Brave Ben Dapper

Brave Benjamin - Round 2 of the Fight (the sequel)

It is with a heavy heart that we share this news with you all. We received news that no parent wants to hear, and certainly not for the second time. Ben has cancer, again. We are devastated, angry, and heartbroken. We want to scream, cry, punch something and curl into a ball and hide. In the midst of all these emotions, we are hopeful! Hopeful in a God that is The Great Healer. Healer of all things BIG and small.

For the past month Ben has had pain in different areas that seemed to come and go. The logical part of our brain was able to justify each pain. The super paranoid part of us jumped to the worst. After taking him in to his regular physician and his oncologist, we decided on a host of blood tests. The doctors were thinking his muscle pains were viral related, they were not expecting the results we received. This little boy's blood is 75% Cancer cells! They are back and taking over. Our hearts are broken to be back at square one after almost 4 years of no detectable cancer in his blood. It was so hard to tell this little boy that he did such amazing hard "work" before to get rid of this cancer but there is more "work" to be done. We don't know why the cancer is back. Ben did EVERYTHING the doctors asked of him and more. As a family we did EVERYTHING to support him. As parents we did our VERY BEST to make the best decisions for him to give him the best outcome. The doctors gave him THE BEST known treatment available. We will never know the whys. We can only have Faith, Faith in a God that is bigger than our hardest struggles, bigger than our uncertainties, bigger than this cancer! He is a God that can move mountains! He has moved this mountain before and we believe he will do it again!

Ben's treatment will be about 2.5 years. Slightly longer than his last round of treatment. Monday he will go in for surgery to have a port (vein access) placed, a bone biopsy done, and chemo in his spine. At that time he will be admitted to the hospital for 4-6 weeks for his initial therapy/chemo. This next month will be very challenging. Due to this being a relapse case, Ben's immune system will be taken down to nearly nothing, worse than before. This is why he will be hospitalized, to protect his weakened immune system. Many of the drugs are the same as before but in higher doses. Knowing how hard the first month of his 1st cancer treatment was, we are scared of the days ahead. But we take comfort in our God who loves us beyond measure and is there with us on the darkest of days. We know He has big amazing plans for Ben and in that we find comfort. "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for You are with me." Psalm 23:4. Unfortunately only Nathan and I are allowed into the hospital, no siblings. We are thankful we are able to be there with him and can come and go freely so we can be there for Matthew and Isaac too.

Since Ben's bloodwork today was stable, the doctors felt comfortable letting us bring Ben home for the weekend. We are planning on taking care of a few things and having some good family time before treatment starts on Monday. As many of you know Ben loves hockey and is on the Farmington Mite 3 Black team. He is so sad he will miss out on the rest of this hockey season. We are planning on letting him skate at his practice at the Farmington Ice Arena (Schmitz-Maki) on Sunday from 8-9am as much as he is able. He has had pain in his legs but we think he can skate a bit. The team is planning on making this a special day for Ben, a hopeful "send off" as he starts round 2 of his fight! Anyone who wants to come support Ben is welcome to come cheer him on.

We believe in the power of prayer. Please pray for our Ben! He is fighting a fight no child should ever have to fight! We know God did not create this evil attack on our Ben and our family, but He will use it. God will take this horible thing and make so much good come of it. Ben is an amazing kid who has been shaped a lot by the trials he has gone through. So many people have been touched by his positive outlook and attitude, resilience, amazing hugs, and smile that brightens the room. Lives have been changed and people have been touched because of his story. God has done it before and will do it again.

Immediate Prayer needs:

1. Healing - that through whatever means it may be that the cancer is gone and will NEVER come back

2. Peace - for Benjamin, Nathan, Brigitte, Matthew and Isaac

3. For Ben to do well through the weekend and for us all to enjoy time together.

4. For surgery to go well. Pray for the doctors, nurses and staff caring for Ben

We love you all and thank God for the amazing people he has put in our lives! We will keep you all posted with updates as we can.

With all our love,

Brigitte and Nathan

Please share as you would like. The more prayer warriors out there, the better!