This is the Week! Luke Update.

     Many of you have been following along and praying with me for Luke, the young son of our good friends Rick and Jami Johnson. After a recurrence of leukemia, it was decided that Luke would need a bone marrow transplant. An overseas donor was found and over the past few weeks, Luke has been undergoing tests and treatments to prepare him for the transplant. It happens on Saturday! The bone marrow is to arrive around midnight and the process will begin. Above you see Luke in the hospital in St. Louis. The quilt is made of squares created by his kindergarten classmates and sewn with love by one of Jami's  friends. 

     Luke and his family left on Sunday to go to St. Louis, where he and his mom will be living for at least the next 100 days. Luke's dad and his two siblings will be back at home with visits on the weekends as long as no one has so much as a sniffle. What could have been a very difficult trip was made so special by our local and state firefighters, who have really taken an interest in Luke and his story. He had escorts from his house almost all the way as each department came out to show support as he passed through their jurisdiction. There were firemen along the highway, waving and cheering him on. What could have been a very frightening trip for Luke and his family was turned into a very exciting and special memory for this sweet little boy. 

     I can't begin to list all of the ways the community, friends, family and strangers have formed a bond of love around this family. They are blessed with so much support and I have no doubt that when Luke is well, they will pay it forward for the rest of their lives. They are the kind of people who have accepted this situation with such grace that I am in awe of them. Last night, Jami was requesting prayer for the child in the room next to Luke's. She is thinking of others, even though her own world is upside-down. 

     Ultimately, Luke is in God's hands. The next days and weeks are so crucial for him. If you pray, an extra prayer for this sweet child would be appreciated. If you don't, some positive thoughts and good energy would be wonderful too. In all our years of marriage and all of the families and children we have known along our journey, we have never had this kind of medical crisis affect a child we loved. It is so hard to watch his parents worry and to know what things this baby has been through so far, and yet Luke has taught me, my family and this entire community so much about being brave and taking each day one step at a time. 

Go Team Luke!