A New Addition to the Blog and A New Doctor

If you look to your left you will see a DONATIONS BUTTON!!  You can click this button and use your credit card or paypal account to donate to the girls medical needs.  You may ask, what will this money be used for.  The most pressing needs now are for Olivia.   The Lord provided a dog to be trained as a seizure dog, but they now are trying to get the money together to have it trained.  The dog will go to a trainer for a period of about 6 weeks to be trained.  Also, as you read it a previous post, Olivia will be seeing a new doctor this week to determine how to treat the tumor on her brain.  The doctor they were referred to is not in their network, so their copays will go up tremendously.  These are some of the immediate needs.  If you would like to donate in person, an account has been set up at Community Bank of Texas in Crosby.  It is called Gant Girls. 

We are still awaiting test results for Samantha as well.  Please be in prayer about this and if you can help in any way it will be much appreciated.  As Kelly has always said however, your most valued gift is that of prayer.  Please be in prayer this week for the girls' doctors.  Pray for wisdom and insight in to how to treat them and pray also for Kelly and Jeff as they ultimately have the final say in how their daughters are treated.  Pray for peace and rest for Kelly, as you can imagine this is all so very overwhelming.  It is only by the grace of Almighty God that she gets through each day, and she is so thankful for all of your prayers and encouragement.

Prayers for Olivia

This week Olivia had her routine ultrasound to check the malformation in the artery in her brain.  As they were doing the ultrasound, they saw something else.  After checking from numerous angles, they discovered a benign tumor.  The tumor is located underneath the malformation in the parotid gland and is pressing on her brain, which is not good.  Dr. Lebron, Livi's neurologist said they will need to see an ENT immediately.  The ENT is necessary because the location of the tumor affects the ear, nose and throat region.  Dr. Lebron feels that surgery is VERY LIKELY at this point,  it is just a question of when and how, but as she said they will consult the ENT to make the final decisions on how to care for this tumor.  They are hoping to see the ENT Monday. 

Dr. Lebron has also decided to run a more extensive test on Olivia to try to pinpoint causes for her seizures.   Livi will be hooked up to a monitor and machines on her head 24 hours a day for a period of 3 days.  They will monitor her seizures and determine if there are certain triggers causing them. They are also trying to detemine if she is developing epilepsy from the malformation.  Upon diagnosis, the doctors told Kelly that as the malformation grew, it would be likely that Livi would develop epilepsy.  Please be in prayer for this test,  Dr. Lebron said it is hard to get approved through insurance because it requires monitoring from a nurse and doctor around the clock in the home with video cameras and EEG equipment.  As you can imagine, this testing is quite costly but she feels it is in Olivia's best interest to have it done.  Please pray it will be approved by insurance.

As you can imagine, getting this news was very frightening for Kelly.  The thought of Olivia having brain surgery is terrifying.  Please be in prayer for this family.  Pray that God will remove the tumor and surgery will not be necessary.  Pray that if that is not the case, that God will guide the doctors as they decide the best course of action for Livi.  Please pray for Kelly, for peace, for rest and for wisdom as to what to do next.  Thank you in advance for your prayers.

Prayers for Samantha

Samantha's recent checkup showed some problems that need to be addressed.  The doctors have decided to run more tests and do more extensive bloodwork so that better decisions can be made as to how to progress with her treatments, or if other avenues will need to be explored.  Please continue to lift Samantha up in your prayers.  Pray for guidance for the doctors and for Kelly and Jeff as they make important decisions for Sam's health.  Pray for strength and wisdom for Kelly as she navigates these treacherous waters and as she tries to help her daughters through it as well.  Pray that Samantha's body will strengthen and fight, but also that she might experience complete healing, as only the Lord can provide.  Please pray that through all this God will be glorified and the light of Christ will shine through the Gant family as they weather this storm.

A Call for Prayer....please Pray, Pray, Pray for these sweet girls!

As you read in previous posts, Samantha and Olivia underwent testing this week.  The news Kelly received was less than favorable.  The details are not available at this time, but it is imperative that we pray for both Sam and Livi.  Please add these sweet girls to your prayer list and lift them up to the Father.  Kelly and Jeff need your support as do all of the girls.  Kelly values and treasures you prayers more than words can say, and she is desperate for those prayers now.  Thank you in advance for you love and support, but most importantly your PRAYERS!!  Updates will be posted as soon as possible.

Pray Day for SAM....checkup at TCH

Please be in prayer tomorrow for Sam...Kelly and Sam will be spending the day at TCH getting scans done and visiting with the Dr's.  This visit will be to determine if Sam can and when she will be able to start up treatments again or what other course of action will be taken.  Sam has had somewhat of an enjoyable summer even though she hasn;t been able to get out and enjoy all the luxuries like most kids, she still remains in good spirits and loves playing with her sisters, and visiting mawmaw and pawpaw!!  It has been hard on little sam to not just get to go to the museum, chuck e cheese, the mall or places where lots gather due to the fact that she has no immune system to fight even the smallest cold.  Other than the normal boughts of vomiting/diarrhea, occasional fever, sores on her body, or loss of appetite that she deals with on a normal basis, sam has remained ok during the summer....that has been a PRAISE GOD in itself!   We know God CAN and WILL heal little sam and she will carry a great testimony through her suffering and healing.

Please pray that the doctors will be led by God's will to be done in sams life regarding treatment now and actions later.  That they will listen to and be open to God's wants and desires and not the "normal" routine that so many doctors follow for treatment of patients. 

Please pray that as the day goes on, Kelly has the strength to endure whatever the doctors have to offer about sams health, treatments and outcomes.  Give her the knowledge to know that God is with her through this and so are we as her Christian family.  God tells us that by his footprints in the sand, when the two sets became one it is because then that He carried Us....

 For I know the plans I have for you-this is the Lord's declaration-plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.    Jeremiah 29:11

Supporting the Gant Family

As you can imagine, the cost of caring for Samantha and Olivia's needs can be quite extensive.  Although insurance is in place, they still do not pay for everything.  An account has been set up at Community Bank of Texas in Crosby for the girls.  The name of the account is "Gant Girls".  If you would like to send financial support, anything would be greatly appreciated.  As you know, funds are currently needed to have the wonderful dog God provided to be trained to be a seizure alert dog for Olivia.  Thank you all for your continued prayers, they mean so much to Kelly and her family, and are your greatest gift of all.  If you have any questions, please feel free to comment or contact Michelle Holloway at mholloway@fbccrosby.net or via facebook.  Thank you all!

Seek, Ask, Knock...He Provides

All that comes to mind is that little song we all heard over and over as a child.  Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, Ask and it shall be given unto you, Knock and the door shall be opened unto you....What a glorious song.  Enough said.  Well the word was put out that Olivia needed a seizure dog, and as caring christians begin to read, and feel the need in their hearts, messages began to be sent out on facebook and a faithful follower of the Lord answered the call.  Through a friend, a constable with Precint 4 heard of Olivia's need and just so happened to have a 5 month old registered black lab that he was willing to donate.....Yes I said it DONATE!  This dog was a pure bred dog and runs in price anywhere from 1500-2500.  He was the last one to be sold, had other interested parties, and the Lord put it on his heart to give it to Olivia.  Yesterday, Kelly and Olivia went and met the dog, his owner and his wonderful family.  The dog has been around this officer's children and is very affectionate, very gentle and from a good bloodline so he is very intelligent.  Olivia seemed taken with the dog, he put his paws in her lap and sat as still as a mouse while she played with him.  Along with what a relief this is to have recieved the news that Kelly has a dog for Olivia comes some fears, some life changing responsibilities and situations for everyone involved.  Now the next step becomes to get with the trainer, get references to make SURE that the training this dog will need can be fulfilled and that the money that people will raise to help send this dog to training won't be wasted on what someone says they can do...

Please be in prayer that Jeff and Kelly will have the peace they need to KNOW that this is the right dog, this is the right trainer and that things will continue to fall into place and God's will ultimately be done in little Olivia's life.  This has been a very dificult time wondering as a mother for Kelly, am I doing the best for Olivia, what more can I do, am I failing by not being able to give everything that is asked of me???  We can't question God's word and His plan for us.  If we have faith, enough faith as small as a mustard seed than that's all we need to know that God WILL provide, God Will fulfill all our needs, God WILL walk beside us and carry us when we can't walk no more.  I pray that the faith in God continues to grow everyday in Kelly, Jeff and the girls.  I pray that they will begin to see the good works and have a peace that what they are doing is the best for Olivia and praying is the ultimate gift for her....God hears our thoughts, he hears our cries, he hears our prayers.