My name is Amanda, and I'm a family friend of the Tarrs. With their permission, I am sharing a bit of their story and asking you to join me in supporting this incredible family as they navigate some of the scariest unknowns they have faced.

Blake and Jade live just outside of Portage la Prairie on a beautiful acreage in a home they recently purchased, with the dream of making it their forever home. Their story was already one of survival and loss after having lost their son, Aaron, to Trisomy 13, six short days after he was born. They have four beautiful children (Logan, 10, Bryant, 8, Charlotte,3, and a foster daughter). Their home is one filled with laughter, love, and, like all good families, at times, utter chaos.

On Sunday, February 8, Blake was taken to the ER in Portage, due to excruciating pain that had kept him up and unable to rest. He was assessed,and then told to go to the Health Science Center in Winnipeg.

Surgery was performed a few days later after many pain-filled and confusing hours.

Unfortunately, 8 hours after that surgery, Blake was still not out of recovery.

After countless test and assessments, he was placed in a medical coma and intubated; in order to give his body a break while he recovered. The next morning, he was continuing to decline in health, even though intubated.

12 hours after the initial surgery, he was wheeled back into surgery to see if something had been missed as his decline continued. It was at this point that they discovered a puncture had taken place during the original surgery. His original surgery was reversed, the puncture fixed, and back to the recovery he went. There he was topped up with fluids, and the anticipation of his recovery once again began.

Then Sepsis set in.

By 6:40pm the following day, the call went out for family to come and say their 'goodbyes' to Blake as every medical intervention had been tried, and still his health was failing.

But God had other plans.

In the wee hours, with many, many people around, Blake's wife felt a knowing. Not accepting anything else, Jade sent out the plea for prayer and laid hands on her husband while she called on Heaven's armies to go to battle and declared his healing.

Blake's levels stabilized enough for them to rush him into exploratory surgery, as the Doctors felt his bowels must have ruptured. Jade, with confidence, told them to "go ahead, he's healed".

He returned from surgery with the Doctors scratching their heads because nothing was found to be out of order. They told Jade that she should go be with him, because he would not make it through the night.

Her faith was not shaken; she knew the healing had already taken place, she just had to declare it to Blake, and let him know that he just needed his body to be aware of the healing. Mere minutes after this, improvements began to show on the monitors. A miracle had taken place.

This past week, Blake has not only opened his eyes and spoken with some of his family, but he has also been able to take part in PT, have ice chips, and crack a few jokes.

Blake has a long road of recovery ahead of him. A blood clot was found in his lungs, and with that comes its own stresses.

The tumour was also confirmed to be cancerous, and once he is well enough to go through treatments, there will be more days of work missed and further financial burden on the family.

We are asking friends and family first and foremost to continue to pray for Blake, his wife, their children, and extended family.

Blake is not a flashy guy. He's quiet and relatively unruffled. His quick wit and goofy side shine brightly when he gets to know you. He is a genius in the kitchen and is always up for a new hobby to add to his collection of assorted knowledge.

It is a humbling experience to ask for help, but as we all know, the costs add up quickly.

Between gas, hotel stays (there is nowhere for family to stay within the hospital as he is an adult), parking, meals, and loss of income from work, this will take a large portion of savings. Not to mention the care that will be needed to continue as he battles with cancer afterwards. This young family deserves our community of helpers.

No gift is too small or insignificant.

On behalf of the Tarr family, Thank You. Your prayers have been felt, and your kindness and generosity has overwhelmed them.

Therefore, as we have opportunity , let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:10