Prayers & Updates
We will post regular updates & prayer requests here as they are recvived. Feel free to look through and as always, send prayers our to these kids. Many of these children are in urgent need of prayer. Also, when you start your day praying for kids suffering in a hospital with a sorts of problems, the morning commute, your job, and money don’t seem so bad. Please contact us by email if you would like to get on the prayer network, or have a prayer request that we can post.
Leo McDonald
From Leo’s Dad -“Leo passed away peacefully at home with his family on September 25th, 2024 a little before 4 pm. The family's pastor celebrated Mass, Leo was anointed and received the Eucharist just a few hours before his passing. We trust the Lord has welcomed Leo into his loving embrace. We are so grateful for all the Prayers and Support” Please keep Leo’s Mom, Dad, 4 little brothers, and his immediate/extended family in your prayers - As you can imagine everyone is hurting.
Avery Prayer Request
Please pray for Avery's family! She was one of the recipients of our son Dylan's Award.
Avery Marie Lafferty, 12, gained her angel wings on July 12, 2024 - after courageously battling Diffuse Midline Glioma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, since December of 2021. Born on June 11, 2012, at Griffin Hospital in Derby, she was the beloved daughter of Paul and Lisa Lafferty of Milford.
Avery was a dedicated student who adored the school environment. Academically gifted, Avery's mathematical prowess shined brightly. Her love for numbers and building things was evident from a young age and carried through right up until her passing. She earned the Superintendent Leadership Award in 2023 for her outstanding academic achievements and in 2024 was honored to receive the Respect Award in honor of Dylan Fortunato. Illustrating her determination, she maintained straight A's and honors with distinction as she balanced much time away from school to attend her medical appointments.
Caylee Prayer Request
Please send thoughts and an abundance of prayers for Justine, Caylee's Mother, & her entire family.
I saw them yesterday and they need prayers as their hearts are just broken with the loss of sweet Caylee.
Our hearts are with you!
💗❤️❤️
Charlie Update
Leukemia - Maintenance Please pray for new beginnings for the family as they move from Milford, to start a new journey. We had our last appointment at CCMC before the move it was bittersweet I loved Charlie's team and wish I could drag them all with us to Tennessee in these next few days while we are getting ready to have our new start 🥹 this year has been so long felt like a decade! Yesterday vs August 18, 2023 - I am a whole new mom and human now so are Charlie and Carlos, it's wild! Charlie is doing well gaining weight happy and healthy as one kid in maintenance can be. We are just getting by every day finding ways to make him happy.
Chloe Update
On Thursday, June 20th, the incredible medical team at Yale performed an 8-hour brain surgery on our Chloe," Cara McDermott posted on the GoFundMe page that she organized. "They believe they were able to remove 99 percent of the mass, which they described as larger than a baseball."Thank you to everyone who has donated, checked in, sent love, and lifted up our family since this battle began. Words cannot express our gratitude. While Chloe’s surgery went well, there is still a long road ahead. Our Chloe will begin radiation soon and will continue to amaze us all. Please keep all of the love coming her way. 🩷
Julianna Update
Was just hospitalized last week for a low heart rate due to a medication change, doing much better. Please pray she continues to do well and that they can control her heart rate. Shania will be entering High School in the fall. Congratulations on a job well done!
Sara UpDATE
Sara is stable. We are praying to God for her to have better digestion and for there to be some possibility of removing the TPN. Emotionally, she is dealing with many questions. I pray to God to help her, and I ask for your prayers so that maybe the doctors can find a way or a medicine to help and improve her quality of life. Summer is okay. We don't like it much because she wants to be in the water and participate in activities she can't do, which makes her very sad. Let's continue praying for her health and for her digestion to improve. Thank you all for your support and prayers.
Leo Prayers
Please continue to Pray for Leo!!
He was going out to Indiana to be prayed over. Pray for healing for Leo, and that his Symptoms will subside. Also, pray that the disease will stop progressing. Also, pray for safe traveling mercies and Blessings on their trip for the family.
Julianna Update
Please pray 🙏 for Julianna on Tuesday she will have a Bone marrow biopsy at Yale, to check if her new marrow is healthy and continues to make healthy blood cells after her bone marrow transplant. We pray that Julianna is healed once and for all. Julianna continues to do well with all that she endured through the transplant in the last few months. It's a long and rough journey we pray for continued strength, and healing with no side effects. Especially pray for her family as well for the strength needed to get her through this. In Jesus name we pray 🙏
Camryn- 7 years old (All) Leukemia
Has gone through one year of treatment and doing ok. Looking forward to the summer. The family will be attending some of the great summer camps they have for children and families going through treatment. Camp sunshine ☀️ Hole in the wall Camp. Camryn and her sister had Birthday's in May. We pray that she continues to ied to de well with her treatment with no side effects and has a great summer with her family. 💕💕💕
James- 5 years old ( All) Leukemia
Praying for James
Day #57 of 85 Maintenance cycle 4
James had chemo clinic today with his once montly labs, vincristine and once monthly antibiotic via his port.
He swallowed 11 pills this morning and another 6 at dinner this evening!
He got lots of prizes at the coin machine today, but brought a glittery alien home for his sister and one for his cousin Johanna who was waiting for him at the house❤️ James will start maintenance cycle 5 in 4 weeks with another lumbar puncture.Day #57 of 85 Maintenance cycle 4
James had chemo clinic today with his once montly labs, vincristine and once monthly antibiotic via his port.
He swallowed 11 pills this morning and another 6 at dinner this evening!
He got lots of prizes at the coin machine today, but brought a glittery alien home for his sister and one for his cousin Johanna who was waiting for him at the house❤️ James will start maintenance cycle 5 in 4 weeks with another lumbar puncture.Day #57 of 85 Maintenance cycle 4
Charlie- 3 years old (All) leukemia
Prayers for Charlie
How can so much change happen in a year - it hurts my brain trying to comprehend and understand that this was Charlie a year ago! Around May/June of last year, the bruises came and went without knowing that he was getting sick. Looking back a videos and pictures you can see the change in his eating all left to me going 'wow' my baby is turning into a stubborn rambunctious 2 year old which was very much true just much more was to come along in the process so much pain for my boy break me to the core
Nathan Norman- Brain Tumor
Praise the Lord! Nathan’s brain scan showed no growth in the tumor since his last MRI six months ago. Although they couldn’t order a spinal scan during this emergency visit, Nathan’s oncologist, Dr. Landi, plans to repeat the brain MRI in August along with the spinal MRI to ensure there are no changes over the next three months. Today’s visit to the Duke Eye Clinic was very thorough, involving hours of tests and consultations with specialists to ensure nothing was overlooked. The doctors agree that the vision loss episode Nathan experienced last week was most likely due to a migraine. However, his oncology team wants to follow up in three months instead of six due to the scare. Nathan’s brain tumor can affect his eyes, balance, and coordination, so we need to be vigilant. In August, he will have comprehensive scans of both his brain and spine and meet with the oncology team. If he continues to experience migraines, they’ll refer him to a local doctor for potential preventative treatment. Thank you all for your support and continued prayers for Nathan and our family, even after all these years of on-and-off treatment.
Leo - DIPG Brain Cancer
Prayers for Leo
Leo received some bad news on his latest MRI. The family is asking for prayers for Leo. Please pray that the symptoms subside and that Leo's overall condition improves. Pray that the progression of the disease stops and for some peace for Leo and his family.
Jaxson - 22 months - ATRT
Prayers for Jaxson
Please pray for Jaxson and his family, who was recently diagnosed with ATRT Brain Cancer. Pray for wisdom for the doctors to best treat him, and that it will work!
Sara - 8 Years Old
Happy 8th Birthday to Sara!
Let's continue to pray that Sara continues to be stable and continues to be in School & have a great summer with her family . Sara has been with us since she was a baby. We can't get enough of Sara and her infectious smile.
James- leukemia
Please pray that James continues to do well with Treatment and is able to continue school with no side effects.
Happy 5th Birthday James!
James had a Batman themed party at the trampoline park! He was joined by some of his closest friends. Unfortunately, 6 other friends weren’t able to join us tonight, however the party was still a success and the kids had a blast! This was James’ first real birthday party ever at a venue due to Covid and cancer! In fact, James really didn’t have much of a birthday at all last year as he was only home a few days and still neutropenic after spending 7 out of the first 9 weeks of the year last year inpatient @ yale!
Juliana update
Between her love of hot sauce and her little tude she gets, which is totally all valid with everything she has gone through, a nurse has made her a shirt for discharge day
OK it's official she has a nickname ....spicy!
Juliana is now on ALL medication by mouth...still working on the food intake which is the main thing keeping her here...and then going forward no restaurant food LOTS of restrictions no parties no school no crowds she has to.wait 6 months in order to redo ALL of her childhood vaccines.....and more than likely won't be able.to start school on time next year but we shall all she how everyhting goes going forward. Fingers and toes crossed that this works! And keeps working! Once discharged it will be 2-3x a week at clinic possible she'll need blood transfusions, platelets and other stuff weekly daily all up in the air until it happens!
Update on Julianna transplant 5/28/2024 -so we're still here at yale....unfortunately she isn't increasing her food intake so they can't take her off the IV nutrition yet. she's had enough days to try so there probably going to put her back on an ng tubeLet's pray she will increase her food intake so that she will be able to go home to be with her family. It's been a tough few months with for the family with Juliana in transplant & Jasmin recovering from surgery. Jazmin is doing well and continuing to do PT. It's been beyond tough for Mom and Dad having to navigate through all this. 🙏 that they will all be home soon and they will both continue to heal and be able to enjoy summer with their siblings.
Jordy update
Prayers for Jordy!
Jordy is doing really good. He finished radiation Feb 20th. We have our MRI appointment on April 1st to see how the tumor reacted with the tumor reacted with radiation.
Let's pray that Jordan brain tumor has shrunk and Jordy is responding to his treatment.
Camryn update
Prayers for Camryn!
From Camryn's Mom Courtney-
Just reaching out to say thank you for all you do!
💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗
Camryn is great. She is handling maintenance treatments well and is navigating school, dance, and therapy.
We are hanging in. Cam is making great progress in treatment and is so proud that she was able to swallow pills for the first time!!
Please let us pray that Camryn continued to do well on Maintenance with little to no side effects and she is able to continue School, Dance while going through her treatment & have a great summer with her Family.
Leo update
DIPG (Brain Cancer)
CONTINUEDPrayers for LEO!
Wanted to give you an update on Leo, and the family is asking for prayers for an upcoming MRI.
Leo has an MRI next Thursday APRIL 4TH, at Boston Children's Hospital.
It is an important one, to deciding the next steps in Treatment for Leo.
PRAYER REQUEST
Please Pray that the Tumors in his Brain have shrunk or even disappeared, and that his current treatment is working.
Pray that Leo's overall health will continue to improve and that they can lower some of his meds.
Pray for knowledge for the doctors, on how to best treat him, and pray for peace for Leo's family.
Leo's Symptoms have been relatively stable over the last couple weeks. He is still dealing with a lot.
The doctors are trying to lower some of his meds.
Leo and his family were able to go to Make a Wish at Disney in Orlando, FL a couple weeks ago.
They all had a Great time, and it really helped lift the families spirits.
Continue to pray that Leo and his families' spirits remain high!