May 24th 2014

Words cannot express how we feel. It is like a kick in the gut and a punch to the face. However, we are also immensely grateful for the love and support that we have been shown during the past 48 hours. It has been a whirlwind of emotions. After 8 weeks, 8 doctors and two ER visits we finally know what we are up against. I'm not going to lie, it is very scary. Afton Wallace is very sick. However, I believe in the miracles, and I believe in medicine.

The plan of action for right now is to spend the holiday weekend at St. Dominic's hospital in Jackson getting Afton's pain under control. On Monday we are transferring to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer center to work with Dr. Ginger Holt who is a specialist in pediatric orthopedic oncology. We are waiting for the results from the biopsy that was taken on Friday, 23-May, to determine which direction to proceed with regard to treatment. Our prayer is that the cancer is a treatable one.

Despite the absolute frustration and feeling of helplessness that accompanies this type of discovery, we are immensely grateful for the small miracles we have seen along the way. Supreme thanks to Dr. Bill Johnston at Mission Primary Care in Vicksburg for his tenacity in trying to help us find answers. We are so grateful to Dr. Raul Vohra at the New South NeuroSpine clinic who patiently took the time to think outside the box as to why Afton was hurting so bad and made the discovery of what is going on. We can't thank Dr. Nick Crosby, Sheri's brother-in-law, enough for his relentless push in making arrangements for Afton's care.

We've met new friends including the imaging center at River Oaks Hospital, Sister Celestine, our beautiful Nunn at St. Dominic's who was so kind to pray with us and Dr. Nicole Cleveland at the St. Domonic's Cancer Center who fit is into her overbooked schedule and who has been so kind. We are also grateful for Dr. Ginger Holt at Vanderbilt who has agreed to work with Afton. We have yet to meet Dr. Holt but we are exceptionally grateful. Most referrals to major cancer clinics take weeks. For Afton it has have only taken 24 hours.

We want all of you who care about Afton and our family to know how immensely blessed we feel at the literally overwhelming outpouring of support we have felt from all of you. The Warren Central High School faculty who have worked with Afton to make sure she finished the 11th grade, the Bowmar faculty who have showered our family with love, my colleagues at ERDC who are taking over my duties so I can be at the hospital, Sheri's colleagues at Hinds who are doing the same, Laura Blaine Butler and Sarah Davis and Ryan Wilcox who dropped everything to come and be with Afton when they heard the news, our church family in the Vicksburg Ward and the Jackson Mississippi Stake who have been so understanding and attentive, David Wilcox for coming over to Jackson to drive me back to Vicksburg so I wouldn't fall asleep, Marisol Nava Byrd for just taking over the care of Abi, Scott and Katie, the Steven Steven D. Boone family who are watching over Kaylynne Wallace down in Destin, Kaylynne for giving up her room to Afton, Abi, Scott and Katie for loving their big sister, Chip and Marilyn Abbe for their love and care, and the literally hundreds of you have reached out by phone, text messages, Facebook posts, etc. You have all been godsends and we are so appreciative of your love and support.

For those who have volunteered to watch our children, we are so thankful. Just so you know, my mom is flying in from Utah on Saturday, 24-May, to be with our kids over the next few weeks so Sheri and I can concentrate on getting Afton to Vanderbilt. We are so grateful for mom in coming despite the pain she still feels from the death of my dad a few months ago. Thanks to Nathan Brown and to Delta Airlines for changing mom's flight so she could come here so quickly and to Slater Lynn Brown for allowing his grandmother to miss his graduation so she could be with my kids. Our families have been our rock and we could not face this without them. You are all superstars!

Afton is supremely strong in both mind and spirit. She is tenacious, thoughtful, strong, beautiful, smart, kind, funny and passionate about so many things. If anyone can fight this disease, she can. We love her and are so proud of who she has become. We have great faith in the Saviour and His power to heal. We pray that it is his will for this healing power to make Afton better. Whatever, happens, we are so grateful for the eternal bonds that hold our family together. We will keep you all posted as we learn and understand more. Again, thank you for all of your love and support.