Heading Home!

Happy Monday!

Once again, thank you for your continued prayers, the last couple of days have been a bit of a rollercoaster for Louie and Marianne—filled with highs and lows—but through it all, they know that God has been right there with them.

Louie and Marianne were thrilled when Louie’s tubes and trach came out! It was such a milestone. During the day, he’s been doing really well, but the nights have been a bit harder, especially Friday and Saturday. Louie faced some spiritual and emotional battles, feeling attacked by anxiety and fear. Louie shared that he kept praying and speaking the name of Jesus! There TRULY is power in the name of Jesus!

Marianne also had moments of doubt, feeling overwhelmed and unsure if she could meet Louie's needs. Marianne and Louie prayed together, rejected the lies of the enemy, and stood firm in their faith. The enemy was trying to attack them, but God is so much bigger! Marianne and Louie's testimony will be one of God's faithfulness, and the devil doesn’t want that to be known. Because of Jesus and His love and sacrifice, we can all have a victory testimony no matter what we are facing! 

When you are struggling with anxiety, fear, or anything else remember that this doesn't reflect spiritual failure or a lack of faith! This is a time to seek out community and ask for prayer and support. There are so many people standing ready to help you, support you, sit quietly with you, cheer you on, etc. Don't limit what God can do by trying to do life alone. He made us to be a part of His family! Let's stand in the gap for those who are struggling or feeling down and burdened!  

Louie is up, moving, and walking frequently, which is incredible. The Speech Language Pathologist has been working with Louie, he is working hard on swallowing fluids. His new tongue is still adjusting, trying to work in unison with what is remaining of his native tongue. Please pray for the swelling to go down and for his body to continue to adjust. It's slow, but steady. This will require a lot of patience, but they are encouraged by his progress. 

For now, Louie will continue using the feeding tube, let's pray that this won't be the case for too long so that Louie can enjoy some of his favorite foods soon! The team is setting up home care visits, and soon they will begin intensive speech and swallowing therapy, along with lymphatic massage and physical therapy to continue his recovery. No wound care is needed because the transplant site looks so good!

Louie and Marianne are still waiting on the pathology reports and the next steps, but they are so grateful that the doctors have us focused on one thing at a time. The Radiologists are going over all of Louie's old radiation records and Louie and Marianne will be following up about pathology and radiation locally in Fresno. 

The doctor came by this evening and let them know that they will be going home tomorrow! He also shared that Louie's speech is incredibly clear and that he is an over-achiever!

Thank you all for your continued prayers, support, and for walking this journey with Marianne and Louie. They can’t wait to get home and start on the next chapter in Louie’s recovery. Keep praying for complete healing and peace as they move forward.

Hope you all enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones!

Sara

A Quick Update

 Good evening!

We wanted to share a quick update on how Louie is doing! His follow up procedure to fix a leak last night was successful and they also switched out his trach for a smaller one. Louie continues to blow the team away with how quickly he is progressing, his positive attitude, and his determination. That doesn't mean that it has been easy, it has been incredibly difficult with lots of hard moments. There has been impatience, sadness, frustration, and many moments filled with discouragement. The last few days have seen a lot of real and raw emotion and struggles. It can be easy to let our minds get clouded by our feelings in the midst of hard times and struggle to see God, Who is ever present in our times of need. Your prayers, calls, texts, and encouragement have been key to reminding Louie and Marianne that God is in control and to take it one day at a time. Keep them coming! 

Louie has begun speaking using the speaking valve on the trach! He is also coughing on his own instead of using suctioning as often and performing lots of deep breathing exercises. Today they added tongue movement exercises and Louie was able to move his tongue from side to side! He will be swishing mouthwash as a new exercise today. Depending on how he continues to progress, they are hopeful to have the trachea removed tomorrow and get Marianne and Louie home sometime between Saturday and Monday! Please pray for continued strength and energy to push forward for Louie and Marianne, they are tired, but determined! Please also pray for safe travels for Nita tomorrow as she heads home and a multitude of blessings to be poured out on her! Thank you!

"Gold Standard" Surgery Update!

Hello prayer warriors!

Thank you for your patience as we worked to get this update put together. Let me start by saying, the surgery went perfectly and Louie is on the Specialty ENT floor recovering. Now that we all can breathe a sigh of relief and thankfulness, let me share some more.

The team that worked on Louie did a fantastic job and the surgeons were God-fearing, Jesus-loving people. It was apparent through so many small details that they prayed for Louie and asked for God to provide them with His wisdom as they worked on Louie and made decisions throughout the 10 hours of surgery. It was an incredibly long day and was definitely much harder than expected. 

The surgeon relayed to Marianne that he ended up not being as conservative as he could have been with the amount of the tongue he took. He told her that he did what he knew needed to be done to ensure Louie would be here for a long, long time. I am so thankful for that! Louie is a blessing to so many people and we look forward to living life together with him for many years to come, making memories and enjoying the many blessings and joys a life with Christ offers. 

After surgery, Marianne was able to join Louie and stayed the night with him. Nita (mom) stepped in that first hour post-surgery when Marianne was overwhelmed and did so much to help. God knew that she needed to be there! Marianne is advocating for Louie and being his voice when it comes to his care, and this was (and will continue to be) invaluable. Marianne and Nita are really focusing on showing the love and light of Christ to every person that enters Louie's room.

Things were a bit rocky to start with, they had some issues clearing Louie's airway so that he could rest comfortably, but today has been much better! As you can imagine, this was a very extensive surgery and recovery is going to be a long and hard road, but Louie is taking it as it comes and remembering who is in control! Marianne relates Louie's tender heart to the heart of David; his aim is to be pleasing to the Lord in all he does and he is praising through the pain. 

During the next week or so, Louie will stay in the hospital to recover, regain his strength, and prepare to go home. Please be in prayer this upcoming week for Louie and Marianne, that Louie will recover beautifully and the doctors would continue to be in awe of how well he is doing! We would love for every nurse, therapist, doctor, and staff member to be impacted by the love, faith, and joy of Louie and Marianne. That their hearts would be drawn to Jesus and that their encounters would impact their eternity!

The text messages, Facebook comments, scriptures and prayers have been so encouraging to Louie and Marianne. Thank you for continuing to lift them up and cover them during this time. 

Louie and Marianne with a photo bomber!

Louie and Mom! Love those smiles!

Kaili (granddaughter) selling bracelets to raise money for Papa!

Here are some shout outs to the great God we serve for the miracles He performed!

-The margins taken during surgery had no cancer! This is incredible!

-The two areas of concern located around the previous cancer site visually looked good to the surgeon, they are being sent off for biopsy! Let's pray that no cancer is found!

-Originally Louie was supposed to have his feeding tube placed in his stomach. The surgeon decided last minute to give Louie a feeding tube through the nose and see how he does. He must know that Louie loves to eat and we serve a God who can restore, heal, and delights in giving His children the desires of their hearts!

-Louie was supposed to be heavily sedated after surgery but the doctor decided that because Louie was doing so well that it wasn't necessary! Thank you, Jesus!

-They were told to expect extreme swelling after surgery and Louie's swelling is minimal. He looks pretty darn good for a guy who just underwent a surgery like this! Only God!

-Louie was going to require surgery on both thighs but because of how strong Louie is (shout out to his work ethic and dedication to working out!) and how good the tissue was, he only required surgery on the right leg! Wow, this wasn't even something I thought to pray for! 

-The surgeon had a massive headache hit him mid-surgery that could have caused him to not give Louie his full attention. He told Marianne that it completely subsided, thank you for praying specifically for the team all day yesterday. Your prayers absolutely were heard! 

-They did not have to completely remove Louie's tongue, they were able to save a portion, which includes a nerve and an artery. Louie is able to move it a little bit already, this is a HUGE win!

-A little after midnight the nurse wanted Louie to stand up and walk. Louie was able to do this and even did it one more time, this is incredible considering how soon after surgery this was!

-The doctor removed Louie's tube today and asked Louie to say "1-2-3-4." Louie was able to say this and is being encouraged to practice! Thank you Jesus for giving Louie his voice. He will use it all of his days to praise Your name and share Your good news! 

-Louie received what is called "The Gold Standard" method of reconstruction, ensuring "robust healing." We are so thankful that he received the absolute best of the best! 

Once again, thank you for your prayers and for your outpouring of love, it means so much! If you would like to help cover medical costs, please head to the link below, we are a quarter of the way to our goal: 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/louies-fight-united-in-faith

Sending lots of love and gratitude to you all!

Sara 

A Multitude of Praises!

 Good afternoon!

Coming to you today with a multitude of praises that Marianne and Louie would love to share with you all! 

THANK YOU JESUS! Louie's radiation records were found and are in the hands of those who need them! Thank you for your specific prayers and to the wonderful staff members who went above and beyond to be sure they were sent.

THANK YOU JESUS! Marianne and Louie had a God-ordained time with the gate repair guys. They are men of God who are planting a church in Caruthers. Louie is going to bless them with a sound package and help them get it set up. Their time together started with business talk and ended with a powerful prayer by the pastor, lifted up to God in Spanish. 

THANK YOU JESUS! A friend reached out and asked if Louie could be added to a prayer list, now Louie is being prayed over in Hebrew by many people. Louie is also being prayed for in Vietnamese by dear family! God hears every prayer in every language!

THANK YOU JESUS! Louie and Marianne had a beautiful time with family celebrating an early Thanksgiving and Christmas time. This was a time filled with prayer and togetherness, it was a refreshing and much needed time with loved ones.

THANK YOU JESUS! Friends from church spent time sharing pizza and prayer, does it get any better?

THANK YOU JESUS! Aunts and Uncles have been a major blessing, a huge shout out for the love you are sharing through your generosity.

THANK YOU JESUS! So many people, family...friends..strangers, have stepped in to help ease the financial burden. This has been a weight lifted and is so appreciated! If you would like to help, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/louies-fight-united-in-faith,  we are 1/4 of the way to our goal!

THANK YOU JESUS! Louie and Marianne's oldest granddaughter Kaili has decided to start up a business to raise money for her Papa (who she says is the kindest person she has ever met. Like, has he ever been mean? He is so nice and fun, it's crazy!) Her business is called "Prayers and Promises for Papa: Handmade Bracelets." Over the weekend we helped her make 150 bracelets! She is setting up to sell in a local attorney's office and has two holiday markets booked for November! 

Here are some ways you can continue to pray as surgery approaches:

PRAY for Louie's radiation evaluation on Wednesday.

PRAY that the love of Jesus would be evident in everything Louie and Marianne do. That they can use this as an opportunity to win lost souls and soften hearts of those around them, all for God's glory!

PRAY SPECIFICALLY that more than half of Louie's tongue can be salvaged and that he recovers quickly!

PRAY for a good report at the crucial dental appointment that needs to happen before surgery!

Now to wrap this up with a funny story! Louie received some of the details at his Pre-Op appointment and let's just say that he wasn't too pleased, lol. He let Marianne know that he still had his truck keys and he may just take off to Texas to see his kids. He was pretty sure his two boys would hide him, but knew that there was no way I would. He was right! I would have fed him some brisket and creamed corn and then shipped him right back! 

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support, sending lots of love!

Sara 

Faith and Family

Hey everyone,

We wanted to share an update on Louie’s journey and pass along a big thank you for all the love, prayers, and support they have received. Marianne and Louie are focusing on Jesus, and through Him, seeing a lot of little blessings in the midst of this hard time.

Life has been busy with a lot of appointments and more coming up, but Louie and Marianne are finding peace in the way everything is falling into place. They’ve been praying together often and that is what keeps them grounded. The treatments are moving forward as planned, and they are just taking things one step at a time. It’s been a reminder that, even in the chaos, they’re not walking this road alone—God’s peace has been with them through it all.

Louie and Marianne are celebrating an early Thanksgiving this Saturday with Louie’s siblings. They’re planning a nice dinner together, putting up the Christmas tree, and setting up the Nativity scene. But more than anything, it’s going to be a time for prayer and worship—just taking a moment to thank God for the blessings they’ve experienced so far and focus on what really matters: their faith and family.

Speaking of family, Louie and Marianne recently enjoyed a much needed visit this week, and it was such an encouragement. They had a great meal, enjoyed some dessert, and spent time in prayer together. It really lifted their spirits and reminded them that they’re not going through this alone. God always seems to send just what they need at the right time, and that visit was definitely part of that.

Another family shout out! Marianne’s mom, Nita, will be joining them in Santa Clara for Louie’s first week in the hospital. As you can imagine, Nita’s already in full “mom mode,” making sure everything is taken care of for Louie and Marianne. Having Nita there will be such a huge blessing, Marianne and Louie are both really grateful for Nita’s love and support.

Louie and Marianne are also hoping that Marianne can stay at the JW House, which is right on the hospital campus, for the remainder of their stay. It’s a much more affordable option than a hotel, and it even includes dinner, which would be a huge help. The only catch is that there are only four rooms available, so they are waiting to hear if they will get one. Please keep them in your prayers, this would be such a blessing!

Please also pray that Louie’s radiation records would be obtained quickly, they are needed for his ongoing treatment and there seems to be an issue having them sent. 

On a positive note, Louie had a really encouraging appointment with his therapist today. His therapist actually thanked him for having such a great attitude through everything. Louie replied, “It’s Jesus!”—and truly, his faith has been such a big part of his strength and determination to fight this battle. I love that even in the midst of everything going on, Louie is sharing the love of Christ with those around him! 

Louie will be starting some new home exercises to keep his swallowing muscles active. The therapist told Louie to think of eating as exercise, with food being the “dumbbell” he uses to strengthen those muscles. He also got some tongue exercises to work on. We all know how much Louie likes to workout, so this shouldn't be a problem! 

Through all of this, Louie and Marianne have been blown away by the love and support they have received. The prayers, messages, and acts of kindness from all of you have made such a difference. It’s given them the strength to keep going, and they’re deeply thankful for every single one of you who has reached out or kept them in your prayers.

As we move into the holiday season, Louie and Marianne would love for you to keep praying and seeking God. They have seen God’s hand in this journey, and they’re so grateful for the power of prayer. They also want to encourage you to take time this season to appreciate your blessings and sow love and peace with your family and friends. 

Love you all!

Sara 

What Matters Most

 Good morning!

I know many of you have been waiting on an update after Louie's appointment with the Tumor Board on Thursday, thank you for being so kind and patient. After talking with Marianne for a couple of hours yesterday, I have been processing the information, praying, and seeking wisdom before sharing with you all. 

The appointment was hard. Louie and Marianne didn't receive the results they were hoping and praying for. They were sad and overwhelmed and it was a long and difficult day. 

The doctor let them know that the best option is for Louie to undergo surgery and that the results of the surgery don't come with any guarantees. There is a possibility that Louie will need to have his entire tongue removed, but a chance that they can salvage a portion, they won't know until they are in surgery. They will also need to perform a bilateral neck dissection to remove the cancer in the nodes. Louie will need to have extensive speech and swallowing therapy post surgery, along with possible radiation. He will also be required to have a trach as well as a feeding tube, which prayerfully will only be temporary. 

I can't even begin to imagine being in Louie's position, having to make this kind of decision in such a short amount of time. I spent yesterday praying that God would give Louie wisdom and an incredible peace as he worked through all of the information and sought the Lord. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that knows Louie, he has decided to step out in complete blind faith and trust that God is absolutely in control. He has decided to trust the doctor (who is a Christ follower that prays for his patients, thank you Jesus for this glimpse of your love) and have the surgery. 

The surgery is scheduled for November 18th, so there isn't a lot of time to truly process all of this.  By going through with the surgery, Louie and Marianne are believing that God is going to use the medical team and the surgery to bring about His perfect plan. They are choosing not to lean on their own understanding. Not to be overwhelmed by their emotions. They are choosing to trust in their Jesus, the one who never changes and never fails. God has already shown up and blessed Louie and Marianne in a huge way, they receieved news that the actual cost of the surgery will be 100 percent covered! Believing this is the first of many miracles we will see!

Louie and Marianne have a faith that is special and deep. They are not just Christians, they are disciples of Jesus Christ. Their hearts overflow with love and care for others, it is so easy to see by the way they live each and every day. As I have talked with them and they have shared, one thing is so obvious. Above all else, they desire for their friends and family to know Christ they way they do. To have the kind of beautiful and intimate relationship they have experienced in the blessings and battles that they have faced in life. That their loved ones would not be swayed or changed by the things of this world, but seek God and His will above all else. That they would set aside the hurt or disappointment they have experienced and choose to forgive. That they would ask Jesus to lift the weight they have been carrying for far too long. To truly live in the freedom and JOY that a life lived with Christ offers. 

This doesn't guarantee an easy life. There will still be both blessings and battles. Anyone can enjoy the blessings, that is an easy thing to do. The hard part is enduring the battles! In order to do this we have to go to the Father with open hearts and hands. The Holy Spirit will give us the power we need to keep on going even when we are tired and overwhelmed. We have to walk in our anointing. God has called each of us to make an impact for His glory and we have to keep walking it out, even when it is hard. Keep raising your family with love and grace. Keep showing up to work and shining the light of Christ into a dark and lost world. Keep doing what God has called you to do! Don't allow your heart to be hardened, but be moved with compassion. Sometimes it is hard to set aside our own struggles, our pride, and our self focus to see those around us. 

It is incredible to me that Louie is facing one of the most difficult battles he will ever face, and his focus is on what matters most, other people. On ensuring that every person he loves finds Jesus so that they can live in eternity. On sharing the power of prayer and forgiveness and the beautiful and peace-filled life that can be yours when you walk with Jesus.

Can you take a moment and really let that sink in? 

We would ask that you join us in praying for very specific things over the next couple of weeks:

-Pray that God would bring healing to Louie's tongue! That the cancer would not spread, that it would decrease and die in the name of Jesus! Pray that God would allow the surgeon to salvage as much as possible, allowing Louie the ability to speak and eat!

-Pray for favor and good news at the baseline swallow test, pre-surgical procedures and appointments, and dental exam.

-Pray that the outcome of the surgery would be the absolute best case scenario. That God would perform miracles and healing that would be so impossible, people would know God intervened!

-Pray and ask God if there is anything in your life and heart that He is asking you to release. Ask Him to bring restoration to any broken or hurting relationships. Ask Him to reveal His perfect love and plan to you and that He would help you to trust Him! Ask Him to bring joy and peace into your home and your heart. Ask Him to put people in your life that would encourage you in your faith walk. He is faithful and hears your prayers! 

If you would like to help ease the financial burden, please donate here: https://gofund.me/9ac6edbb

If you would prefer to send a check, please email me at saranoel88@gmail.com and I will get you Louie and Marianne's address. 

Love you all,

Sara