I would like you to meet Jace, our 2nd pediatric child. He turned 2 years-old on November10th. On February 25, Jace was taken to the hospital because he was experiencing what would best be described as stroke-like symptoms.
Life took a drastic turn for Jace and his family that day. Doctors found a large, rare brain tumor called Atypical Teratoid/Rabdoid Tumor (ATRT). They were told ATRT is a rare and aggressive form of cancer which would require immediate, vigorous types of treatment.
Treatment began by subjecting young,15-month-old Jace to two intense rounds of chemotherapy. Then, over the following 5 months, Jace had to undergo three painful stem cell/bone marrow transplants, the last of which was done in August 2025. Once the results of those transplants were positive and Jace's stem cells were producing new cells, they were allowed to go home. Each of the transplants required extended stays at Children's Hospital.
The next step in Jace's treatment required Jace, mom and dad, and his brother to spend 6 weeks at the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia. Jace now had to undergo 28 straight days of proton radiation treatment at the Children's Hospital there. Mind you, mom had to take a leave from her full-time job when they 1st learned of Jace's diagnosis. Now, Dad would be taking at least 6 weeks off from work to take the family to Philadelphia.
Remarkably, little Jace handled the radiation treatments rather well by the grace of God. On December 2nd, just 12 days ago, Jace was able to “ring the bell” signifying the end of his radiation treatments. Now the family faces four weeks of waiting. Jace is scheduled for scans on January 13th which will show what the last 9 months of treatment have done to the tumor.
There have been a couple of negative effects Jace has experienced due to the size of the tumor and its location. He has lost hearing in his right ear and is experiencing weakness on the side of his face. I need not say Jace and his family need and desire your prayers. Jace has been through so much over the last 9 months. That is the 1st and most important thing everyone reading this can do. Please take a little time as often as you can to lift little Jace up in prayer.
Between now and January 13th, Jace's family, like Micah's, will be completely changing their lifestyle and their home environment. Every effort has to be made to minimize the allergens, contaminates and any other possible enemies of keeping Jace healthy. Purifying the air and water in the home, changing what Jace eats, changing how they cook and even the cookware they use, to name but a few, had to change.
For Jace's family, purifying the water is a significant challenge. They have well water at their home and the Iron content is very high. They have been given quotes of $6,000+ to make the needed changes to their water system which they simply cannot afford. So, basic purification system for the water they consume is a priority need.
There are also ways our ministry will be tangibly helping this family during this difficult time. I have asked the family to create an Amazon wish list. In addition to some toys for the kids, you will see a number of things they need to create the healthiest environment possible for Jace. New cookware, socks that do not have plastics in them, clothes that do not have contaminates, and things for the house.
amazon list link: https://www.amazon.com/reg.../gl/owner-view/333V73979DTKP...
This is the same list of items + a couple that cannot be purchased thru amazon, in particular the water purification system:
https://registry.wegotthis.org/registries/jace-spears
One of the best ways to help families enduring childhood cancer is to bless them with gift cards which meet immediate recurring needs which come with making frequent day long trips to Children's Hospital.
These are the gift cards Jace's family indicated would be most helpful:
- Sheetz cards for gas
- Aldi cards (staple food items)
- Giant Eagle (groceries)
- Walmart cards (misc household items)
Checks can be made out and sent to:
Compassion Network
PO Box 3055
New Kensington, PA 15068
Here is the link for online donations to the Compassion Network:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/...
