[ALUmnus]

Please pray for former Liberty students and staff members, Ben and Jamie Chitwood. Ben graduated from LU undergrad and seminary, worked in the Military Affairs office in DLP, and is now a Chaplain in the US Army stationed in Afghanistan. They attended Living Word Baptist Church when they were in Lynchburg. Ben and Jamie have two sons, Ethan (3) and Conner (1). They have gone through tremendous difficulties and heartbreak trying to have children, and it's an amazing blessing that they have Ethan and Conner.

Ethan has just been diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. The Army has allowed Ben to return home to be with his family (now in Connecticut). They're still waiting to hear more from the doctors, but this is devastating. PLEASE pray that God would show us a mighty miracle and heal little Ethan. Thanks.

[Kolzilla41]

Saw many people post this on twitter. Absolutely heart breaking. Praying for Jesus to touch this family and most importantly, Ethan.

[PAmedic]

no words for this one.

praying.

[ATrain]

Praying for the family

[TDDance234]

Praying.

[4everfsu]

Praying for them and if it is ok Alumnus I posted on another Christian site asking for prayers.

[ALUmnus]

Here's an update on Ethan, as well as the Facebook group someone started for him.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/home ... 79327&ap=1

Update from Jamie: Yesterday Ethan's neurologist came to our house to go over options. Basically, from his point of view, he went over the ideas of quality of life versus quantity, leaving us with the feeling that this was a losing battle and there was not much at all we could do. He mentioned that, over time with the growth of his tumor, Ethan could potentially revert back to infantile behavior and would eventually go into a coma and die. This morning a friend e-mailed me the following verse: " May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in HIm, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13" It filled me with such hope, but I was very wary. I have really struggled with being realistic and wanting so badly to believe for E's sake. Today we went to the Children's Medical Center and met with the pediatric neuro-surgeon and the oncologist. I have never in my life loved the words "chemo therapy" more than now! Basically, Ethan has a genetic disease called Neurofibromatosis type 1. His body does not produce the gene that typically inhibits cancer growth. Hence, the large optic tumor smack dab in the center of his head, reshaping his brain and cutting off the ventricles. Both doctors agreed that the best course of action would be to start chemo. While his tumor is "one of the largest they have seen", he still has a 90% chance with chemo of stopping the growth of the tumor or shrinking it. This will allow his brain the extra room to grow and allow his brain fluids to go back to being absorbed naturally. This is way better than we hoped for initially! He goes Monday so they can sedate him and implant a "port" for his chemo to go in through. Then the following week he will start a year-long schedule of chemo. Please continue to pray for him that the chemo will not only stop the growth of the tumor, but that it will actually shrink it. We are so thankful to God for answering our prayers more abundantly than we imagined! Thank you, also, to all of you for your concern, thoughts, calls, prayers, and meals, etc. We love you all!

Great news. Ethan will begin Chemotherapy next week with a 90% chance of shrinking the tumor or halting its growth. We still are not out of the woods. Year long regiment of Chemo is no picnic and this still isn't 100%, but we were never so happy to hear those words. All of your prayers could not be more appreciated. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

[Sly Fox]

Praying for divine wisdom in the doctors' decisions.

[Kolzilla41]

Told my wife the news posted above. Praying that God is able to use chemo to work a miracle.

[ALUmnus]

Update on Ethan and family:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/home.php?sk= ... 5886079327

update from Jamie L. Chitwood : Thank you again for all the prayers being lifted for little E today! His surgery went well and he now has a "power port" to help deliver the chemo more effectively. This will allow all blood work and chemo to go in through this one line without him getting pricked needlessly. He did a great job! We are home with our slightly loopy little man and we are scheduled to go in later this week for his first dose of chemo. I am glad Ben has been home for the beginnings of a long year. Between God, Ben, family, and friends I do believe we will make it! Ben is home for the next week then heads back to Afghanistan to complete his deployment. Please continue to pray for 1) Ethan's health through all of this, that the tumor would shrink (or even disappear) and that he would remain unphased by all the doctor's visits. 2) That God would give Ben peace while he is back at "work" and that he would be able to focus on his job, sharing Christ with our soldiers. 3) That Connor would continue to feel important in the family and loved, and 4) that I would have the strength to be a good mommy/wife during this time and that others would see Christ at work in me and our family.

Ben has been trying to get a his assignment transferred to a VA hospital in Connecticut so he could be close to his family, but has been unsuccessful. Fortunately, he's fully aware that the work he does as a chaplain is what God wants him to be doing.

[Kolzilla41]

Just requested to be added to the group. Being a father of a 7 month old, this hits me right in the heart. My wife and I pray for this family nightly. Thank you for keeping us updated.