Just Keep Dancin’
"Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and Yellow, Black and White, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world."
A favorite little song of Rucker's we sing, I couldn't resist thinking of the lyrics. Rucker is so loved. John, Katie, and little Charlie are so loved. Our families are so loved. There are few words that can relay the magnitude of how grateful we feel in response to the outpouring of love, support & encouragement these past few months. We have been tearfully and utterly humbled at the hands & feet of Jesus that have stretched from far and wide to simply join our village in support of our Rucker!
Medically speaking, Rucker is in the midst of undergoing Chemo treatments every 21 days. He is in and out of Children's Hospital and has had some wonderful weeks in between each treatment at home! He recently received a feeding tube, which has taken much stress out of taking a multitude of daily medications and has been supplemental in his caloric intake. His mommy has made quite an amazing shift from attorney to nurse- one that even creates riding toys out of feeding tube stands!! John and Katie have been a fantastic team for Rucker- tackling daily tasks together or dividing and conquering to wear many hats. Most excitingly, Rucker got his cast off, which has been a blessing! He is much more comfortable and has courageously gotten back to riding his bike, going down slides and swinging on the playground, riding his toy tractor, even swimming! Amidst some setbacks, he has thrived being a kid!
We are all celebrating the small, yet big, victories and soaking up the light of each day! We are learning so much from Rucker's fiery spirit, positivity, joy and relentless courage. Rucker doesn't think to feel sorry for himself or shorted. He simply finds joy in the moment - the small things- not focusing on what comes next or what tomorrow may bring.
His spirit is strong! He smiles, he dances, he laughs, and he LIVES! The beauty is that all of us surrounding him are learning and gaining from HIM. Rucker is brave. When faced with tough procedures, medical regimes, shots, etc... he says " I'm brave, I can do this!" This past summer, He first learned to say this during a swimming lesson with his daddy in Grand Cayman. Little did John know how greatly this lesson would apply in the near future! To see it in action is breathtaking and simply inspiring, being reminded, he is barely four years old.
Rucker is finding so much joy being showered with support and encouragement! Whether it is getting shout-outs from the top PGA guys on the tour & Tua, Bama's own quarterback, surprise Batman visits, ninja turtle calls, golf cart friend drive-bys, cousin time, play dates, trips to the zoo with family, the list goes on and on...... and Let's not forget.. his love to dance! No cast, walker, feeding tube etc.. has kept him from jammin' to his favorite Michael Jackson tunes- He is frequently the star of dance parties. His cheerful heart and infectious joy is a gift to us all as he reminds us "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain!"
He is our families tiny superhero, our modern day David fighting the giant, with his people cheering him on.
We thank you from the bottom our hearts for joining the fight, your prayers, encouragement, and your love. Stay tuned for medical updates from John or Katie soon.
With so much love and gratitude,
Lindsey ( John's middle sister)
