Luke's Fighting a Brain Stem Tumor!

We are starting this GoFundMe page for our dear friends Thomas and Jennifer Shappley. Thomas is an Alumni of Belhaven College where we first met. We have been long time friends and have watched as his family grew from his marriage to Jennifer to the welcoming of their two beautiful children Matthew and Luke. Their normal everyday fun family life changed on June 4th, 2019, when their two-year-old son, Luke, was diagnosed with a brain stem tumor. Soon after, Luke had a 9-hour surgery to remove the tumor that left his vocal cords paralyzed and the inability to swallow. He now has a trach and a g-tube for feedings. A few months later, they did another scan to reveal the tumor is still there. Their lives have become a series of PT, OT, consults, labs, test, scans, uncertainty, stress, and family separation. Thomas was forced to resign from his job to become Luke’s full-time caretaker.  Thomas and Luke are now residing in Memphis where Luke will get chemotherapy weekly for a year. Jennifer and Matthew are staying at their home in Tuscaloosa for work and school. This precious family gets together on weekends and as much as possible. Please help to ease some of the financial burden of hospital bills and traveling for this sweet family and please continue to lift them up in your prayers. Thank you!