Jason Woolford Jr. Cured of Cancer
(The story is recounted by his mother, Maria Woolford.)
Our son Jason, 8 yrs. old at the time, was having symptoms of headaches and vomiting. After taking him to see three different doctors, they all told me they were tension headaches. I wondered how an 8 year old boy can have tension headaches, but that is what they told me. Jason had his headaches and vomiting on and off from January 2004 to May 2004. I did not feel this was right. I noticed he would close one eye when he would look up at me. I decided to have his eyes checked, thinking it would be a vision problem. I was able to schedule him in right away and the optometrist told me he had noticed something odd. He noticed Jason’s eyes would move left, right and down, but not up. The optometrist then told me I should see an eye specialist, thinking it would be an eye muscle issue. When I called the specialist office, they told me they were scheduled all the way through August 2004. I asked them to please squeeze us in since Jason was having these awful headaches and I did not want to wait three more months to be seen. Thank God the secretary was able to put us on the schedule for Monday, May 17th, 2004 (a week after seeing the optometrist).
I was unable to take Jason to his appointment so I asked my husband Jason to take him. Like usual, Jason had promised JJ (our son’s nickname) that he would take him out for ice cream once the appointment was over. Little did we know that JJ would not be going home after that appointment for five days. Jason (my husband) told me the eye specialist doctor noticed some fluid behind JJ’s eyes as she looked through an ophthalmoscope (a scope used to see inside and behind the eye). The doctor looked at Jason and told him to go directly to U of M emergency hospital and to call me as soon as possible and meet them there. When I finally reached the hospital, Jason and JJ were in the emergency room waiting to be seen by the doctor. Finally the doctor told us JJ had to have a CAT scan to see why he had fluid in his head. After a couple of hours the doctors came in with a distraught look on their face to tell us that our son had a mass in the middle of his brain in the size of a golf ball. In order to find out what this was exactly further tests and MRI’s would have to be performed. Obviously, we had to plan to stay in the hospital for an unknown time at that time. Jason and I were in shock when we heard the news. We didn’t cry right away, at least not until we were outside the emergency room calling everyone we knew for prayers.
After tests and an MRI, JJ was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. JJ had to have brain surgery (hydrocephalus) in order to alleviate the water from his brain. The tumor was sitting right between the bottom of his brain and the top of his spinal cord. The tumor was blocking the fluid from his brain into his spinal cord. The surgery consisted of drilling two holes through his skull and brain to get to the top of the tumor. The doctors drilled a hole through the tumor to allow the drainage from the brain into the spine. The doctors were concerned that JJ would have life long side effects from the surgery, like vision, mobility and especially memory problems. During the surgery a biopsy was also performed to determine the type of tumor, whether it was cancerous or benign. After the surgery, the doctor came into the room to see how JJ was doing. Even though JJ had not fully recovered from the surgery, with his head wrapped and vaseline still around his eyes from the tape, he was able to let the doctor hear his seven bible versus he had memorized approximately a month prior to his diagnosis. The doctor just smiled.
We knew God had protected our son from any side effects from the surgery. JJ was released from the hospital three days after his surgery. Now we had to wait for the results of the biopsy.
Five days later we receive the call that the tests came back and the tumor was known to be a Germinoma tumor, which is cancerous. We now were scheduled to see a Neurologist because we would have to go through chemotherapy and radiation to treat this type of tumor. When we met Dr. Robertson she told us to be prepared because this would be months, if not longer, of continuous chemotherapy and radiation. The neurologist wanted to start chemotherapy immediately. We asked to take 10 days and pray specifically that the Lord would remove this tumor. She unhappily agreed. Thousands were praying and fasting. We came back and upon the MRI taken we found the tumor had actually grown. Then I remembered that God says in Ephesians 6:12. That we do not battle against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities and spiritual wickedness in high places. See, if the tumor grew while we were all praying, I knew we were in a battle, a battle that would be won only by the blood of Jesus. We then proceeded with the following. In order to receive chemotherapy JJ had to have a port installed in his chest. JJ was scheduled for his first round of chemo on June 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The Neurologist thought it would be best if we had JJ admitted to the hospital to receive his treatments for the first round, since we did not know how he would react to the treatments.
The side effects for his chemo would be the loss of his hair, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and no energy. Of course, we did not believe he would go through any of that through thousands of people praying for no side effects. JJ was released on June 3rd. Approximately 3 weeks later we noticed his hair was beginning to fall out. But Praise God, that was the only side effect he had. He had no nausea or loss of energy like the doctors had mentioned. He was active and energetic just like any other normal 8 year old! This is not normal for someone that has taken chemotherapy.
The second round of chemo was scheduled for June 29th, 30th and July 1st. This time we were allowed to go home after each treatment. We were able to meet other kids going through same or similar illnesses at the cancer center. We met a little boy who had the exact same tumor as JJ. He had been receiving chemo therapy for nine months. I remember thinking we would have to be there nine months also, but I remembered how God says to keep the faith. We did!! On an appointment where they would check JJ blood count, they noticed his white cell blood count was low and mentioned that he would have to come back the next day to receive a blood transfusion. We called on every believer to pray and ask the God Almighty in the name of Jesus to triple his blood count so that he would not have to have a blood transfusion. The next day they drew blood and could not believe that his blood count was of someone who was not on chemotherapy. Praise The Lord JESUS!
After 2 ½ weeks of his second round of chemo the Neurologist wanted to give JJ another MRI to see if anything had been affected. The neurologist mentioned that the amount of chemotherapy at this time most likely would not affect the tumor, and if it would it would be a microscopic difference not to be seen by the eye. This would let them know if they had to increase the dose and see how much longer he would have to receive the chemo. But, a miracle took place on July 15th. I received a call from the Neurologist to tell me that the tumor had disappeared from the MRI. She giggled on the other end of the phone as she told me that the tumor was no longer visible and even the reminiscence which are usually left behind were not to be seen! She mentioned that the staff heads of the U of M would be meeting to discuss the case, since this was not normal. Praise God! I remember telling JJ while I was still on the phone with doctor that his tumor was gone and he was so excited he ran out and told all of our neighbors how his tumor was gone! The doctor told me that other specialists and she would be having a board meeting the next day to review these results and to wait to hear from them to see what the next step would be since this had happened so quickly. She called me the next day to tell me that JJ was scheduled to meet a radiologist the following week to start radiation for the seventeen days in August.
His radiation was needed to make sure everything was zapped and cleared from any future occurrence. Although there were no signs of any cancer, this is protocol for a normal brain tumor patient. Since this was not a normal case they knew nothing else but to follow through with protocol. His radiation treatments began on August 2nd, 2004. Before his first radiation JJ had to be measured for a mask that would hold his head face down on a table, which would then be pinned down into the radiation table. This would help JJ keep his head from moving. Once again we were told of the side effects, and once again we prayed for no effects. The only time JJ got sick was his first day of receiving radiation. I remember JJ going to bed early that evening when I heard him yell my name. When we ran into his room he had vomited on his bed. The first thing we did was get his clothes off and get him in the shower. Then we told him to start reciting his seven memorized bible verses. I remember seeing him standing in the shower with every bone visible, weighing only 54 pounds, absolutely bald, vomiting and reciting his bible verses. This is something that I will always remember. My husband and I just stood there and cried. This was the only day he was sick. All other treatments had no side effects on his body. Again, the doctors were baffled on how he had energy and was not sick.
We knew our son believed the Lord would heal him even though he had to go through all this mess. His faith in the Lord Jesus and everyone’s prayers healed our son, because Jesus heard JJ and our prayers.
School started on August 31st, 2004, and JJ was then completely done with all of his treatment and ready for school. Even though he still had no hair, eyebrows or eyelashes he was ready to go back to school. Praise God! Our son now is free from a chemotherapy port. He has a full head of hair and is playing basketball. My husband has been asked to preach and share this wonderful testimony from churches with congregation of thousands down to churches of 20. God uses this as a powerful faith builder for believers and those going through rough times. This is also a wonderful story for evangelizing. The vision is to share this testimony throughout the world. May God bless you and we thank you for your prayers, they have made a difference in our lives, our sons life and many others.
Because Of Him,
The Woolford Family
