Pray for Ezekiel

Here's an article from The Gazette on February 14th, 2006. I'll let you read it and then explain about the main person, Ezekiel...

MORE THAN A BASKET

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Feb 14, 2006 by MILO F. BRYANT Gazette Sports columnist

Don't tell me that two points in a blowout victory are insignificant.

I won't believe it, especially when a father sits at a scorer's table with tears rolling over his cheeks because of those two points.

Last March, Ezekiel Wetlesen had emergency surgery to remove a walnut-sized cancerous tumor from his brain.

So when he put two points on the board for Evangelical Christian Academy in a late January victory, the gymnasium erupted.

Some people yelled. Some clapped and laughed out loud. Others smiled. And, like the father at the scorer's table, some cried.

"It was a great feeling," Eagles senior guard Justin Beers said. "The crowd was just so loud when he scored. It was amazing."

Fellow senior guard Josh Morin was on the bench when Wetlesen scored his first points of the season. Morin, like his teammates, stood up, all of them cheering.

"I looked at the scorer's table," Morin said. "Mr. Wetlesen was doing the scorebook, and he started crying."

Ezekiel Wetlesen doesn't want to be seen as special.

That's too bad, because he is.

Wetlesen doesn't want to be anything more than another member of the team.

That's too bad, too.

Wetlesen stands 6-foot-4. His head is shaven on one part and splotches of wispy hair spring from another. Yet, he still manages to look unassuming.

Wetlesen tolerates chemotherapy treatments, but nevertheless finds the energy to practice and play basketball.

Patients must be clear of the cancerous cells for five years before being deemed cured.

Wetlesen is trying, doing everything he can to lead the life of a normal high school senior.

"For the most part, I can tell the story of what happened," Wetlesen said in a staccato, one syllable at a time style. After a lengthy pause, he finished. "... in how I can think, in how I can say it, in broken sentences."

Wetlesen pauses a lot these days. He thinks a lot more, too, not because he wants to, but because he has to. The cancer did that to him. It robbed him of his short-term memory. It robbed him of some of his long-term memory, too.

Wetlesen shook his head and shrugged his shoulders when asked what he remembered about his shot against Calhan.

On March 28, Wetlesen woke from a nap. He was sick to his stomach and had blurred vision. Both his head and back ached, and his speech was slurred. His mom, Eloise, rushed him to the hospital where doctors found a bleeding tumor near his left temple.

Three days and many tests later, Wetlesen had a seizure and required emergency surgery.

Wetlesen is David's and Eloise's third oldest child.

Recently, David sat in a room across the hall from where his son was practicing. David is an Air Force lieutenant colonel and the soldier in him came out. He tried to keep his body upright and strong as he recalled his son's experiences. The father in David, however, was unmistakable as his voice started to quiver and he forcefully squeezed his hands.

"You're taken totally by surprise," David said before explaining the total confidence he had in the doctors. "But, you know, you have got to make decisions and say, 'Do the tests. Do the operation.' You're just hoping you get him through that and see what the prognosis is.

"You make life as normal as possible for him and give hope."

Ironically, that's what Ezekiel is doing. Just by practicing and playing, he's giving others hope and inspiration.

Ezekiel's cancer was certain death 10 years ago. But, because of advancements in research, Ezekiel could eventually land his dream job -- a high school math teacher.

For now, Ezekiel will tolerate many more months of chemotherapy - - his MRIs have been clear for nine months. Fifty-one clear months to go.

More importantly, Ezekiel will continue to practice as much as he can. He'll continue to play as much as he can. He'll inspire his teammates as much as he said they inspire him.

He'll continue proving the significance of two points.

--

Ezekiel and his whole family go to our former church, Forestgate. We knew them before they found out that Zeke had cancer, and we took care of the four youngest kids (there are ten in all) while he was having his surgery. The best way to describe him is as a friendly giant - 6', 4" is not exactly short, but he loves his littlest brother, Othniel, and he's very shy.

This article from The Gazette was published in 2006, but since then, Zeke has gotten worse instead of better. We are still praying for a miracle, though...I'm asking that you would do the same, too.

Here's an update from his father, sent yesterday:

All,

We have had a busy month with friends and family. Ezekiel has been able to participate in quite a bit of the activities.

On 11 May, Gabriel, Susan, Cheyenne and JD flew in...for a couple of weeks. Gabriel's commander put him on administrative hold so that he could spend time with Ezekiel. We enjoyed the time with them tremendously. Unfortunately, they had to return to Texas before Michael's graduation.

The MRI on 14 May showed a further spread of the tumor cells into the brain stem. Ezekiel met with Dr Foreman on 16 May for another Avastin treatment. Since the travel to Denver (3 hours round trip) is exhausting for Ezekiel, Dr Foreman suggested we arrange for the next treatment...on 31 May.

Ezekiel attended Hayley's (not Hawley, my typo) graduation on 25 May at ECA. At the ceremony, the endowment for the Ezekiel Award for Excellence in Christian Witness and Teaching was announced. It is part of the Leonard Evangelical Christian Academy Foundation. Below is more about the award:

Ezekiel Peter Wetlesen, a 2006 graduate of ECA, had the life goals of pursuing a teaching degree in mathematics and then returning to ECA to teach. Due to a brain tumor, Ezekiel was not able to pursue those goals. Therefore, he decided to establish an endowment to encourage and retain excellent teachers of effective Christian witness to teach in Christian schools. Ezekiel’s desire is that proceeds from the endowment provide stipends to award winners to augment their salary for the next year of teaching in a Christian school. This would encourage these teachers and enable them to continue teaching in Christian schools due to reduced financial concerns.

On May 27, Ezekiel attended Hayley's recital and 18th birthday reception. Lily, Eloise's sister, arrived from Minnesota for a week.

On May 29, Eloise and I drove Ezekiel up to the Academy so that he could watch Michael's graduation parade. We were thrilled by the CV-22 fly-over at the beginning of the parade. Late that night we all attended Michael's commissioning by Dad and pinning on by Mom and Dad.

Hayley and a friend from church stayed with Ezekiel the next day while 15 family and friends wore specially made gold T-shirts at the Stadium while Michael received his diploma and then watched the Thunderbirds put on an air show. Ezekiel was able to see and hear Michael over the internet.

On 31 May, Ezekiel received another Avastin treatment....

We continue to see the progressing effects of the tumor cells. Ezekiel is in good spirits, but sleeps a lot and need assistance moving around.

He looks forward to more visits from family and friends.

Please pray for his continued comfort during the weeks ahead.

In Him,

Dave

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2007 8:03 PM
Subject: Update on Ezekiel

All,

We have been having problems with our internet service, so some of you may not have received earlier updates. Therefore, the 11 April update is below.

On Wed, 2 May, Ezekiel's doctor recommended that he not go through another round of chemo because he didn't think Ezekiel's body could tolerate it. He felt Ezekiel was worse since the 25 April visit. Ezekiel received an Avastin treatment and has rebounded a bit. He continues to struggle with walking and has no use of his right arm. We will have another MRI taken on 14 May and see Dr Foreman in Denver on 16 May for the results and another Avastin treatment.

Ezekiel and Hawley (Ezekiel's girlfriend) attend Prom at a French restaurant in downtown...on Friday, 20 April. Ezekiel's brothers and sisters converted our mini-van into a limo and I was the chauffer. Hawley was crowned queen.

My company is allowing me to work from home so that I can help Eloise with Ezekiel around the house.

Thank you for your prayers, thoughts and support,

In Him,

Dave

--

Dear All, (11 April Update on Ezekiel)

As Ezekiel's British-born oncologist said today after reviewing the MRI, "it looks fine." Of course, we asked him to define "fine." Both he and the radiologist felt that the tumor cells had diminished somewhat and overall this month's scan was better than last month's. This is the best news we've had since January. This treatment seems to be effective in delaying the spread of the tumor cells. Ezekiel started chemo again tonight. Over the next 8 weeks, we will repeat the 2 weeks of chemo and 2 weeks of Avastin twice before another MRI in early June.

Please keep praying.

Ezekiel still struggles with walking, talking and using his right hand. He receives physical therapy each week and we take him for short walks.

In Him,

Dave