Loving Lincoln, praying for comfort

There is a beautiful little boy screaming in pain. His parents hold him tight, fighting back their own tears. 

On Tuesday, September 3, Lincoln celebrated his fifth birthday, a milestone his parents thought he would never enjoy.

For nearly two years, Lincoln has fought neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer which usually is found in the adrenal glands. It spreads rapidly and is very difficult to treat. Twice Lincoln was told he was NED (no evidence of disease) only to have the cancer return. His parents have searched to the end of the world trying numerous therapies and treatments in hopes of fighting the cancer. On August 15, Lincoln underwent a scan which assured his parents the cancer was gone. They went home to enjoy the summer.


On Wednesday, September 4, twenty four hours after his fifth birthday, Lincoln began having dizzy spells. His oncologist was contacted. The family packed up on Thursday, September 5 for another 500 mile trip to see Lincoln’s medical team. When the family arrived at the medical center on Friday, September 6, they went straight to the emergency department. Since it was the weekend, Lincoln was slated to have an MRI on Monday, September 9. As the minutes and hours passed, Lincoln continually declined. Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, etc. all worsened in severity and intensity. During this time, the family kept praying maybe it was just a reaction to one of Lincoln’s medicines. Maybe there was just something minor wrong.

After having the MRI completed on Monday, September 9, the family received the news. Lincoln had leptomeningeal disease. Lincoln had lessons all down his spinal cord and throughout his brain. (In 5% of all cancers, the disease will spread to the membranes (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord. This is called leptomeningeal disease. There is no cure. It is a terminal diagnosis.) Lincoln’s oncologist said at best, he had a few days to life. The family is making last minute arrangements and is trying to make it home before God calls Lincoln to heaven.

Please, pray for this family. They could use your prayers to help get them through this tremendously difficult time. Please especially for Lincoln’s pain. He is in an incredible amount of pain.