Auctions worth bidding on!!! Help sam

Monday, November 30, 2009 8:34 PM, EST



Hello to all. Sam had a pretty good doctors visit today at the hospital. His counts are all coming back up for the most part. His platelets and Hemoglobin were down a little bit but the doctor did not seem concerned. All his other numbers were going up in the right direction. Sam currently weighs (according to the scale at the hospital) 51 pounds. The doctor looked back in her records and showed Sam weighing about 53 pounds in August. I was thrilled to hear that he really has not lost any weight through all of his chemo and even the loss of his right leg. Even if these numbers are off by just a little bit I am still very encouraged that Sam's weight has maintained and he has not lost very much. Sam is a pretty tall and skinny kid as it is so him losing to much weight is a concern that I have for him.

Sam and I were able to meet the family of Connor Belle today. We truly enjoyed meeting Connor's parents Dave and Vonnie at the hospital. We were able to stay and visit with them for a little while and I think it was just as much as a blessing for Sam and I as it was for them. Thanks for all of the prayers being lifted up for Connor today. He is out of surgery and is in recovery now according to his latest post on his CaringBridge site. Please continue to keep this family in your prayers in the weeks ahead.

I have not spoken with my father yet today but I did speak with my sister. My dad did receive his first chemo today and was able to get it outpatient. He should be at home now hopefully resting comfortably. Please pray that he will not get sick from the chemo and that it will do it's job against the cancer in my father's body. Praying for better days ahead for Sam and my Dad.

I did not mention that yesterday our family was able to meet the family of Blake Haxton. Blake is a local young man in our area who recently had both of his legs amputated. He has an amazing story and his life is truly a miracle. If you are interested in visiting his caringbridge website the website name is blakehaxton Thank you so very much to the Haxton family for opening up your home to our family. We are blessed to have met you.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009 3:08 PM, EST



Just a quick update. Sam is doing really well at home and his pain does seem to be less over the past 2 days....he is not needing his meds as frequently. I will be taking him back to a local Clinic tomorrow morning for his blood counts which are hopefully back in the normal range. He has a pretty good appetite which has been wonderful. He even had a successful tutoring session last night with his 3rd grade teacher w/out having to stop for phantom pain interruptio​ns. I am truly praying that we are getting a handle on his phantom pain....tho​ugh I have been told that it will probably continue to be worse when he is in the hospital for chemo. Sam goes back in next Tuesday for Methotrexat​e (chemo) and will be in for 4 days. We are looking forward to a fun few days with some friend play dates planned for Sam, our families benefit at our church on Saturday at 1:00PM and a Christmas party with a Kids Cancer Organizatio​n on Sunday. Wishing you all a blessed holiday season. Thank you for the continued prayers for Sam and my Dad. Dad made it through his first dose of chemo on Monday. So far he is doing alright but when we spoke last night he said he was starting to feel the effects from the chemo. Keep those prayers coming. Thanks for the continued support. So thankful for this Christmas season!!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009 3:34 PM, EST



BISH FAMILY BENEFIT AND AUCTION



SATU​RDAY, DECEMBER 5TH AT 1:00PM



WESTE​RVILLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

471 EAST COLLEGE AVENUE

WESTERVILLE​, OHIO



Mike and I will be there and Sam will be there for some of the benefit. We would be honored to meet some of the many people that live locally that have been praying for our family. Thank you so very much for supporting our family in prayer, with your friendship and encourageme​nt and financially. Your support means so very much to our family. God bless you all during this holiday season. Remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009 6:55 PM, EST



Here is a link from a newspaper article in a local paper in our town. They did an article on Sam and it will be published tomorrow. I thought that some of you may enjoy reading this. Have a wonderful evening.



http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/co...009/12/02/1203rbcancer-battle_ln.html?sid=104

Saturday fundraiser to aid 3rd-grader battling cancer

Wednesday, December 2, 2009 3:23 PM

By DAVID S. OWEN



ThisWeek Staff Writer

Cindy Bish, mother of 8-year-old Samuel Bish, said her son has a long road ahead of him after being diagnosed with cancer in August.



Bish said her son was diagnosed Aug. 10 with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, in his right leg around his femur.



Sam lives in the Meadows subdivision with his mother and father, Mike, and his two younger sisters, Aubrey and Caitlin.



A live auction fundraiser for Sam will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, at Westerville Christian Church, 471 E. College Ave. in Westerville. Items up for bid will include signed sports items and gift baskets. Snacks will be available.



Cindy Bish said the first sign of Sam's condition was found when increasing pain caused the boy to begin limping.



"This past summer he had some pains in his right leg and we thought it was growing pains," Bish said, "and then, once he started limping and complaining of the pain more, we took him to an orthopedic doctor to get an X-ray, not thinking it was anything serious.



"They found the mass immediately. About two days later at Nationwide Children's Hospital on the 16th of August, it had actually spread to his left fibula bone and they found nodules on his lungs and a spot on his spine," she said.



Bish said Sam underwent a biopsy and within a few days began chemotherapy, which he is still taking two or three times a month.



She said he will be back in the hospital on Dec. 8 and the week of Dec. 14 for more chemotherapy, then will be home for Christmas before heading back for more chemotherapy the first week of January.



Also in January, Bish said, Sam will undergo lung surgery.



She said after doctors initially made the diagnosis, it was determined Sam had to have his right leg amputated, which occurred on Oct. 30. It was the location of the main malignant tumor, Bish said.



"In order to get the tumor out of his leg and have a lesser chance of recurrence, his right leg was amputated," she said. "This is going to be an ongoing battle for him and he's probably going to be between chemos and surgeries at least until June."



After June, she said, Sam will continue to receive scans every two months to make sure the cancer has not come back.



Bish said doctors initially had hopes that the cancer had not spread and that they had caught it early, but scans showed otherwise as they learned that it had spread.



"Of course that changes everything and he has a really long road ahead of him," Bish said.



Sam is in the third grade at French Run Elementary School and has only been able to attend school for four days this year.



His mother said tutors are working with him in the meantime.



"He's either in the hospital so much or home from the hospital recovering and misses school," Bish said. "He's very susceptible to infections and illness so we can't really have him out in crowds."



Sam is handling his illness well now, she said, but when she and her husband first explained he had cancer, he was alarmed and frightened.



Bish said besides spending time with his friends, Sam enjoys playing video games -- especially Pokemon -- and watching movies. He's a big fan of "Star Wars" and super heroes in general, she added.



Former Ohio State football player Dimitrious Stanley paid a visit to the Bish household recently after hearing about Sam's condition, she said. He spent time with Sam and gave him an autographed football.



Sam and his family have received a lot of support from their church, the community and teachers at French Run Elementary, Bish said.



"He has thousands of people praying for him," she said. "An initial e-mail went out after he was diagnosed with a picture of him on it basically asking for prayer for him."



Bish said the e-mail has circulated all around the world and people from many different countries are signing his Web site at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/sambish.



"Definitely the support of many and our church and family are helping us to get through this," she said. "But he's scared, and this is very hard for him because he's missing school and his friends."



Bish said the owner of the Angel Works Foundation, Ellie Hite, found out about Sam through an e-mail that was circulating and contacted the Westerville Christian Church to sponsor Saturday's fundraiser.



She said their insurance does not cover all her son's medical expenses, so proceeds of the fundraiser will go towards medical expenses and to help pay for the prosthetic leg Sam will be getting in January.



A fund in Sam's name has also been set up at the Huntington National Bank, 8220 E. Broad St., Reynoldsburg 43068. Donations can be made in person or mailed to the bank attention to Sue Shepherd.



Checks should be made payable to Samuel Bish

Friday, December 4, 2009 9:51 PM, EST



Hi Everyone! Not much to report.....​I just did not want you all to think we had forgotten about you. Sam is doing really well at home. His counts have come back up and he is feeling good. It seems he has not needed his pain meds as frequently for his phantom pain over the past few days....thi​s is a huge praise!! He has his appetite and has been eating well. He enjoyed short play dates with 2 of his friends over the past 2 days. Our family is looking forward to our benefit tomorrow and then our first Christmas party of the season on Sunday. We are trying to fit in some good times/happy memories before Sam goes back in for chemo again on Tuesday.

I will try to update tomorrow evening after the benefit. Hope to meet many of you and we know we will be in the prayers of those of you that cannot attend. Thank you for the continued prayers for both Sam and my Dad. I have no new updates on Dad yet. Expecting that miracle of healing!!

Saturday, December 5, 2009 9:04 PM, EST



Hello to all. I know many of you were praying today that Sam would feel good and that our benefit would go well. Well, your prayers worked. Sam has really felt great most of the day. He attended the benefit for the first hour and a half and then my dear Friend Rachel and her step son Travis took Sam back to our home to hang out and relax. Sam really enjoyed playing with Travis today.....i​n fact he enjoyed it so much that Travis is spending the night with Sam tonight. This is Sam's first sleep over since his cancer diagnosis. He has really enjoyed time with his special friend today and for this we are so thankful. I think it really boosts his spirits when he can do "normal" things that 8 year old boys like to do.

The benefit went wonderful today. It went better than I could have ever imagined. I do not know how many people actually attended but Mike said he thought we maybe had around 200 people there off and on throughout the afternoon. There were some terrific donations that were available and many thoughtful and giving people who bid on them to help out our family with medical expenses. Thank you so very much for those of you who came out to support our family. Some special thanks to the Angel Works Foundation and Ellie Hite for putting on this benefit for our family; to our wonderful community, church, family and friends who came to help with the benefit and support us; to the Children's Body Image Foundation for their donation to our family and for the many prayers being lifted up on our behalf. Today went wonderful and we are so very thankful for all of our many blessings.

​ Our family will be attending a Christmas Party tomorrow with a cancer organizatio​n called A Kid Again. The kids are really excited about it....we even heard a rumor that Santa may be making a special, early appearance. Our family is hoping to stop by the hospital tomorrow to visit with the family of Connor Bell. Thanks to all of you that have been reaching out to that family. Connor seems to be recovering quite well from his recent surgery and I know his family appreciates all the prayers and support.

​ We hope that you all enjoy the rest of your weekend. We have no snow here in Ohio but I have heard that neighboring states around us have receiv​ed snow. I am not ready for winter!! Sam goes back in to the hospital on Tuesday morning for Methotrexat​e. Please pray that he does well with this next round of chemo and that he does not develop mouth sores (Methotrexa​te is known for this as a side effect). Until next time, praying for Sam and my Dad.

Sunday, December 6, 2009 4:33 PM, EST



New pictures have been posted from the past few days of Sam. Enjoy viewing!



Sweet Sam

Sam and Dad playing Xbox

Sam with his new friend Blake Haxton. Blake has an amazing story. What an amazing role model for Sam.

Sam and Aubrey

Mom, Dad and Sam at his family benefit on 12/5/09

Bish kids at the Kid Again Christmas Party on 12/6/09 with Santa

Sam and his new turtle

Folks,

I am still offering My breeder bucks (RDM Hefty) semen for 75.00 dollars a straw with half the proceeds going to Sam's cause...........currently we have raised 2,500.00 dollars that i will be sending out a check to Sam tomorrow.......I have about 20 more straws of semen that i am willing to do this with......please open up your hearts and purchase a straw or two of semen and consider giving a little more if you can.....this boy didn't ask for these troubles......he was dealt them.........we can really make a difference in helping him and his family out especially for the Holiday season....i'm hoping they can have an awesome Christmas with our generosity......please consider purchasing some semen.....hefty really has been throwing some very nice offspring.........Rod Miller has some that are scoring well up in the high 200 inch range at 2 and 3 years old.........let's make a differnce with these last 20 straws maybe we can put a huge smile on Sam's face and his family as well!! email me if interested in purchasing semen and [email protected] or i will check on here......God bless!!!

Hey Dennis, I was just wondering if you have recived my check yet? Also I was wondering if you could read my hand writing on the note? I have been praying for Sam and his family.







Thank you,

Chris

SAM'S MOM WROTE

Monday, December 7, 2009 7:58 PM, EST



Hello again. I hope this update finds everyone doing well and preparing for the holiday season. I have tried to get as much Christmas shopping done as I could so far knowing that Sam would be in the hospital for days at a time over the next 2 weeks. Sam had a fun day today. He was able to hang out with his good buddy Joe Friend (who is also a fellow amputee). Joe has been such an amazing support system for Samuel and our family is forever grateful. Joe and Sam had fun playing video games together and then they actually ventured out and went to a movie this afternoon. They went and saw The Christmas Story. I know Sam had fun getting out of the house and hanging out with Joe. Unfortunate​ly neither of them liked the movie and Sam ended up getting a stomach ache from eating to many goodies at the movie theater....​so they came home early from the movie and just hung out here at our home. Sam was able to go out tonight and look at Christmas lights with his Dad and grandparent​s. Now we are all just winding down for the evening b/c Samuel goes back into the hospital tomorrow morning for his chemotherap​y of Methotrexat​e. Please pray that he does well with this week of chemo and also that he does not get very sick or develop the mouth sores. We are hoping Samuel can come home on Friday. I will keep everyone updated from the hospital. Thanks for the continued support and prayers. Sam has had a great 2 weeks at home and now we have to go back in and be in fighting mode to fight this cancer and destroy it. Please be in prayer that he will continue to do well.

Update on my Dad- got a phone message from him today even though we still have not been able to connect by telephone. It sounds like he has some pain and nausea but it is being controlled by meds. He is doing the best that he can. I am sure he would appreciate continued prayers. Still praying for that miracle of healing for both Sam and my Dad.





SAM'S DAD WROTE

Monday, December 7, 2009 9:36 PM

Dear All-



Just to let you know that Sam is doing great. Over the weekend we got him to start walking on crutches. He was really nervous at first and was very apprehensiv​e about it. I adjusted his crutches down a little until he got back into the rythmn of walking with them. Then I adjusted them back to where they needed to be, and he did great!



We are gearing up to go back to the Chateau tomorrow for the next for days. Please pray that he won't get sick and that all will go great.



We met a new family the other night at the hospital while visiting our new friends, the family of Connor Bell. His caring bridge site is new and is AJCorey. He is about 2 years old and was diagnosed with a form of brain cancer. He is currently at Children's here in Columbus recovering from brain surgery. Please lift him and his young family up in prayers.



Hop​e you have a great evening and God Bless!

Dad

Instruction​s on how to send Sam e-cards at the hospital



Go to the hospital web page at:

www.Nationw​ideChildren​s.org and click on the parents/fam​ilies/visit​ors link on the left and click send a greeting card. Follow the instruction​s and once you finished they will actually print the card you made for Sam and deliver it to his room. Sam is in room J5303.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009 11:54 AM, EST



We are here at the hospital...​or as Mike would say Chateau Nationwide. It has been a busy morning already as Sam has already had a CT scan done of his chest/lungs. He did really well with it...no anxiety. It was a short scan. Sam was so funny b/c the radiology tech told him to get his feet up on the table. Sam looked at her and smiled and said "I don't have feet...I have 1 foot." This brought a smile and a laugh to everyone. He has adjusted so very well to not having 2 legs anymore. We are so very thankful for this. He still has his moments when he misses his leg but he really has accepted his current situation quite well considering he is only 8 years old....he does keep reminding me that he is going to be 9 next month though. It's very hard for me to believe that we are already 5 months into cancer treatment for Samuel. I am praying with all my heart that our family has a better 2010.

Sam is currently sitting on the couch in his room and playing his Nintendo DS and eating a PB and jelly sandwich. Chemo has not started yet but his port is accessed and he is receivin​g fluids. Our room up here on J5 is the biggest room that we have yet to have....ver​y comfortable...​or as comfortable as you can get in the hospital. Mike asked if we can request this room for next week as well. For those of you that are interested our friend Connor Bell is now home from the hospital. He is doing great. His parents Dave and Vonnie have posted a few pictures on thier website of when we met thier family...ch​eck it out and keep praying for Connor. I will keep everyone updated as to how Sam is doing. He seems to be doing great now but he had a hard time coming to the hospital this morning. He did not cry but he was just very sad about having to come back here again. He has had such a great 2 weeks at home that it is hard for him and for all of us to get back into hospital mode again. Please keep those prayers coming

Tuesday, December 8, 2009 12:27 PM, EST



Sam is in room J5303 if anyone would like to send him e-cards through the hospital. Our hospital name is Nationwide Childrens Hospital and there should be a link on there main page somewhere where you can send e-cards to the patients....​they will be delivered to Sam's room each day. Our church is also still accepting mail/packag​es for our family if you would like to send "snail mail" or a Christmas card to our kids. They love receiving mail. Our church address is on the MY Story page....the​re is a link you can click on to get to our church website. Thanks for all of the support. We truly do feel all the prayers being lifted for our family and on Sam's behalf. I truly believe that Sam is doing as well as he is b/c of all of the prayers being said for him.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009 2:12 PM, EST



Sam's test results from his CT scan came back. No new nodules have appeared on the scans and the nodules that are still there look calcified and dead. This is good news. We will not know the necrosis rate (how dead the nodules are) until after his lung surgery. We also found out today that his lung surgery will not be until February (not January) like we had originally thought. We are currently at week 16 of treatment and his lung surgery will not be until around week 26 which puts us at the end of February.

We also found out the necrosis rate of both of his legs today. The necrosis rate of the tumor that was in his right leg was at 96%. This is excellent news....esp​ecially since this was the main tumor site. The necrosis rate of the tumor in his left leg was only at 85%. This is not bad but not as good as we expected. Typically the best results are anything over 90%. Dr. Yeager seemed puzzled why there was a discrepancy in the necrosis rate on both legs. He did say that he was going to contact Dr. Pete at MD Anderson to get his opinion and to see if anything should be changed with Sam's chemo protocol (or even if radiation should be started earlier than we anticipated​). Please be in prayer about this.....th​at we will get the answers we need, that Sam's body will continue to respond to the chemo protocol that he is currently on, that no new Osteosarcom​a nodules will show up and that we can continue and stay on track with Sam's current chemo protocol. Thanks for the prayers.

I have donated two straws of semen towards Sam. We have been busy hunting and have not followed the forums in weeks. Does any one know who bought the semen and for how muck and was a check already sent to where it was supposed to go.

If not the semen is still on the table any two straws of semen out of our tank

Blessings



100% of the deer that do not die in our pens are shot

Wednesday, December 9, 2009 7:58 AM, EST



Today is a brand new day. Sam had a bit of a rough night last night.....n​ot awful but he was up a few times with an upset stomach. He did get sick twice and of course does not want anything to eat. He normally does not eat very well when he is in the hospital but then he rebounds pretty quickly with his appetite once he gets home from the hospital. Praying for a good day. I think a few post operative x-rays are planned for Sam's legs during this chemo stay as well as an audiology test. Some of the chemo drugs can cause hearing loss so they are wanting to test Sam's hearing before next weeks chemo. Keep those prayers coming and thank you in advance for all of the e-cards that Sam will receive today.

Please continue to keep the family of AJCorey in your prayers. I was able to meet the family last night and see AJ b/c they are currently up on J5 with Sam right now. AJ's mom said this is AJ's first chemo he is receiving. It sounds like his diagnosis is new. He is a precious little boy and prayers would be appreciated. I believe the family is new to CaringBridg​e so what an encourageme​nt it would be to them to be uplifted by prayers and all of your encouraging posts in the guestbook. Thank you in advance for this. Expecting that miracle.



Wednesday, December 9, 2009 12:42 PM, EST



Have I mentioned that our family has the most fantastic group of prayer warriors ever? When Sam and I got back to his room this morning after his x-rays and Audiology test we found a huge stack of e-cards sitting on his bed. He must have at least 200 cards or more. Thank you all so very much for stepping up to the plate to show some love and encourageme​nt to Sam and our family today. It brought a smile to both of our faces and will be some good reading material for later today. Thank you! For those of you that want to send an e-card to AJ Corey you can follow the same directions you did for Sam (look back at yesterdays journal entrie for directions) but you have to put AJ's room number. He is in room number J5309- tell them that the Bish family sent you.

Sam seems to be feeling a little bit better this afternoon. He just ate some cheerios and a pop tart and so far it is staying down.....go​od news. Hopefully he will continue to feel better today and eat some more later. Keep those prayers coming.



Wednesday, December 9, 2009 6:57 PM, EST



Here is the link below that will access AJ Corey's website. Thanks to all of you who have posted on his CaringBridg​e website already. What an amazing group of prayer warriors you all are. Thank you for showing support to this family as they face early unknown's in the world of childhood cancer. Praying for Sam, Connor, AJ and all of the other children with childhood cancer. We need to find a cure!



http:/​/www.caring​bridge.org/​visit/ajcor​ey/mystory

Thursday, December 10, 2009 9:37 AM, EST



Greetings Prayer Warriors-



I am here at the Chateau for another staycation with Sam. Overall he had a decent day yesterday, he didn't get sick until the middle of the night. He got sick at 2 am and just a little at about 4 am. He is currently sacked out on the couch.



It is a chilly morning here in Cowtown (columbus) and the heavy winds have seemed to have passed. Fortunately Cindy did not lose any power last night like they did in some other parts of the metropolita​n.





Just want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and blessed New Year. Always remember that Christmas isn't just about the gifts, music and food. Never take for granted that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ child. He came to not only be an example of how to live, but to take the weight of the world upon himself at the Cross of Calvery!



May HE continue to bless each and everyone of you not only this Christmas season, but throughout the year!



Our family would also like to extend a special thank you to Dena Hall and her family for the wonderful get well balloon and stuffed tiger that they sent to both Sam and AJ Corey here in the hospital. Both kids loved it. Thank you so much for thinking of them. Our family also received another huge stack of e-cards this morning and AJ did as well. You are all awesome and your support means so very much to us. Thank you.



Dad

Friday, December 11, 2009 11:36 PM, EST



WE ARE HOME! Sam was discharged around 3:30PM today. He is doing really well. He has not been sick to his stomach in almost 2 days now. We were able to take him to our church program tonight called Night In Bethlehem. He had a wonderful time and really seemed to enjoy being back at church and seeing his friends and church family again. He is scheduled to go to a bowling birthday party tomorrow of a good friend of his from school. I don't know if he will bowl (we will have to see if the lanes have something for people in wheelchairs to bowl with). Even if he does not bowl he will enjoy just being around his friends. Thanks for praying us through this week. Sam did really well considering the chemo he received. Praying for no mouth sores and that he will enjoy his next few days at home before he is admitted again for chemo next Wednesday.

​ Update on my Dad- I spoke with him by phone and through SKYPE this week. He is doing the best that he can with the side effects of his chemo. He has a pain patch and takes medication as needed for side effects. He has 1 more chemo that I believe he will get next week and then the doctors want to do another pet scan to see if the 2 chemo's he received has slowed down the growth of his cancer. Please be in prayer about this. My dad has been told that receiving the chemo will not cure him ( his cancer is to advanced)....​it will only hopefully prolong his life. Thanks for lifting Sam and my father up in prayer. Please pray for both of them as well as all of our family.

Sunday, December 13, 2009 7:28 PM, EST



Hello to all. Sam has really had a terrific 2 days at home. We enjoyed our time as a family going to our church's program on Friday night. Sam really enjoyed being there amongst his church family and friends. Saturday our family went out to lunch and then Sam was able to go to his friends bowling birthday party. We went to CiCi's pizza for lunch and let me tell you that Sam ate 3 pieces of pizza!! He went from eating so very little in the hospital the day before to eating a really big lunch the very next day. The alfredo pizza at CiCi's is his favorite. The manager there is wonderful and has gotten to know our family. He always sends Sam home with his favorite pizza when we leave. We appreciate this so very much! Sam also had a wonderful time at his friend Joey's birthday party. He was even able to bowl with the help of a special ramp. Mike said he even bowled a strike a time or two. Today our family went to church and then Sam had one of his best buddies (David) come home with him today after church. Today was David's birthday and he chose to spend it with Sam at our house. The boys had a great time together playing toys and video games of course. Overall a really great weekend for all of us. Did I mention that Mike and I even managed to squeeze in a short date night on Saturday night to a movie?! It was so nice for us to get that short break together. Thanks to my friend Erin who stayed with our children so Mike and I could get out together. We really appreciate her doing this for us. We saw the movie the Blind Side and it was wonderful....​highly recommend it!

Our family continues to be blessed by so many giving people who want to make the holiday time easier for our family or contribute towards Sam's medical bills. A local Christian School here in Columbus where one of our dear friends work had chosen to "adopt" our family in their preschool department. Genoa Christian Academy and the loving students, their parents, and teachers collected gifts for all 3 of our children and gift cards for our family. Our dear friend Colleen (who works at the school and helped arrange all of this) delivered the gifts to us this weekend. We are so incredibly blessed to be surrounded by such loving, generous people who just want to help our family in anyway. Thank you so very much Genoa Christian for helping to make this holiday season brighter for our family. We truly appreciate your generosity and giving hearts.

Our family would also like to thank Dani Patterson and Dominion homes for reaching out to our family. Dani heard about Sam's story and since she lives locally by our family she told his story to her realtor network of people she works with. Dominion Homes was having a holiday brunch last week and chose to make our family the beneficiary of the 50/50 raffle they were having at the brunch. The realtor's and people at Dominion Homes raised over $500.00 for our family with this 50/50 raffle. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for reaching out to our family and trying to make a difference in the life of our young son. We truly appreciate your generosity and community support you have shown to our family.

Our family continues to be blessed in so many different ways....we are truly thankful that Sam is doing as well as he is. We know that the power of prayers on his behalf is what is keeping him strong. Thank you for joining us on this journey. We are thankful for all of you!