Yesterday I received word that the son of friends, Austin Rowe, is in Stage III, possible stage IV (of five stages) of a form of childhood kidney cancer known as Wilm's Tumor.

Ordinarily, I wouldn't think of using this forum for prayer requests, but Austin will likely need more than physical healing. Austin, who is seven years old, seems destined to give Job a run for his money. Austin celebrated his third birthday while laid up with a broken leg for six months. When he was four, one of his best friends, Blakely Johnson (I mention her full name because her case did gain some publicity in Texas), was diagnosed with cancer, and when he was five he went to her funeral. In 1998, he lost three grandparents or great-grandparents in a six month span. Now this. Austin has been through a lot of suffering already in his life; I would ask that we pray not only for physical healing but also emotional and spiritual strength. Additionally, his parents, Kurt and Leslie, and his four year old brother Kale could use our prayers.

Austin has a map of the U.S. in his room, and is placing pins in the map to indicate where there is someone praying for him. If you will pray for him, let me know at seminole@springmail.com and I will compile a list and forward it along to the family.

Some details I left out from above that might interest some:

Stage III means that cancer has spread too far for simple removal of the tumor and/or kidney and it is in some of the tissue surrounding the affected kidney. In Austin's case, the cancer has reached the inferior vena cava, and he is undergoing chemo. The affected kidney will be removed eventually, but they are hoping to shrink it first to simplify the surgery. Stage IV is when the surrounding body organs, like the liver, is infected by the cancer. The biopsy of the surrounding organs in Austin's case showed that the liver is not well, but they don't think the liver is infected -- they think the tumor is pressing hard against the liver and that is hurting the liver.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2000

Answers

Brother Mark:

Please tell Austin that I am praying to our great, powerful, meciful God through Jesus Christ our blessed Lord for his physical recovery and spiritual strength. He must know that our God will be with him through all that he may face. I hope that he is aware that God has been with him already through all that he has suffered in the past.

Please tell his family that I will pray fervently for them as well. I will pray that our Lord will abide with them through all of this suffering and pain and that he will hear their prayers and grant them according to His divine will. I will pray that their faith will remain strong and even increase during this difficult time. For only God can help us in these matters that are beyond our understanding.

So Put Birmingham, Alabama on Austin's map and tell him that I will request that the entire church of Christ where I worship pray diligently, and fervently for him and his family.

Your Brother in Christ,

E. Lee Saffold

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2000

Mark, please tell Austin that he is already in my prayers and will continue to be there daily. My daughter has triplets, and the boy is named Austin, so tell this little one that when I pray for my grandson, he will be right there with him. Also, please let his beleagured parents know that my prayers are with them as they also are bereft of those grandparents and great grandparents, while tending to Austin's needs. And please tell Kale that when I am praying for Austin and his parents, his needs will also be being brought to Jesus, who is the Good Shepherd who loves the children dearly. May the Lord bless and keep and heal this dear family.

Tell Austin that there is a pin at Fairfax, Virginia for him!

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2000

You can also add a pin at Groton, CT, for my daughter, whose son's name is also Austin. I e-mailed her the request over the weekend.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2000

Just an update. I am cutting and pasting in the note I received, with comments if necessary in "[]"'s .

Austin finally got to go home this afternoon [Feb 29th]. He has to continue receiving the nutrients via I-V [the cancer has impacted in some way his digestive system -- I don't have full details on that] which home health will bring out to the home and Leslie [Austin's mother] will administer. He had two chemo treatments while in the hospital. Beginning this Thursday [March 2nd], he will have to go for chemo treatments weekly for about six weeks. After that, he will have surgery to remove the tumor and kidney. Please continue to pray that Austin will be healed.

Leslie was really glad to be at home--and Kale (the four year old brother) was glad to have his whole family back!

By the way--Thursday (March 2) is Austin's birthday. He will be 8.

Thank you all for the prayers you have lifted up to our Creator on Austin's behalf so far. His map has more cities/states circled than I can remember but let me know if there are any others that should be added.

Love - Marie [Marie Rex, mutual friend and one terrific disciple of the Lord]

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2000

An update: Austin was to go for six weeks of chemo, but that was extended a couple of weeks because the tumor hadn't shrunk as far as they wanted. Let me cut and paste this note I received last night for the rest of the story:

It is time for some serious prayers on behalf of Austin. His surgery is scheduled for 7:30 Friday morning (Central Daylight Time).

They have been putting off the surgery because of the tumor being attached to the vena cava artery. It is still attached and they do not think continuing the chemo will shrink it away any more than it is already.

The surgeon has decided to go ahead with the surgery. The reason they have held off thusfar is that they may have to do a heart bypass. The surgeon said today that there is a possibility they can do the surgery without having a heart bypass, but they won't know until they get in there.

Please everyone - pray that they will not have to do a heart bypass. Also pray for peace for Leslie (Austin's mother). She has been very confident through this whole ordeal but she is now worrying because of the possibility of a heart bypass. That really bothers her. Of course, Kurt (Austin's dad) is also concerned.

Thank you all in advance for your prayers. I feel confident that God is going to keep Austin safe but I am worried about Leslie at this point.

As soon as I know anything further, I will let you know.

Love - Marie

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

The Sweet family is praying for you.

Charleston Il.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

First chance to post the latest on Austin since his surgery on Friday -- sorry for the delays.

I don't have the note I got in front of me, so excuse the misspellings of medical terms. Friday, they did the surgery as scheduled. They clamped the vena cava artery without having to do a heart bypass. Once they clamped the artery the tumor (and assumedly the infected kidney -- the plan was to remove it too) was removed in 11 minutes. The operation went very smoothly, and Austin is expected to be released this coming Friday.

-- Anonymous, May 01, 2000

Praise God for little Austin and for the skill and knowledge of the doctors.

Our prayers are continuing for the whole family, and the care-givers.

-- Anonymous, May 01, 2000

Please tell austin that he needs a new map I am sending my prayers from australia,

I am not of a religous beleif however I do beleive in some parts, I beleive in god and think he was a pioneer and our leader,

Austin I hope you get better and keep the faith god knows your problems and is already helping you, I know this my mother has just had surgery and removed her cancer.

-- Anonymous, January 01, 2002

Thanks Liam, but Austin had the cancer surgically removed about 20 months ago and has made a full recovery, sans the kidney they removed.

-- Anonymous, January 01, 2002