On April 23, 2022 the Lord relocated our family from Spain to Cincinnati, OH to seek medical attention for Ian's diagnosis of DIPG. Certainly this road has been grueling and difficult but we are thankful for family, friends and our church who have encouraged us along the way. We find it difficult to express our raw feelings with words and we are thankful that our Heavenly Father knows our hearts. We have been encouraged by those who came to visit us as well as the many cards and care packages sent to us in a time of need. The following video is a remembrance of our time in Cincinnati from April 23 through July 2, 2022.
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The Lord allowed Ian to experience a time of physical, emotional and spiritual rehabilitation while we stayed in Cincinnati receiving medical treatment through the hospital and joining the body of believers at the Oaks Church From April-July. We created the following video, “Times of Encouragement” as a reminder to God’s grace and mercy in Ian’s life. Ian fought hard to become stronger and he has taught us so many wonderful things through the obstacles that he has faced and overcome. As soon as he was able to stand on his own and score soccer goals he shared his desire to return to Spain so he could play with his friends and teammates that he misses so much. Most importantly to him he has shared that he wants to return to tell his friends about JESUS! 😭😭
We departed Cincinnati seeing great improvement and Ian and we set a course to visit our families and spend bonding time together as a family through the month of July and two thirds now through August. We are grateful and blessed by God’s provision of beautiful memories made even though throughout the entire time he has suffered and we have seen a gradual decline of his health and his body deteriorating.
Ian now cannot move his left arm or leg, his left leg is in pain if he tries to support himself standing, he is unable to use the posterior walker that he very recently would push away to walk unassisted, his right eye is red and he is unable to close it, his appetite has decreased and has lost the feeling inside one side of his mouth causing him to chew slower and need softer foods, he drools constantly. This is what he has been experiencing these last weeks and we are advised that his journey will get harder.
We assume now that his tumor is aggressively growing and we go through the day one moment at a time. Despite how disheartening and emotionally painful it is to see Ian going through this we are thankful that He is staying strong and doing his best. He apologizes quickly when he gets frustrated when he isn’t understood. We see the Holy Spirit working in Ian’s life and giving him the strength through these burdens that we ourselves cannot bear for him.
We are physically and emotionally exhausted each day and can only depend on God’s grace and mercy through this turmoil. We find our soul quenched with David’s groaning to the Lord in the Psalms and it has been bonding for us and the children to devote ourselves to the truths that God hears our cries and knows the anguish in our hearts.
If we don’t look back and purpose to see God’s hand and providence in our life we will miss seeing just how much He is lavishing his love on us today and that He will give us His grace to endure the narrow way ahead. We cry unto the Lord and He hears us and knows our grief. He alone can relate to our agony and pain. (Ps. 22:23-24) (We are not Israel but we can appreciate the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father to his church today).
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Strength Training for Spain:
Ian's 8th Birthday Celebration:
Ian’s Medical Progress:
Times of Encouragement:
A Dude Perfect Encouragement:
https://youtu.be/xOxaef8xWxw
Ian’s Baptism:
https://youtu.be/BoqQqhnBK6s
Ian’s Final day of Radiation:
https://youtu.be/yfnaqLX5bPc
Watch Ian's DIPG Brain cancer Discovery Video:
https://youtu.be/6jG4chLhrSs
The Cure Starts Now Foundation:
https://thecurestartsnow.org/support/view-heroes/ian-romaine/
Our current financial needs:
- Funds to cover special foods, nutritional supplements and Integrated medicines to maximize Ian's quality of life. Many of these are simply anti-inflammatory drugs because we are wanting Ian to avoid being on steroids.
- Funds to cover special activities, adventures, entertainment for Ian, the girls and us to promote our memories as a family and enjoy the time we have together.
- Funds to cover personal items that allow the family to have a quality of life that will meet our spiritual, emotional and physical needs. For example: We are excited to have a YMCA membership so that we can workout and exercise as family. It has been a joy for all to see Iian liberated in the indoor pool getting exercise and enjoying the feeling of liberation from his ailing body. Praise God that our hospice care team approved our wishes for aqua therapy for Ian at this takes place at our YMCA.
At this time we are requesting financial gifts that will simply be received as gifts to our family in order to meet our personal needs. All gifts given to us directly will be received strictly as a gift.
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While our family was serving as church planters in Logroño, Spain, we experienced a medical emergency with our son Ian, who was diagnosed with DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma) on April 20, 2022. He immediately received care in Spain while God graciously helped us organize a medical evacuation flight, for Ian & Jonathan, to Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, on April 23. Through the support of our church and Logroño team Hannah, Addaline and Mina were able to travel from Logroño, Spain and arrive to the Hospital in Cincinnati the same day.