Eat Mor, Sy!

Check this out! Some of the fantastic people at Sy's school have done something amazing to bless our family.

By partnering with a local Chick-fil-A, Sy's school will be selling their calendars as a fundraiser for Sy. Everyone loves their calendars and the coupons inside pay back the cost of the calendar multiple times. Through Chick-fil-A's generosity, the calendars will cost $7 and $4 of this will be going directly to Sy's medical account. The Cows will be generating a lot of Moolah...get it? You can laugh. No? Geez, tough crowd!

Each calendar sold covers the cost of one of his elemental formula juiceboxes. Sy currently needs to drink 6-7 per day for his nutrional needs, so we are hoping for great sales! We will let you know the final outcome!

Sorry Chick-fil-A, that Sy can't pay you back by eating your food, but he does like the smell of it!

Carried On

After leaving the Cinci Children's Hospital a few weeks ago, we were overwhelmed with disappointment and discouragement after learning Silas had failed his food trials. Although we were choosing to rejoice in God's sovereign plan, there were moments of feeling like the journey was hopeless (as one doctor had told us before), long, expensive, and downright lonely. Many of our questions in regards to Sy's medical care just don't have answers at this point...

1. The docs don't know the long-term effect of the medicinal formula that Sy drinks each day.
2. Sy has failed so many food tests/trials that the hope of him ever being on a "normal" diet seems unlikely at this time (outside of a miracle and/or cure).
3. The option of heavy steroids poses many risks and once off of these meds, the disease comes immediately back.

Needless to say, we were at a loss and sometimes we're hesitant to share the reality of Sy's condition because, quite frankly, we feel like people are probably just plain sick of hearing about it. We KNOW we are blessed beyond measure and we never want to complain. However, the thought of the journey ahead is, at times, quite daunting.

BUT I love how GOD's plan is so much greater than our limited perspective. In the moment of our despair, GOD knew what was to come...

"Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:29-30

Our community around us has just truly embraced us and carried us. Their love and support of Silas is what keeps him (and us) going. Seriously, I don't think he could handle the cards he's been dealt without the love he feels from everyone around him.

Here are just a few brief stories from the last couple of weeks:

*Silas is homeschooled but attends Classical Conversations on Tuesdays. The director, Jody Scott, shared a story last week about a 10-year old girl who told her mother that she would not be having lunch on Tuesdays because she doesn't want Silas to be the only one not eating at school. Wow!

*We've also learned that a friend of ours (who is a fabulous hairstylist) is doing back-to-school haircuts (this Friday) to raise support for Sy's Trust Fund.

*A 12-year old girl in our neighborhood is selling amazing hair bows, headbands, and stationary and donates a portion of the proceeds to Sy's medical costs.

*Another 12-year old friend is babysitting and is generously giving a percentage of what she earns to Sy.

*A couple of weeks ago, our whole church body spent a day fasting and in prayer for our boy.

Wow! ... Wow! ... Wow! ... Wow!

So I love GOD's timing... Just when things seemed hopeless, HE showed up in an enormous way and is using the body of Christ to walk this journey with us and even at times, carry us.

So thank you all for sharing your words of kindness, your hugs, your love, your finances, and your great ideas and acts of service. Little do you know that you have been the very arms of GOD to us!

Just Checking In!

Hey y'all!

Just wanted to put up a quick post with an update on Sy.

Sy has adjusted quite well to going back to his liquid diet and doing away with the few foods he was able to eat. He has, however, increased his desire to smell foods around the dinner table. Again, there has been no complaining and I think if Sy had to choose between eating and Angry Birds, the birds would come out on top. I guarantee he could take most of you if you are up for the challenge!

Anyway, we just ask for your prayers as we continue to find the exact path that Sy needs to walk. Please pray that Sy can get all the calories he needs in a day (by mouth). He's been struggling to drink enough each day. He's already tall and thin (size 2 shoe already) and he needs a little more meat on his bones. He also starts school next week and will need to practice extra self-control as all his friends eat everything around him.

Thanks for all of you who keep our boy in your thoughts and prayers.

Can You Hack It?

Tomorrow, August 3, our community will be gathering around Silas and joining him on a 24-hour liquid diet fast. As we think about the place food has in our lives, we will pause and pray for Sy and all those who are struggling with Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Please join us as we go through our day with only water or juice. We will work to help Sy find a way back to eating... It's only one day! 

We Just Couldn't Do It...

As we decompress from Sy's last visit to Cincinnati Children's Hospital and start over again on another long road with his health, we stop and realize the people and their blessings that surround us in the middle of our journey. We are blessed because of all of you who give of your prayers, you who give your time, you who give of your resources, you who read this blog, you who post thoughtful comments and send emails, you who give our little boy big hugs, you who take the time to understand Sy's struggles, you who make sure that Sy doesn't feel left out, and so much more...

Just tonight, as we talked on the phone, we began to try to understand what it is that God is doing with our family. We have many obstacles facing our family right now and we began to shed a few tears together as we try to figure out how to deal with Sy's health and the emotional toll it has on the both of us. However, we want you to know that we are able to continue to move forward because of the gracious encouragement that we receive from people like you.

Sy has come so far and it's almost unbelievable how many great options (like traveling to Cincinnati for top-notch treatment) have become available when we never imagined they would. We just want all of you to know that our family stands and moves forward because of your support... All I can say is we are humbled and more than appreciative of what all of you have done for us.

We just couldn't do it....without you! Thank you!

Consider It Pure Joy...

My heart is heavy and these words keep ringing in my head tonight... "Consider it PURE JOY, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

Pure joy? Not blemished or partial, half-hearted joy but PURE, unadulterated and authentic JOY?

How do I exude this joy as I tell my son that he's failed this food trials today? How do I explain to him that he is allergic to ALL foods--that his body battles itself every time he takes a bite? How do I break the news that I have to take away the 5 foods he's been able to enjoy and go back to solely a liquid, medicinal formula diet? And all the while, he has to stay joyful in the process? ......................................................

Because God tells me to. Sometimes I get frustrated that God is having to use my son to grow MY character but then I think about how God has used these "hurdles" to deeply grow all of us. Strength in weakness... Beauty in brokenness...

Food is a basic necessity of life--we deal with it every day--at almost every social event, play date, school function, the list goes on and on. The only way to walk through this valley is to have HOPE and JOY in ALL circumstances.

Recently when talking to Sy about heaven, his big, blue eyes lit up as he asked, "Will I be able to eat all 'fewds' in heaven?" Needless to say, he has great hope and is stoked to get there!

So I trust... I have faith that God is using this for the greater good, for OUR greater growth, and HIS greater glory!

So even tonight as I sit here and struggle to feel it, I. CHOOSE. JOY!!!

Big Day in Cincinnati!

Hey everyone,

We are just asking for your prayers as we sit and wait to take Sy in for another endoscopy here in Ohio. We have added a few more foods to his diet and we've had a few new symptoms pop up, so we're a little apprehensive. We know that God has taken great care of our little champ and we know without a doubt that He will continue to do so!

Sy just enjoyed his 5th birthday, so we are praying that this will be his year for a breakthrough in his treatment. We are also asking for wisdom as we have many decisions to make after we get the results.

We will let you know how it goes. Thanks for your help in keeping our sweet boy healthy!