Author Archive: 'Carrow McClendon

Hello Facebook Friends,

I am thrilled to report a good day! Part of me hesitates to even mention it because I want to make sure it’s really true and not a fluke. But, both yesterday and today we have been extremely careful about what we let Kayleigh eat and it has paid off. Nearly two days without serious stomach issues!

She isn’t thrilled about her food options right now so my big hurdle this week is going to be finding things that she can eat and that taste good. It’s so hard for me to say no to her these days but I am standing firm on food. If it’s something that I know will upset her stomach I will not let her have it, no matter how much she begs!

Since we had such a long day yesterday and Kayleigh was exhausted, Tim and the girls stayed home from church this morning. Thankfully, rest seemed to be exactly what she needed and by lunch she was ready to get out of the house. We met my brothers, their families, and my parents at the pumpkin patch. We did quite a few fun things but it was all a struggle for KB. She couldn’t climb the ladders, swing, or jump and that made my little fighter sad. Even more than the stomach aches, this kind of sad hurt my heart for her. She asked me what was wrong with her… why couldn’t she run and play any more? All I could do was remind her that there was nothing wrong with her, it’s just this stupid tumor. This blasted cancer is stealing mobility from Kayleigh each day and I hate it.

Thankfully, she got to end her day on a high note. Mr. Andy and Ms. Jada came by the house to visit. Mr. Andy is the amazing guy that set out to ride from the AL/TN state line all the way down to Gulf Shores on his bike… In just 3 days!!! That was one seriously audacious plan. Sweet Ms. Jada was with him the whole way, making sure he stayed safe. Kayleigh was tired after the pumpkin patch but she was so excited Mr. Andy was coming and he certainly did not disappoint. The visit alone brought a smile to her face but when she opened her precious gifts, wow, the super watt Kayleigh smile was back.

Many people ask me how we know Andy, and guess what? We don’t. Or didn’t until tonight. He is another amazing, special person God has touched and used to bless us on this journey. I cannot even begin to keep track of the way God continues to use our prayer warriors to bless us. Even at the pumpkin patch today – over an hour from home – we had many families stop us and let us know that they are praying for us and our sweet girl.

God is so good and we are so incredibly thankful. Please continue to pray with us for complete healing this side of heaven, for the headaches to stay away, and for us to be able to keep the tummy on the right track (no matter how hard it is).

Deuteronomy 7:9
Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.

He certainly is a faithful God!

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow 💜

Uncle Kelly helping us get lost in the corn maze 

Big Sis and Cousin Mal

The whole crew minus Cole – he was hanging with Daddy Mac & Mama Mac

This swing was great!

Digging into the big goodie bag 

Purple & Butterflies on everything – so perfectly Kayleigh

Opening a special little box

The stunned look from receiving REAL big girl jewelry!

This is her making sure Inknow that this is HER pretty sparkles and that she is not sharing with me. That’s ok pretty girl, I wouldn’t share either 💜

10/8/2016
Just a short Update from Mr. Whiskers.
After a fun night out last night at the Hartselle, and Falkville High School Football games , Kayleigh was able to have a restful day today with no headaches and less stomach issues. Kayleigh was willing to let ‘Carrow and I take Grace to her softball tournament today while she stayed with her “Bess” and managed to fit in a quick visit with her cousins and Aunt and Uncle. Cole was able to go camp out with my parents in Birmingham for the weekend. With everything Kayleigh has gone through since May we have tried as much as possible to keep Cole and Grace involved in their normal activities. And for our Grace and Kayleigh, that is softball of course. Today I asked her to do a couple things for me. Have fun and also give out Kayleigh wrist bands to the opposing teams (win or lose) after the games were over as they were shaking hands. She fulfilled both of my requests and even managed to pass out some bands to players, teammates coaches and umpires until we ran out today. And our goal is to continue to share Kayleigh’s story and have more people praying for healing at the same time.

As always, Please continue to pray for: 1. Kayleigh’s complete healing this side of Heaven. 2. Improvement in balance and use of her right side. 3. Continued improvement with stomach issues.
4. Kayleigh’s friend Anna and the rest of her St. Jude buddies each with their own battle right now.

Goodnight from this wind/sun burnt crew.

Kayleigh got to visit with her Cousins and Uncle Curt and Aunt Tammy today.

What a beautiful, wonderful, emotional day. For starters, Kayleigh had a better day than she has had in quite a while. No headache, and the stomach, while still hurting, was quite a bit better than it has been. Giant “thank you, Jesus” all around!

Many times when I post I mention our wonderful community. I truly cannot begin to describe the outpouring of love we have received. It is overwhelming in the best of ways, and so humbling. Who are we to have this kind of support? We’re just another ordinary family in an extraordinary circumstance. Yet here we are, our precious girl being loved on and prayed for by so many.

Tonight was one of those special nights. I was contacted late last week by Falkville High to see if Kayleigh might be able to come to a football game to be recognized and prayed over. We said yes and man did they go into overdrive. They passed buckets at last Friday’s football game to collect donations. They were wearing purple Kayleigh shirts. The banner for the players to run through had her name on it. The Chick-Fil-a cows came and brought goodies. They prayed over her and released pink & purple balloons. She was made an honorary cheerleader for the night. And every single young man on the football team gave my baby a purple rose. They even had special gifts for Grace and Cole so they would not feel left out. Then when we left she rode in a police car and was allowed to work the lights and sirens. Oh I wish I had captured some of her excitement on video. Hers eyes were bright and her smile was huge.

And really, right there we could have gone home and went to bed and it would have been a fabulous. However, I received a heads-up from a friend that at the Hartselle game tonight (our home town) there would be people wearing purple for Kayleigh on both sides of the stadium. Since Kayleigh was in such a great mood and feeling well we decided to stop by the field and we were not disappointed. We saw sweet young ladies selling bracelets they had made to raise money for Kayleigh. We were stopped by young, old, and everything in between. People just excited to see Kayleigh and letting us know that they are praying. You cannot know what joy that brings us. “We’re praying for you.” We know nothing else can heal our girl. God alone has that power and knowing that we have an army behind us, praying and asking … well, I don’t have the words to describe that.

I just know that I am thankful to be a part of the body of Christ. Surrounded and lifted up by believers.

1 Corinthians 12:12-13
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

Galatians 6:2
Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

So often when people stop us to let us know they are praying, they tell us that we are an inspiration. In all honesty, we’re just normal, messy, people. I am so thankful that God is using Kayleigh’s story to inspire others, but I can promise, the inspiration is all God, not us. And in turn, each one of those people that stop us to tell us they are praying, or donate money, or give us hugs, those people are the inspiration. Our towns and communities coming together to support us, that’s inspirational. Serving a God that puts all of that into place and knows the number of hairs on your head… that’s inspirational. We’re just thankful that God is allowing us to be a part of His plan.

I have many of pictures from tonight. It was a REALLY good day.

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

Thanks to Kelly Miller for the awesome Falkville pictures and all the other friends that I was able to steal pictures from!

With the whole football team

and the cheerleaders

family and friends

hanging out with the mascot

receiving a BIG check

Officer Sullivan gave her a ride!

And she got to use the lights

front seat of the police car is good – let’s avoid the back!

Cheerleaders praying over Kayleigh

Hartselle’s homecoming decorations, Kayleigh’s initials are under the big “H”💜

the up close 

Precious friends

With the Austin High majorettes

Austin High cheerleaders 

Check out these Austin High guys

we found a few to get a picture with

When I first saw the shirtless guys with 14 on their backs I thought they must have a really good player they were supporting. Then after about the fifth guy walked passed I saw “Kayleigh” written across their shoulders. Talk about floored – thank you guys for such a kind gesture. I’m so glad we were there to see it 💜

Purple filling out the student section

Good evening friends,

Kayleigh had a busier day than usual. We drove to Huntsville to pick up her custom leg brace. It was a perfect fit and seemed to be helpful. Her body can’t send signals t her right foot to pick up the ties when walking so she has been tripping over her own foot, literally. The brace is designed to automatically make her foot pop up allowing it to clear the floor. Since we were in Huntsville, we swung by Mason Dixon Bakery to reload on paleo snacks. Kayleigh made sure we remembered to bring a cooler this time and we filed it up!

By the time we finished our errands Kayleigh was absolutely exhausted and her feet were hurting badly. We headed home for the afternoon. Thankfully, se had no headache today! But unfortunately her stomach was even worse than it has been. I assume it’s due to the increased steroids but whatever the reason, it is awful.

Please keep on praying for healing – this side of heaven. For the headaches to stay gone. For the stomach to settle. And for us to be able to begin the weaning process again.

I read the most appropriate devotion tonight. It was talking about having “peace beyond circumstances”. I know for a fact I would not be walking this close to God without a major catalyst having catapulted me into His arms. So, while i am not thankful for this diagnosis, I am so thankful for everything God is revealing to us. Thankful for His amazing peace and beautiful lessons. God is so good.

1 John 4:4
But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

Happy Birthday, Cole!!!!

On the heels of a really terrible day, today has been better. We still have many concerns, but the excruciating headaches did not make an appearance today and that is a huge blessing. Unfortunately, we had to increase the steroids to help with the inter cranial swelling. While it helped the headache it hurt the stomach. So, yesterday she cried mostly from the headache, today she cried because of the tummy. It’s a constant struggle. One I pray we will begin to figure out and work around soon.

She is still struggling greatly with mobility. Her right arm and hand are about 20% useful. She can move them but she has zero fine motor skills. She can no longer write, use a fork, or anything else with her right hand. Really, even gross motor skills are difficult. Walking is also greatly effected. She has almost no balance and her right leg is about as useful as her right arm. Tomorrow we will go pick up her leg brace for the right leg in hopes that it will help stabilize her.

Yet even with all of that today I had more time with my bright, bubbly girl. Moments of laughter and silliness, it was wonderful. Kayleigh helped wrap Cole’s birthday gifts and was so excited to get up this morning and watch him unwrap them. She even let me leave her at home with Grandaddy for a little bit during lunch – with no fuss – so I could take cookies to Cole’s class. That was actually a pretty big deal, she usually doesn’t want me to get out of her sight.

I know our better day today is directly related to the thousands of you that have been praying for us today. We desperately needed you and you showed up in amazing force. Kayleigh still has a long way to go but today is a victory – stomach ache, weakness and all. Please don’t stop praying. We need each and every one of you to keep knocking on heaven’s door, raising the roof, and being the squeaky wheel – all begging God for Kayleigh’s healing.

Prayers for today:
Complete healing this side of heaven
No headaches!
Diet changes to help
Stomach pain to lessen
Right side mobility to return
Balance to return

As you can see the list is still long, but we know our God is good and more than able to answer each request.

Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

1 Thessalonians 5:18
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 4:15-17
15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. 16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

Thank you Jesus for another day. Please dear Lord, grant us many, many more!

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜