Caleb Hildebrand

The Hildebrand family needs support. Caleb is currently at the Children's Hospital in Edmonton receiving care for Tumours that have rapidly spread throughout his abdominal cavity.

Caleb turned 7 only two weeks ago. His mother Arleen wrote this on his birthday "Happy birthday to our big boy Caleb today. Your life is a daily reminder of Gods faithfulness. When you where born I used to cry when I saw other children meeting their milestones as I wasn’t sure if you would even be granted the chance to live life. We learned that God is faithful and loving regardless of the outcome to our prayers. And we are so thankful that you were given life through the gift of a heart transplant. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Caleb, you are unusually spiritually aware and always asking the hard questions. You make connections that are profound. You are a puzzler, an analyzer, a talker. Always thinking. You love math, science, space, baseball and football. Caleb you are a very outgoing and social young man. You are enthusiastic, caring and affectionate."

On August 16, two days after his birthday Arleen took him into the ER for x-rays and bloodwork for his tender and distended abdomen.

One week later she was back in the hospital as this situation was not clearing. They admitted Caleb as they discovered that he had started to grow tomours on his organs as a result of having his immune system suppressed to preserve his transplnant.

On August 24 he was airlifted to Edmonton with the family following. Following a variety of tests Caleb got worse as the tumours are causing his organs to break down and he has had trouble peeing which is causing toxic blood levels. The medical team was able to stablize him and he underwent surgery on August 26.

August 26 update was that his is peeing and his toxic blood levels are stabilizing. He has started a steroid to begin treating the tumours, and he is on oxygen. They did biopsies to determine the type and severity of cancer, as well as tests to see if the cancer has spread into his brain or bones. But he is currently stable.

August 27 update was that the room situation is causing stress as the younger siblings are not able to be with Caleb and are struggling a lot with the separation (as is the parents). Caleb has been experiencing more pain as the tumours continue to grow. They are waiting for results on the biopsies and hope he will remain stable so they are not forces to choose a treatment and risk it being the wrong one.

If you would like to support their family during this time, prayer will help the most. But often we desire to do something tangible and practical as well, and this is a way that you can help John and Arleen by easing some of the stress that occurs when you are away from home and away from work for an extended period of time.