Esther Travis Update & Salad Plates

PRAISE GOD!! He is good, all the time! Here is the latest update from the Travis family:

BIG NEWS! I have been holding on to it for a couple days to make sure it is true. ESTHER HAS FOOLED THE MEDICAL PROFESSION FOR THE SECOND TIME!!!!!!! This time last year she was in ICU dying of Liver failure, a week later she walked away recovered, this year Kidney failure with hours left to live and a week later she has recovered! The radiation they are zapping this big tumor with will end Friday. It will be two weeks until they will rescan. Lord willing we will resume the Philly clinical trial we were working on. Due to the amount of tumor I don't think they expect us to get there, we'll see. All things are possible with God.
In His Hands, Jennifer

Now that I have that awesome, awesome praise out. A few other things. Thank you to all who have been praying for my grandfather in Mexico. Please don't stop. For those who don't know. My grandpa who lives in Mexico had an aneurysm and stroke last week at his home in Mexico. As of the last update I heard, he was trying to speak and moving his left leg. Praise God for His grace and mercy!!

House update: sheetrock is up everywhere but the bathroom! We have chosen colors for every room except for the living room. I told Vaughn I was going to mix all the leftovers from the other rooms together and use whatever I get...hehehe, I don't think he was too thrilled about that idea. We are still trying to find like-new quality, used black appliances for the kitchen (stove, fridge, dishwasher), a brown sectional sofa for the living room and a queen or king sized bed if anyone comes across some at a used furniture store or a rockin yard sale.

While we're talking about yard sales, keep your eyes peeled. When I last ate at Montana Mike's, I fell in love with their salad plates. They're pretty simple actually, just a square metal plate, kinda rounded on the bottom. Anyway, I have looked all over the internet and CANNOT find them...ANYWHERE. So please, if you come across these illusive metal plates, please give me a shout. I will be your best friend forever!!

Now last, and probably most important: God has laid this passage of scripture on my heart today:

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

God's will for us is to rejoice, pray and give thanks. He loves us and wants more than anything for us to be happy. This world is corrupt and in it, there will be strife, pain and sadness, but in Him, in His loving arms we can find peace, rest and joy. So today will you take the time to rejoice, pray and give thanks?

If I can pray for you, please let me know!

Esther Joy Travis

I wanted to tell you a little bit about my friend Esther Joy. I was blessed beyond measure to meet her last year at Fellowship Baptist Church in Borger. Esther Joy is a joyful, energetic 6 year old. She loves, playing with her siblings, horses, and elephants. She also desires to go with her parents to India and "tell people about Jesus and ride elephants."

On October 11, 2007 Esther Joy was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma Stage IV. Neuroblastoma is a very aggressive cancer and is extremely difficult to treat and to keep in remission. About 20% of children diagnosed with this cancer survive.

Esther completed 6 rounds of chemotherapy and a surgery that was able to remove the remains of the tumor. In the month of April 2008 Esther went through a stem cell transplant. During the transplant Esther developed VOD of the Liver and had lost 2/3 of her liver function. She spent five days in intensive care fighting for her life. She walked out of the hospital a week later a miracle of God's healing touch.

Just after their family returned to India last year, around Thanksgiving, Esther relapsed. Today, March 20, 2009, she is back in Tulsa. Her kidneys are still not working. We are doing some radiation to see if that might help things. Her doctor says at the current chemical build up she probably only be with us for about 2 or 3 more days. She is at peace, knows that her kidneys are not working right, and that if they don't start she will be going home to be with Jesus soon. She said " I want to go!" with a smile. Even though that hope is fading Esther's is not. She says,"Keep on fighting and if not I will see you in Heaven. Whether we win or lose we give God the glory."

Please visit her website on http://www.caringbridge.org and type in estherjoy to visit her page. Please pass this on, share it, and join me in praying for her and her family.