Well, three months have come and gone and we return to Birmingham tomorrow for scans for our son, Caelan. We have to go every three months to make sure that the cancer has not returned. He is growing big and strong and the last three months without chemo has made a world of difference. His hair has returned, he is so happy, and he is playing, climbing, and starting to talk. He's just a normal kid. I cannot bear the thought of a negative report tomorrow, so we find ourselves in that familiar place of throwing ourselves upon the mercy of God and asking for continued good news.
As time goes on, I find that my hatred for cancer grows more and more. It seems that everyone I know is being affected by it in some way or another. The mother of a lady in our church just died from it. The mother of another man in our church is going through it. A man in our church is starting radiation, and another man in our church is going through chemo. Erika met several other families when she was going through radiation with Caelan last year and two of the children have already died. It is horrible. So many people are affected and so many lives are lost. When you see the fundraisers and the Cancer Walks and all of the things that are done in your communities to help those suffering from this terrible disease, please do not turn a blind eye. Realize that people, young and old are doing what they can to help and many are doing these things as a way to cope with the loss that they have already suffered.
So, we make the familiar trek up I-65 to Birmingham, holding onto the Lord because He is all we have. We will go through the blood work, the scans, and all of the shuffling around that attends this ordeal. At some point in the afternoon, our oncologist will come in and tell us that Caelan is still clear or that the cancer has returned. We will be struggling all day long, knowing that we will receive either good news or bad. Please pray for our son tomorrow, and for my wife and I as well. This is a big deal and we would really appreciate your prayers. We continue to believe God for miracles, and everyday without cancer in our son's body is a day that we can praise God for just that.
Alan,
I'll be remembering you all in prayer tomorrow as you go for Caelan's check-up.
Gary
Posted by: Gary Snowden | July 15, 2007 at 10:10 PM
Hi Erika,
I'm Hadley's mom. I met you guys at radiation. I thought I would check Caelan's site tonight and saw that he is having scans tomorrow. I know the anxiety that goes along with scan day. Please know that I'm holding Caelan in my prayers tonight for completely clear scans tomorrow. I will also be praying for you and your family as well, that God would grant you peace and comfort throught the day tomorrow.
Thinking of you,
Ryann May
Posted by: Ryann May | July 15, 2007 at 10:16 PM
Alan,
My heart is with you as you go through an uncertain day. I am praying for a clear scan for Caelan and peace for you and your wife.
Les
Posted by: Les Puryear | July 15, 2007 at 10:54 PM
Alan: What a beautiful boy Caelan is. This touches me even more than it did before having met you. I will be praying for you both right now and tomorrow.
Posted by: Debbie Kaufman | July 16, 2007 at 12:19 AM
Praying for you guys. He is a sweet little boy. When I was handing out candy after the service, when it was Caelan's turn, he reached in and handed a piece of candy to another child before picking out his. He is already thinking of and serving others, praise God!
Posted by: Rob Slagle | July 16, 2007 at 08:28 AM
Alan
As I have done with you in private, I will continue to do here in Ft. Worth this week and pray for your family and your son.
God bless
Bro. Robin
Posted by: Robin D. Foster | July 16, 2007 at 08:39 AM
Alan,
What a beautiful boy! Having met you, I can only assume he looks like his mom. ;-)
As the father of a healthy boy about the same age, I am touched by the ordeal you have undergone. I will pray that Caelan will continue to be as healthy as is my little Sebastian, and that God will continue to shower his grace upon your family.
Posted by: Wes Kenney | July 16, 2007 at 08:52 AM
Alan, I will join with others to pray for Caelan and your family.
Posted by: Alyce Lee | July 16, 2007 at 08:52 AM
Alan,
As always you and your Blessed Family are in my Prayers.
In His Name
Wayne Smith
Posted by: Wayne Smith | July 16, 2007 at 10:02 AM
I cannot imagine having to go through this emotional roller coaster every three months. I will be praying for you.
Posted by: Laura Hicks | July 16, 2007 at 10:29 AM
I hope and pray to hear a good report when you return. May God bless you all and your son's health in particular.
Posted by: R. L. Vaughn | July 16, 2007 at 12:57 PM
I've just received the email from our church office that Alan and Erika have gotten the results back and everything is CLEAR!!!! Praise God!
Posted by: Rob Slagle | July 16, 2007 at 03:36 PM
Amen!! A beautiful report about a beautiful little boy. May God continue to richly bless you, Cross family.
Posted by: R. L. Vaughn | July 16, 2007 at 07:06 PM
I know you have had a hard day. Good news and bad news. This does get easier. Yet it never gets easy. Britton is coming up on another CT scan in a few weeks. It will be her first in a year. We have gotten to the point where we really don't verbalize the "what ifs" about CT scan day and the thoughts and fears are not as strong as they were. But regardless, when you get the good news, you realize just how upset and nervous you really were. We still feel the incredible flood of relief when the doctor says "Scans look normal". We still feel that after every appointment when they say blood counts are normal.
I am thrilled ya'll got great results!!
Posted by: Michael | July 16, 2007 at 08:44 PM