriah's Family

Justin and Victoria are in need of prayer and encouragement again. Please check the new post on their blog and pray for them. If you feel led, please leave words of encouragment as well.

Hope

URGENT Prayer for Sammie

Sammie's family needs our prayers immediately. Please visit her page and get the update from her parents and lift this family in prayer. They need comfort, encouragement and strength. Sometimes I feel helpless and then I remember that lifting up these families to a caring and loving God is the best thing I can do from here. If you feel the need to leave a note of encouragement i know the family will appreciate your prayers. Thank you, Hope


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Click on the photo to get to the care page.

Those of you that are Facebook are welcome to join Team Sammie.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Sammie-Hartsfield/1403570291#/pages/Team-Sammie/81292203793

Father's Day Prayers

Today I want to mention several fathers who will be blessed by your prayers today.

Dan's daughter Madalyn has spent the better part of the past two years in hospitals. Unable to eat and for the most part undiagnosed. He has spent countless days away from his wife and daughter to either work or take care of his other two children at home who are trying to keep some normalcy in their lives. Pray for blessings and continued endurance for Dan. Part of his family is away in yet another medical facility seeking answers.

Justin is Moriah's Dad. He works/lives in Southern California but travels North to visit his precious baby girl in the ICU. He adores his wife and aches for his daughter to someday be well enough to come home. Pray for Justin to be encouraged and blessed with a special moment with his sweet girl.

Todd and Adam are just two of the Dads experiencing their first Father's Day after losing a child. Both of their baby girls were born with numerous medical issues and fought hard to stay alive. They each have children still here on earth but without a doubt will be missing their sweet daughters today.

Keith who is celebrating his 19th Father's Day as a Dad but his 15th without his dear Katie whose valiant fight with cancer ended when she was only four years old.

My Dad, whose oldest son died within three days of being diagnosed with Leukemia and carried through one last wish that his little sister get married as planned less than three weeks later. Dad still speaks of Glenn with a tear in his eye and a breaking in his voice almost twenty years later.

I am aware that there are very many more Dads in any one of these situations. There are Dads serving our country in the military whose children will not give them a hug today. I am also keenly aware that there are those whose children have been blessed with health and full lives. As you celebrate today, please take a brief moment to celebrate these Dad who will forever see their role as a father in a different light. Dads who are split between home, work and the hospital trying to emotionally and financially support their families.

Sammie Hartsfield

Sammie was diagnosed on November 24, 2006 with Osteosarcoma in her femur. After many tests and a lung biopsy the doctors have confirmed that it has also spread to her lungs. Please pray for Sammie and her parents as they continue in this painful, long hard journey. Click on Sammie's photo to get to her care page.

Those of you that are Facebook are welcome to join Team Sammie.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Sammie-Hartsfield/1403570291#/pages/Team-Sammie/81292203793

Families Helping Other Families

As we head into the Summer months and get busy with our vacations, activities and own lives, I want to remind you that there are still families in hospitals that need you to life them up in prayer.

This Sunday prayer focus is one of those families that is struggling with discouragement and the pain of watching their child in and out of the hospital. They have a Sunday ministry for families who are unable to attend church because of a sick child. We were in that position for a year and I so wish we would have known these folks at that time. Thank you for taking the time for even a short but fervent prayer.
 

Nelson Anniversary

We need to keep praying for Moriah and her parents, Victoria and Justin. They celebrated their wedding anniversary this week and Moriah has been running unexplained fevers again. Please click on the photo to update yourself on their story.

This family and their faith through these painful trials have been a blessing and ecnouragement to me. I am certain you will be blessed by them as well!

Prayer Focus Sunday-Memorial Edition

Although my prayer focus is generally on parents with chronically or terminally ill children, I have a lady who needs comfort. Yesterday Russ and I were inspired to visit the local Veterans Cemetery. I have never done this in the 19 years we have lived in the area but I felt moved to go yesterday. I was hoping to find the grave of a local soldier who was killed in Iraq in 2005. As I approached the newer section, an elderly lady came up to me and pointed out over the sea of flags. "Isn't that wonderful?" she exclaimed. I agreed and she asked it I was there to see anyone in particular. I shook my head "No, we are here to honor all of them. I figure that they didn't know me when they laid down their lives for my freedom so I didn't need to have someone in particular to visit".  She proceeded to tell me about her husband who passed in April. They had been married 68 years. She almost gasped "I hate being alone after all the time". She hugged me as she turned to leave and thanked me for bringing honor to those who have given so much. With both of us holding back tears, I forgot to ask her name or offer mine.

As you pray this week, think about praying for the families of countless heroes who didn't need to know your name to fight for their freedom. While you are at it, pray for the sweet widow who stopped to thank the first person she saw at a small cemetery.

Ezekiel

This sweet little family deals with daily concerns and stress over health and developmental issues and they don't even have a diagnosis yet.

Please pray for Ezekiel and Chelsea as the Lord draws them close and the Doctors witness the miracles of the sweet boy and his dedicated Momma.

Another Farewell

Please pray for the Freeman's family today. As we all head out to our daily tasks, remember that life will never be the same for this family after saying farewell to their sweet miracle.

Mother's Day Prayer focus

Mother's Day gets a lot of attention and rightfully so. Many Mother's deserve to be honored and to have their accomplishments noticed. For first time Mother's its an especially happy day.Today I am praying for those who find Mother's Day to be a time filled with more difficult emotions.

For those whose Mother was less than honorable, this day hold feelings of regret. I have a dear friend whose Mother's actions were neglectful and at times abusive. She herself is a role model to other mothers and an encouragement to young women.

Mother's Day is also painful for those who no longer have their Mother here on earth. This is my first Mother's Day without my Mom. The approach to this day has been emotional to say the least. It won't be filled with sadness but their is no denying that its a challenging road.

For the women who have longed to have a child but motherhood has been elusive. Infertility has wounded the heart in a way that makes this day arduous. It may mark their first Mother's Day since the loss of a child or for some their 15th. They may be spending today in a children's hospital praying for the health of their sick one.

Then there are those whose mother/child relationship are estranged. A rift separates a relationship that is so easy to take for granted. Today could be a day of reconciliation or a reminder of what is being lost.

As you go about the activities of today, church, brunch, picnics and celebrations, I encourage you to be tender to those who may not be having a "Happy" Mother's Day. (I'm not suggesting that we forgo celebrating. I believe that mother's deserve honor.) I'm suggesting thoughtfulness.

On this day, Pray for the words to bring comfort. Ask the Lord to heal hearts and to give hope on this special day.

Mother's Day Prayers

So many of us know what it is like to celebrate Mother's Day but so few know what it is like to spend it with an very sick child in the hospital. Tomorrow, many of the Mom's I have mentioned on prayer focus Sunday will be doing just that. What can you do if you know of someone who won't be home on Mother's Day?

First, don't assume that they will have plenty of people in touch with them. When too many people follow that line of thinking, to few reach out. If they aren't taking visitors, drop off a card or a little gift. A note of encouragement will go a long way.

Second, (but not less important) pray for them. Let them know you are praying for them and if appropriate, ask for specific requests. The comfort it will bring is far and above what you might think.

Towards the bottom of my main page you will find links to different blogs where parents have either lost a child this year or are dealing with a pediatric health crisis. Check them out. The Lord may put a specific one on your heart to encourage and it will do your heart good as well!

Above all, have a blessed weekend.

Kayleigh

I can't believe it is Sunday already but it gives me another chance to pass on a prayer need. It gives you a chance to pray for someone you have never met.

My Mom taught me that God gave each of us Moms a "mother's heart" made just for our children. With that, we have the ability to understand with concern about what other parents must be going through with children who are ill.

Here is another family to pray for this day:

Maddie is home which is a praise but its hard on her parents to keep up the medication and IV administration. Please continue to pray for them.