Monday Update! November 17th

Good Monday morning everyone! I have some exciting news about Smiley! When Patti talked with Steve late Saturday night, the doctors were having to give Smiley more blood and were unsure if they were even going to be able to start the stem cell treatment. They have to be able to get enough good blood from him to be able to have anything to work with. I know that’s not a very scientific explanation, but that is how my non-scientific brain understands it! Steve called last night with very encouraging news. Smiley’s blood has improved, and they were going to start the stem cell harvesting within an hour or two of when they called!! I believe that Smiley simply making it to Korea was the first miracle of Smiley’s miracle trip. I feel like we have just experienced the second miracle! I truly believe that there are many more to come, and I know you all have been praying for those miracles!

Throughout this journey, Smiley just wanted a chance. Korea was his only hope for that chance, and it took two very brave men to make this trip – Smiley with his very sick body and Steve with such a great responsibility. I’m so proud of both of them!

The doctors will be harvesting the stem cells for the next two days. He will actually be receiving the treatment in his body on Thursday. Please pray that Smiley’s weak body can continue to fight hard for the next couple of days. Once they begin treatment, hopefully he will begin to feel better each day!

We have a story here to tell, folks. A wonderful man from little ‘ole Greer, South Carolina is now a billboard for Christ! No matter what happens to Smiley’s body – and we are hopeful he will come back to us a healed man – God has been working in such special ways through all of this! I have already seen Smiley and his battle affect a stranger at the Atlanta airport. She gave us her name and number because she wants to be there with us to greet Smiley when he walks off of that airplane! I have no doubt that she has been praying for Smiley since last Wednesday. Every time I close my eyes, I have an image of Smiley walking off of the plane in a few weeks, with hundreds of us there to greet him! I have even dreamed about it! It’s always the same. And every single time I have that image in my mind, I pray that God will make that dream come true. I know that the doctors in Korea are the ones physically treating Smiley, but I believe that God is the only one who has the power to heal him.

Kathy Waters said something to me at the yard sale Saturday that is so true. She told me how thankful she is that this experience has fostered new friendships and rekindled old ones. Bill Hughes and I had the same conversation at the bank the other day. Wow! In our busy lives – and I’m the worst of all – we all get too busy to stay in contact with our friends like we should. Like God wants us to. It is only fitting that Smiley, a friend to all of us, has brought us all back together. Please, let’s continue to stay close as a God-loving community!

As always, please continue your prayers for Smiley, his family, and Steve! God hears our prayers!

Thanks to everyone who is making Smiley’s miracle trip possible! Remember the Bluegrass Concert and hot dog supper this Thursday at Blue Ridge Middle School! See you there!

Love and prayers to you all :)

Leigh