Zach

My very good friend's little boy was diagnosed with cancer June last year. He bravely fought and smiled his way through many nasty and difficult times. He is such a strong and brave child! After 7ish months of hospital time he came home and spent a little over a month at his home, but now has come out of remission.

There are few options left. He can have vigorous chemotherapy in hope that it will fix him, or have less vigorous chemo to give him "quality of life" in his last days. This is such a difficult time for his family, particularly his parents who have to make the decision.

I ask that everyone spend a few moments in prayer pleading with God for wisdom, anwers to tough decisions, HEALING for little Zach and GRACE to make it through this heartbreaking time.

It is not difficult to ask God in faith and confidence that He hears us. It is ALL we can do.

This is the email that Zach's grandparents sent around this morning:

Dear friends,

Zach went into the Children's Hospital on 12  June 2010 with stage 5 Burkits Lymphoma resulting in a protracted period  of Chemotherapy. Zach has had numerous operations on his little body to remove cancerous lymph nodes in his abdomen, spinal punches every day  for 3 months, a brain shunt, central feed line and drip line inserted  into his chest cavity and recently a colostomy bag because of bowel  damage as a result of the toxicity effects from the chemo. During his stay in hospital Zach turned 3 years old and we and he enjoyed a happy birthday party along with all the other cancer kids. He and the family  had the pleasure to return home for a three week period over Christmas  returning to the hospital in January and February for a few days of  chemo.

Zach is an incredibly brave boy for a 3 year old to go through all this with little complaining. He prays always for all his friends that he made while in the hospital.

Last week  he had to have another blood transfusion and then returned again to Randwick in Sydney. Today he had a cell test to see if there were any cancer cells in his spinal fluid. Unfortunately, there is really bad news, Zach has had a relapse and has a high count of cancer cells in his spinal fluid. There are now few options left for his treatment except more vigorous chemotherapy with all the complications that come from this including more ulcerations and possible brain damage. Alternatively, a chemo maintenance program to maximize his quality of life and to keep him comfortable so he can enjoy what little time he has left to live.

Please pray now for Simeon and Sarah that they might make the right and wisest decisions about what is the best thing to do for Zach. They are in a great deal of grief about this and do not know what to do. Thank you for all your prayers and concerns, this may also again end up in a protracted period of treatment.