It's been some weeks since Trent's passing, so I thought I'd share some things I learned over this time.

“God is trying to teach me something through this. It’s that life isn’t about happiness…..I need to TRUST GOD and live my life for HIS GLORY…….Whether I’m happy or not.” Trent Koontz October, 2013

Trent shared this with Peggy during a time when he seemed depressed. She shared this with our family at the memorial service. This is pretty profound for an 18 year old. I'm 56 and I don't think I've got my head completely wrapped around trusting God this much. Since Trent passed, I'm starting to understand.

"Trent Koontz did not die, he's still alive, he doesn't know death, he never knew death... at the point where he came to know Jesus..he got life," Pastor Bob Burris March, 2014

This sermon came the Sunday after Trent's passing. I've read this many times in the Bible, but it really never came to light until Pastor Bob spoke on Jesus raising Lazarus. Wow! It hit home that Sunday! This was a real gift to me. Thanks Bob.

Since Trent's passing, I've spent many hours trying to imagine what Trent looks like in heaven. I had a friend stop by the other day and I shared my struggle to picture Trent in heaven and he said; "Read Genesis. God made Adam and Eve and put them to work in the garden. God gave them work to do. It's the same in heaven. God's going to give everyone something to do. They aren’t just sitting around. Trent's busy right now doing whatever God has given to do!" Grieving is difficult, but its words like this that really help.

The day Trent departed, several of us were sitting in the living room and I shared that the previous week I prayed for a miracle and searched the bible to find out how the apostles performed miracles. One of my friends said, "Maybe you need to consider that the miracle did happen. Maybe the miracle was Trent going to heaven?" Good suggestion. 

So, what have I learned this year? Friends are really more like family and family loves you more than you can imagine. I think I got more hugs this year than all previous hugs combined. How can that be bad? I have no idea what's going to happen in 2014, but whatever it, I'll get through it. God has held me up and set me back on a path this year. I believe He will always be there.

Go hug a friend. Go love your family.

Sunday March 9

Here's a video done by Mitchel Runion for Trent. Awesome Video!
It was played at the memorial service.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2wcmiyMRjU

Trent Koontz passed away this morning at 5:17am.
He is still a shinning light in our lives.
Have fun in heaven! Give Jesus a big hug from all of us!

Friday 2-28

Trent is really struggling right now.
The adenovirus is strong. City of Hope said the adenovirus must be under control before they can perform the photopheresis.
Trent has nose bleeds and the doctors went into surgery and found bleeding from more places than the nose.
They packed the nose to slow the bleeding.
Trent needs your prayers and a miracle. I had to look up the spelling for miracle.
Here's the definition; an unusual or wonderful event that is believed to be caused by the power of God.
Yep, that what Trent needs.
Let's all prayer for a miracle.
I kind of think God would wait until things are hopeless. At that point, the unbelievers would believe. The hopeless would have hope and people would seek the salvation that is only available through Christ Jesus.

Wednesday 2-26

Trent is doing ok. Not great, but ok
They canceled the trip to city of hope for this week.
City of hope was going to do a treatment called photopheresis.
It's hard to say if there's any progress or not, but Trent does look much better than Saturday.
Please keep Trent in your prayers. I do believe prayer made the difference this weekend!

Post from Kristie

Today is my 55 birthday and today I sit in a hospital room with a lot of mixed emotions. My son is again very very sick. He has been through so much emotionally and physically the last 18 mos, broken heart, leukemia, chemo, a wealthy fat man, relapse, grandma going to heaven, epilepsy, Disneyland, bone marrow transplant, shingles, sever diarrhea cause by adenovirus, bacteria infection, high fever... The list goes on.  Jesus is more real to me today than ever before.  I have all the head knowledge and now I have the heart knowledge. The Lord put a special Doctor on duty for Trent today ( or I should say for me today).  She is a Christian doctor and she is here at Choc to treat and pray.  I told her that I have been praying for healing and for The Lord to save my son, but now is a transition day...as much as I want healing for my son, it is breaking my heart to see him suffer!  I don't ask the doctors if he will get better because right now Gods sovereign plan is at hand.  Jerry and I have been trusting in him for some time and have emotionally and prayerfully given Trent to The Lord.  We have had faith in Jesus all along, but Trust seems like the next step after faith. Dr T. told me that Jesus was just holding me in his arms and I felt it, she was at the right place at the right time...that's just how the Lord works you know. I told Dr T. I think of Christ and all the suffering he went through and empathized with his mother. Though she new His purpose and His plan and that he was fully God incarnate she still (like me) is human and her heart must of been breaking as mine is now.  The suffering is so different.  My heart goes out to these patient's, families, nurses, doctors, all workforce at this hospital that doesn't know Christ as there savior. As I go through Romans, why does he harden some hearts and open others.  Why me...why has The Lord given some of us a love for him and not others....I told Dr T. that my heart burdens for the lost in this hospital and as my son has another shingle pain and I cannot help him, the only thing I can do for mankind is tell them about Gods sovereign plan through his Son.  Thank you all for your prayers for Trent and our family!!!

Saturday Feb 22

Trent is struggling right now. He is at CHOC.
*He is still fighting the GVH rash.
*He has shingles and these are painful. He get the pain every couple of hours and when he moves around. He has a pain meds at the push of a button.
*He has adenovirus infection. This is a tough infection with medication that is limited. To fight this, the doctors must back of the GVH treatment.
*He has bacteria in the blood. The doctors have identified the bacteria and seem to think this is easy to fight.
*He has something in the lungs. The scans show that it's not pneumonia, but doctors are not sure what it is today.
Trent is comfortable and in good spirits. He is a fighter and he does not complain.
Please pray for Trent.

Wednesday February 19

Trent had to go back in the hospital this week.
The pain and discomfort was just too much.
He is comfortable now and has pain medication at the touch of a button.
Labs came back today and he has a adenovirus infection.
Not sure what that means, but Kristie might know. I'll talk to her later.

Monday Feb 17

Trent is going through pain from the shingles.
About once every 2 to 3 hours, he gets pain that is severe.
He does have pain meds that are just now starting to help, but the doctors have to adjust the dose a little at a time.
Trent goes to CHOC everyday to get a anti-fungal IV.
Please pray that Trent's body will have peace soon.

Tuesday Feb 11

Trent's rash has been getting better, but now he is fighting shingles.
This is very painfull, but the pain is not all day. It comes and goes.
He does have pain medication, but it's 100% effective.
School is going well.

Friday

Trent's pain is gone after some alieve and exercise. He should not take the alieve, because the doctor told us that alieve effects the platelets. That's OK because Trent has not needed it the last couple of days.
Trent is still fighting the rash, but it does not itch and it does not cause any pain, so we'll just be patient.
School is going well and Trent is eating well.

Monday

Trent got home yesterday.
His rash seems a little better with new meds, but his pain is still in his knees and feet.
The doctors seem to think the pain is due to the steroids, so they are going to try reducing his doses.
The steroids are part of the rash treatment, so it's not something that can be removed quickly.
Please pray that the rash and pain can be treated soon.

Thursday

Trent's rash has gotten worse this week and he woke up with knee pain so bad that could not get out of bed.
Kristie took him to the emergency room and they admitted him back into CHOC.
He will spend the night and the doctors watch his pain and the rash.
Please pray that his rash clears and the pain goes away.

Saturday

Trent has been doing well this last week.
His rash did flare up a little, so the doctors did change his rash treatment.
He got a transfusion and platelets this week as well due to lower blood count.
His energy level is still lower than normal, but that will change in time.
He is still eating good and drinking lots of fluids.

Sunday

Trent had a very good week.
He got his broviac tubes removed and his checkup went well.
Some of the medicine has been removed from his list as well.
He looks great and he is eating and drinking good.
Keep the prayers coming for no more cancer!

Friday

Trent is home!
Took all day, but it's good to have him home.
He looks great and his appetite is back to normal.
Thanks for all the prayers!

Thursday

Trent's counts went down earlier this week, then starting coming back up yesterday.
The antibody seemed to work on the rash and the steroids have been reduced to 35mg today.
If Trent's counts are still good tomorrow and if Trent can drink plenty of water tonight, the doctors may release Trent tomorrow!
Please pray the Trent's counts stay strong and he understands the importance of him drinking water.
It's been over two months and Trent is ready to come home.