Infinite 8 Ethan Kearns

Ethan Kearns, 17, is a Junior at Western Christian School of Salem, who plays Linebacker on the Dayton High School Football Team. He is a kind, compassionate, and loving young man who loves playing sports, and video games with his friends. Last week, 10/31, he was just a normal teenage young man going to visit his Chiropractor for treatment for ailing football wounds and bruised ribs. Upon evaluation, his Chiropractor advised him to see his Pediatrician after noticing a concerning swollen lymph node under his armpit, and Ethan’s struggle to walk comfortably to his own car. By Wednesday, 11/1, Ethan’s Doctor ordered tests that provided concerning results, which led him to refer Ethan to an oncologist at OHSU—that same night Ethan continued to have intense back pain, and still struggled to walk. On Thursday morning, 11/2, Ethan couldn’t walk at all, and his parent’s, Isaac and Nicole, rushed him up to OHSU’s children’s Hospital, Doernbecher’s, where he underwent tests, including a full-scale MRI, that revealed a large tumor on his Abdomen that rapped around to his Spinal Cord that needed immediate surgery, which was conducted that evening, to remove the part of the tumor that was pressing against Ethan’s spinal cord and causing his leg numbness and temporary paralysis. 

The Kearns Family is a family of Faith, with deep roots in McMinnville’s Church on the Hill, where Isaac and Nicole are both Pastor’s on staff. During Ethan’s surgery, a large group of family and friends prayed together in the Lobby, presenting Ethan to God, and praying over his surgery, the surgeons, and all of those involved at the start of this battle with Cancer. So much was unknown at the time, and it all seemed to happen SO FAST, but their faith was strong and unwavering. The surgery was a success, and Ethan spent Friday recovering from the Surgery, while the Doctor’s continued to run tests. On Saturday, 11/4, Ethan was diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS), a rare and aggressive form of Soft Tissue Cancer. With the diagnosis, Ethan’s oncologist started him on Chemotherapy the next evening on 11/5.

Ethan’s Doctor’s are still in the process of determining what Stage his cancer is at and determining genetic factors that can contribute or deter his path to recovery and remission. What we do know is that Ethan is in for the fight of his life and he and his family are going to need all the help and prayers they can get from our Community. As a Pray-First family, we invite everyone to pray with us, daily, for Ethan’s daily battles. A motto and rallying cry from the family is to “fight each battle, with God’s help, one battle at a time.” We encourage everyone who is reading this to join Ethan’s Facebook page, “Infinite 8: Ethan Kearns” for updates from the family on how you can pray and support Ethan during this battle. Ethan’s football number is #8, and students/teammates/friends from all over have been putting the #8 on things to honor Ethan during this time. The Dayton Pirates are 10-0 and on Friday 11/10 play in the Quarterfinal game against Yamhill Carlton. The Pirates will be wearing the “#8” on their helmets in honor of their teammate. We know Ethan wishes, more then anything right now, to be able to suit up and play with his teammates, but God had other plans, and he’ll be watching from the hospital, and will be there in spirit.

The extended family is also asking that if you would like to make monetary donations in the effort to support Isaac and Nicole to be there with their son during this time it would be genuinely appreciated. Future needs are going to be Hospital Expenses and Home Improvements that will make it more comfortable for Ethan when he is finally ready to come home—we don’t know when that is but we are already making plans for these improvements, so anything will help. We thank you for all of the prayers, love, and support during this time, and we leave you with one of Ethan’s favorite verses: 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11