Ryan’s Status
So many people have asked and quite honestly, I can not remember many of the events of the past 10 hours. 10 hours, that sounds like such a short time for your whole world to change, but mine did… Here is the story I have told dozens of times today.
My oldest son Ryan, 8 years old, had been complaining of headaches off and on over the past few months, but repeated tests, check-ups, and X-Rays had shown nothing. Based on our family history, he was being treated for migraines. On Sunday January 18th, 2009, Ryan complained of a headache while we were at church. He did go to school on Monday, but still didn’t feel well. On Tuesday, he called Victoria to come get him as he started vomiting at lunch. We went to the doctor on Wednesday after he still didn’t feel well. The doctor scheduled a head CT on Thursday morning. The head CT came back clear, so some medication to help prevent migraines was prescribed.
His headache stopped, but he still didn’t feel well over the weekend. His only real complaint was a small backache and general tiredness and “blahness”. The symptoms may not have been related to his headaches at all. We simply can not say for sure. Victoria and I both noticed that his feet, legs, and even stomach were starting to swell. Both of us assumed it was due to his lazing around while suffering from his headache. I encouraged him to get up, move around, and get some exercise to help him feel better. Monday, we sent him to school, but he called home after less than an hour, still sick. We scheduled yet another doctor appointment. Once the doctor saw the difference in the swelling from the prior visit on the previous Thursday, he had Ryan admitted to Baptist Hospital for an abdomen CT. We waited till morning for the results.
That was last night. This morning at 8:05 am when the doctor came in and delivered the news. “It’s not good. There are several tumors in his abdomen. The biggest is 3-4 inches and near his liver.” My heart broke. Okay, I thought as I composed myself, let’s get this knocked out. We were transferred to the Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. When we got here and more tests were done, and I learned the seriousness of the doctor’s statement. I had secretly hoped they would be simple non-cancerous masses that could easily be removed. I heard the words “cancer” and “lymphoma” for the first times applied toward my son. I walked back into his room, straight to the bathroom, fell to the floor and wept.
If asked last week the worst thing that could have happened to me this week, it would not have been this bad. Not my son, please God not my children. Even now as I sit and watch my precious son sleeping in the PICU and they try to stabilize his renal functions for diagnosis and treatment tomorrow, I still don’t know what to do or what the future holds. I have been over a wide range of emotions today from anger, to guilt, to sorrow, to just plain desperation. “What could I have done differently?” “Was I a good father?” “How could God allow this?” “Where have I failed my family?” “Why, why, why!!!”
We are currently under a working diagnosis of a very aggressive lymphoma that has the potential of doubling in mass every 24 hours. Tomorrow, assuming the medications tonight stabilize his kidneys, are the full body scans, biopsy of lymph nodes, bone scans, bone marrow tests, and lots of other unknowns to find how far it may have spread and to find the exact type of cancer. The doctor is optimistic, but acknowledges that the situation is still not good. He may be looking at chemo, transfusions, bone marrow transplants, surgery, and I can’t even image what else. I am so thankful for the shower of love and support we have received from our family, church, friends, and coworkers. I can honestly say that we trust God and his providence and sovereignty regardless of the outcome. That doesn’t stop the pain. It hurts, it hurts like nothing has ever hurt me before. All I have been able to today is cry. None of us is guaranteed another minute in this world, but coming face to face with mortality, or worse yet, the mortality of my son brought that fact to stark reality for me today.
I appreciate your prayers.
- God’s glory would shine during this time.
- Healing for Ryan.
- Ryan as he deals with the tests and treatment – that he would be comforted.
- The doctors as they treat Ryan.
- Traveling mercies for our family as they come to see and support us.
- Bryce and Deanna as they deal with what is happing to their big brother.
- Troy and Victoria – we are scared.
I will attempt to keep this blog updated as we know more and the grey areas are clarified.
Isaiah 43:1-7
1 But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
”Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush [a] and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
and people in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the ends of the earth-
7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
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Comments
Troy and Victoria – we are praying for the total healing of sweet Ryan. Please let us know what we can do to help!
REnee Guest
Mary and I are both on our knees for you and your family! Our hope is in the Lord who strenghtens us and gives comfort. We pray for wisdom from the doctors and boldly ask for healing!
In Christ though whom all things are possible,
Chris
Dearest Harrison’s,
Chip and I want you to know that we are praying and will continue praying for Ryan and your family. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you. God is in control!
Love in Him,
Jennifer Smith
Troy and Victoria, love to you all! It’s so hard to know what to say to or do for you; so I give y’all my love and prayers (and tears, too). Please do not hesitate to let me know if there is anything, anything at all that I can help with. Maria Sills (Nolan’s mom).
Troy and Victoria,
We are praying for Ryan for his comfort and healing process. Ryan is tough, I know he is a strong baseball player; with God’s help he can get through this.
If we can help in any way, please let us know.
Dawn, Steven, Dayton and Dakota Ashby
Troy and Victoria:
Just wanted you to know that my thoughts and prayrs are with you. I am specifically praying for God’s healing power for Ryan and His guidance to the doctors and nurses as they seek to decide on a treatment that is best.
Please let me know if I can do anything for you.
Debbie
we continue to pray for Ryan. I will bring him up at church tonight. If it’s possible could you post a picture of Ryan? prayers to you all
Troy and Victoria, We have just heard about Ryan, please know that all of you are in our Prayers. I know the healing power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and I am just believing that He will heal Ryan from these tumors. Please let us know if there is anything that we can do, anything at all!
Love in Christ
Jerry, Ken and Jennifer
I can feel your pain and dispare, as I am a mother and a grandmother of an eight years old little boy. Know in your heart and in your mind, that God is in control, that he loves your son more than you do and you love him more than life it’s self. I pray for comfort for all of you, including Ryan. Be diligent in your prayers, strong in you faith and knowledgable in knowing God id there for ALL of you and will never forsake you. Love in Christ, Pat Nail
I can feel your pain and dispare, as I am a mother and a grandmother of an eight years old little boy. Know in your heart and in your mind, that God is in control, that he loves your son more than you do and you love him more than life it’s self. I pray for comfort for all of you, including Ryan. Be diligent in your prayers, strong in you faith and knowledgable in knowing God is there for ALL of you and will never forsake you. Love in Christ, Pat Nail
Troy, I have been lifting up Ryan and your family in prayer. Also, prayer request has been sent to Crossgates Baptist Church. We will stand in the gap for Ryan and pray for healing so that God can be glorified through your son’s complete healing.
I can only imagine the pain your family is going thru right now but as you stated in your comments…GOD IS IN TOTAL CONTROL….and no matter the out come I too pray that it will bring GLORY TO GOD THE FATHER….I will forward this website to my email buddies and ask that they add Ryan and your family to their daily prayers…as we of FAITH all know PRAYERS WORK WONDERS THRU JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD…
I receive an email from a friend requesting prayer for Ryan and I will forward it on to many. I can feel your hurt, pain,and dispare as I am a mother,grandmother and great grandmother. I pray for comfort for Ryan, his family and loved ones. Just know that God knows best for us and is always in control of everything we have. Stay strong in your faith and keep believing that God will heal Ryan. May God Bless and many prayers are being prayed in Christ name for all.
Helen
I know that you do not know me, but I received an email about your son Ryan. I will forward it to as many people as I know and get him on every prayer list I possibly can. Anything is possible through prayer. I believe that God w. ill lift your family up and lay his hands upon little Ryan.
God Bless each and every one of you. I will pray for all.
Debbie Northcutt
Mother of 4
Easley, SC
We only heard about your precious Ryan this week. We hate that you have to go through this but God always has a reason—–Wes and I pray that God will keep all of you in the palm of his hand. I believe He still performs miracles. Your blog is wonderful and so uplifting. God be with you and keep you in perfect peace.
Love, Wes and Betty Westmoreland
I sit here crying out to God as I watch Crossgates Baptist on tv, praising our Father, giving Him all the glory. I cannot imagine what you are all going through. As a mother of 2 sons, my heart cries out for you, praying that our Father in Heaven will reach down with healing and comfort. I will continue to pray for Ryan and the family, trusting God as He is in control, and He will be glorified in all of this! Keeping Faith…Jamie
Dear Harrison’s,
I am so sorry to hear of your heartache. I will put you, your entire family and Ryan in my prayers. I can’t even imagine what you are going thru, but, I know it is not good.
I have several friends who are Prayer Warriors and I am sending your entry to them, too.
Please know that we are holding Ryan up to God and will be praying relentlessly for this precious child.
May God hold Ryan and his family in the palm of his hands. ldb
Troy, Stacey and I are covering your family in prayer tonight. While I wouldn’t dream to assume the set of emotions and questions coursing through you, I can say that I’ve been there and shared life with countless other families of painful experience.
That’s not to make any less of Ryan’s fight. Only to state that I’ve got your back – any time – and can listen with experience. Having made every possible mistake a husband and father CAN in our medical situation, it’s available to you anytime day or night. Phone’s always on. If you want to process out loud, bark at the moon, weep long distance together, whatever… you guys contact me.
Seeking His will in all of this is a monumental chore. I’ll say it now (before you’ve heard it so many times you’ll want to rip the throat out of the well-intended fool): there must be a plan, God is in control, and though we don’t understand it, your family’s been called into ministry. Finding out “to whom” and “how” is the faith part.
In His grip (and keenly aware of it), Steve
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