Fight with Trevor

Have you ever known a person that lights up a room when he walks in? You just love being around that person because he brings out the best in you? This is how I feel about my bonus son, Trevor Werle.

Trevor is not only an amazing son, but he is also an amazing husband to Ashley, and father to Lacey (3) and Ella (18 months).

Trevor has always been a strong, healthy person not only physically, but mentally, and spiritually as well. But as some of you may know, life can change in an instant, and this was the case for our family.

Three weeks ago, Trevor started feeling sick. He thought he may have caught a virus, or stomach bug. He treated the symptoms, tried to rest, and went on with life as usual. I talked with him on Wednesday night (9/7/22), and asked how he was feeling. He said he was feeling some better, but he still had some weird symptoms like pressure in his chest, horrible headache, and the feeling of a bubble in his throat. He told me if he wasn’t feeling better by the next day, he was going to Velocity Care to see what they had to say. That next evening (9/8/22), I received a phone call that I will never forget. I was sitting in a parking lot after coming out of a store, and I saw Trevor was calling me. I just thought he would be telling me that maybe he had a bad sinus infection or even COVID. Now, I wish either of those would have been the case.

Through a broken, quiet voice, Trevor said, “Becky, can you come to the house and watch the girls? The X-ray at Velocity Care showed a mass pressing on my heart. The doctor wants me to go straight to the ER.” My heart sank. Those are the words you never expect to hear from your child. I told him that I would be right over.

Trevor and his wife, Ashley, left for the hospital about an hour after I received that call. We were all in shock. We were praying and believing that maybe there was some kind of mistake on that first X-ray. Maybe there was a shadow that just looked like a mass. Maybe the doctor didn’t know what she was talking about. This couldn’t be anything substantial in the body of such a healthy 28 year old.

I got the grand babies in bed, and waited impatiently by my phone for even the smallest of updates. Early the next morning (9/9/22), Ashley texted me

these words, “It’s a mass, 12cm by 7.7 by 10. They have to run more tests to see if it’s benign. It is pressing against his heart which can cause all of the other issues.”

This was devastating news, but it wasn’t the end of the diagnosis. Scans led to more tests which led to more scans and more tests. Over the next four days, doctors looked through Trevor’s now tired body with a fine tooth comb. Tuesday (9/13/22), the official diagnosis came. Trevor has T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Our lively, funny, talented, sweet, loving son has blood cancer. Wow, that’s hard to say out loud. 

Our family, like so many of you reading this, has had our fair share of trials in this life. We know one thing for sure, God is faithful. We know without a doubt that God is able to heal Trevor. We know that God has the last say, not doctors. However, we also know that God often uses doctors and medicine to help His children. If God chooses not to miraculously heal Trevor’s body, there is going to be a long road ahead for Trevor and Ashley.

Trevor began a very aggressive treatment plan last Thursday (9/15/22). Think of it, from the time he went to the doctor to the time he received his first chemo treatment was only ONE week. That’s how serious this is. In that one week, he also had to endure numerous scans, blood tests, had a biopsy of the mass, 2 bone marrow biopsies (ouch!!), medicine upon medicine, and a Hickman port put in.

You know what? I haven’t heard him complain once. I haven’t heard Ashley complain once. Sure, they’ve cried. We’ve all cried. But, Trevor is determined to allow God to use him right where he is. He said to me, “Who knows how God will use this to speak to others. I want to witness to every person that comes into my hospital room.”

Ashley has been the best help mate to Trevor. She has been by his side every moment, lending him her strength, advocating for him, and taking care of him. She has loved on him like no one else could. She has challenged me to do more, care more, and love more.

Trevor and Ashley would never ask for help. However, many of you have asked what you can do to ease the burden of medical bills, and keeping their everyday bills paid. Thank you for asking. Thank you for caring about them. Trevor is the soul provider for their family while Ashley stays home with the babies. Trevor will be in the hospital until (at the very least) the end of October. He will receive aggressive treatments on a weekly basis. It’s hard to know what will come after that.

They don’t know how they will pay their mortgage, pay their utility bills, buy diapers, and cover hospital and medical bills with no income coming in. I don’t want them to have to worry about those things. Wouldn’t it be great if they could completely focus on getting Trevor healthy again? I would love to take the financial burden off of them, but I cannot do it alone.

I understand times are tough for everyone right now. But, we have our health. We are able to get up, go to work, and come home to our family, and do it all over again the next day. Trevor doesn’t have that. He would love to be going to work tomorrow. If you cannot do anything, we all understand. You can pray for them!! They need prayer first and foremost. They need prayers for strength, and wisdom. They need prayers for the doctors and nursing staff. They need prayer for his blood pressure to come down and stay down. They need prayer for his kidneys to start functioning “normally” again. They need prayer that the leukemia will be eradicated from his blood and body. They need prayer for Lacey and Ella to have peace since they have been uprooted and can’t be with mommy and daddy right now. Your prayers are powerful. But, if you can, they sure would appreciate a financial donation to help them pay their bills. I know they would be forever grateful, and I will be forever grateful.

Thank you for reading our story. Thank you, in advance, for your prayers, your donation (no matter how big or small), and for sharing this. I set the goal for $5,000, but I believe we can crush that goal in no time. If we work together, we can make a difference in their lives. We can hold their arms up like Aaron did for Moses in the Bible.

Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.