8/30/23
Meet the Hamm Family. Craig and Kelly have two sons, Jackson and Elliot. On August 3rd, 2022 they took their two year old son, Elliot, to the doctor. He had some bruising and a rash but no other pressing symptoms. They started that day with a routine pediatrician visit and ended up being told to pack a bag and head to Children’s Hospital, 3 hours away from their home. By 6:00 pm that same day, they knew Elliot, their precious two year old, had cancer. Elliot had surgery a few days later to place a port for treatments and to determine the type of cancer. He was diagnosed with High-Risk B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He started his first chemo treatments that week and they were told he would need treatment for two to three years. On August 8th, Elliot was not tolerating his medicine and they had to insert an NG tube. Believe it or not, this process is done while he is awake. That was one of the many hard things this family would go through over the course of the next year. Elliot has battled side effects from chemo like nausea, vomiting, weight loss, lethargy, neuropathy, trouble walking, and more. They have traveled six hours round trip for treatment weekly for an entire year. Now travel there monthly unless there is an emergency. They’ve spent countless nights separated because of his diagnosis, having been hospitalized ten times so far. Elliot has received over 30 blood or blood product transfusions. He has had many lumbar punctures and more things no two year old should ever have to endure.
Elliot’s treatment will continue until December 2024, Lord willing.
Craig was working as a bi-vocational pastor and had just started building his new business one month prior to Elliot’s diagnosis. He had to make the tough decision to step down from his pastorate to better focus on his family. Kelly also quit her job to take care of their two boys.. Even though it’s been tough, they have hope in the Lord and trust Him to provide, and He has always been faithful!