Seems like this is becoming a habit of mine….writing once a month!  Sorry…  I’m sure you all understand.  We’re just busy living life.  🙂  Things are going well.  Jacob’s still healthy and that’s all that matters at this point – and that we’re all together. 

We got a letter the first of the month from CPS saying that they were closing out the case and Jacob’s file.  Yeah – so I thought, then on the 7th, we found out that DHS filed an appeal.  An expedited appeal.  Meaning that “Jacob is in urgent need of care” so they’re asking the Court of Appeals to make this decision fast.  Just ridiculous!  Here’s a copy of what our lawyer, Michael Farris wrote:

Stieler Case Update: Michigan Department of Human Services appeals pro-family decision to Michigan Court of Appeals.
Ken and Erin Stieler are the mom and dad of Jacob—who has been cancer-free since his PET scan in early July. He has had two clean PET scans since then—the most recent in January.
Despite all of this, the Michigan Department of Human Services continue…s to attempt to prosecute this f…amily for medical neglect. If they succeed they will force Jacob to resume chemotherapy despite the fact that the drugs in question are not FDA approved (either for children in general or for this particular cancer). Moreover, these drugs do not promise anything close to a guaranteed cure. And, the FDA requires the drug manufacturers to disclose that these drugs cause new cancers to form, heart disease in children, failure to sexually mature, and many other serious side effects in some cases.
The Marquette County Probate Court has twice ruled against the Department. Yet, the department keeps on fighting against these parents.
Just this afternoon, the Department’s appeal was filed in the Michigan Court of Appeals. The irony is that the Department has alleged that this case should be expedited because the situation is urgent. If it was urgent, why did the Department wait 55 days from the initial hotline call until filing its complaint? Why did the Department and a consulting doctor call two local judges trying to influence them to prosecute the Stielers—despite the fact that such out of court calls are clearly unethical? These calls required the case to be re-assigned twice—wasting another two months. If it was urgent, why did the Department ask for a continuance of the December trial date by almost a month? If it was urgent, when the Department lost why did it seek a motion for rehearing, a step that is rarely granted and which took another two months to resolve? And when they filed this motion for rehearing, why did they wait until the very last day—21 days—before filing the motion? And when it came time to appeal, why did they wait until the 20th day—beating the deadline by a single day?
The Department’s actions prove that they don’t really believe in the medical urgency theory—they only believe in hassling parents that have the courage to tell them “no.”

It’s never-ending!  They just can’t take no for an answer!  Oh well…Our God is bigger!!!!!  🙂  Who knows how long this could go on for.  It would be nice to get on with our lives.   On a good note, the sports are done.  Well, for awhile anyway.  Basketball finished last weekend.  Skiing is done too.  I know Jacob is sad about the skiing, but the nice weather is making up for it.  We are enjoying this gorgeous weather, that’s for sure! 

Thanks again for all of your prayers and encouraging words.  We feel so blessed!   I will do my best to keep you all updated on the appeal.  God bless you all!  He is such an AWESOME GOD!!!!

Just when you think it’s all over and life will be back to normal…….

DHS had 21 days to file for an appeal or rehearing.  Last Wednesday, on the 21st day, they filed.  Seriously??  Don’t they have something better to do with their time or our tax dollars?  They filed for a rehearing.  Meaning that they are telling Judge Solka that they don’t agree with his decision and would he reconsider having a trial.  Judge Solka responded with asking our lawyers to file a brief and have it in by February 1st.  DHS’s lawyer then has until February 15th to respond.  We are told that this isn’t anything to worry about.  That Judge Solka is just being thorough.  We still continue to trust God and know that He has everything under control, but it’s just very frustrating.  Is it the State of Michigan or is the hospital pressuring the State to keep going forward.  Personally, I think they’re hurting themselves.  Word keeps getting out like this, people will be too afraid to bring their children to that hospital.  I’ve already had numerous families come forward saying how they’ve been at this certain children’s hospital and have been threatened with CPS when they question their doctor or even mention getting a second opinion somewhere else.  Disgusting!!!

Enough about that….We have some exciting news to share~

Jacob had another clear PET Scan last week!  Praise God!  We are so very thankful!  🙂  Not that we thought it wouldn’t be, but awesome nonetheless.  Jacob continues to feel great and is doing very well.  He has been doing phenomenal in school.  He came in 4th place in the Spelling Bee at his school earlier this week and will have another chance in a couple weeks at Gilbert Elementary.  The winner will then compete in another competition at Jacob’s school, go on to State Finals and possibly to Washington D.C.  He didn’t study for this past Spelling Bee, but assured me that he’s going to for the next one.  We are so proud of him!  🙂 

Jacob also started basketball at the beginning of January.  It’s an amazing program that Caleb is involved in also.  It’s called Upwards and is through a local church.  They have only one practice a week and one game a week.  They both had their first games last Saturday and did very well.  They also started downhill ski lessons last Sunday.  They had a blast!  Ken and I had fun watching them from the warm chalet.  🙂  I think that skiing is going to be Jacob’s thing.  We’ve also gotten out as a family cross-country skiing several times since Christmas.  Great family fun!

It’s amazing how far Jacob’s come since last March.  It’s nothing short of a miracle!  God has certainly been working in his life and in ours.  He is enjoying life and we’re enjoying all being together – happy and healthy! 

Hoping all of you are happy and healthy as well and enjoying this new year!  May God bless all of you and thank you again for all of your words of encouragement and prayers!  Happy 2012!

Yesterday, we had a motions hearing.  It went pretty well.  There were 3 motions that our judge was going over.  The first was a motion that DHS filed that we should not be able to have character witnesses testify on our behalf.  The judge ruled in our favor.  PTL!  Second, we filed a motion against DHS as they had 2 child abuse doctors on their witness list.  We wanted them taken off as they have never seen or talked with us or Jacob before.  Plus, this is not a child abuse case.  The judge ruled in our favor.  PTL!  The last motion was a motion to dismiss the case all together.  When the hearing first started, he said that he hadn’t quite made up his mind yet, but he would definitely rule at the end of the hearing.  After listening to our wonderful lawyer, Michael Farris, state our case, the judge decided that he couldn’t make up his mind and that he would need to take the weekend to think about it.  We feel that is a good thing and a step in the right direction.  Overall, yesterday felt like a win and if he dismisses the case next week, it’ll be a VICTORY! 

It was frustrating to listen to, however, as Jacob’s oncologist had filed an affidavit on Monday stating 3 things.  First that Jacob DOES have cancer.  Second, that he WILL die if he doesn’t get treatment.  And third, that the treatment IS safe and effective.  How can she say that Jacob does have cancer after 2 PET scans?  She said that PET scans aren’t reliable.  Ok…let’s play that game.  What if Jacob did continue with treatment for 6 more months as they’re recommending?  If the PET scan was clear then, then they would call it a victory and say he’s in remission.  But since he has a PET scan after 3 months and it’s clear then he still has cancer?  Plus she stated that he DID, not DOES, have cancer in her deposition – she actually corrected herself.  Now she’s saying otherwise.  Number 2:  He will die?  Since when is she God?  No one knows when Jacob will die.  Only God!  Number 3:  The chemo and radiation treatments are safe and effective?  Really?  Since when is putting chemical warfare in a childs body safe?  Most of the chemo drugs they had Jacob on are not proven safe and effective by the FDA.  The DHS lawyer stated yesterday at the hearing that basically it doesn’t matter what the FDA says.  If the doctors want to give a drug to someone, they have every right to.  WHAT????  And when is it okay for a doctor to lie under oath in her deposition and in an affidavit?  And contradicting herself?

Without a doubt, we have God on our side and He is certainly looking out for us.   He remains faithful through all of this  – never failing!

I will let you all know what I find out next week.  Thanks again for your prayers and for those who have signed the petition.  You can also follow us on Hope for Jacob on FB.  Please continue to pray for the dismissal next week!

“Commit everything you do to the Lord.  Trust Him, and he will help you.  He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.”  Psalm 37:5,6

Hello everyone!  Sorry I haven’t been keeping up on this as much as I thought I would.  Normally, this is a very busy time for everyone with Christmas and all, but adding this trial to it just makes things insane. 

Let see……..I never got back to you all after the motions hearing on November 30th.  I guess I didn’t take the time because there was nothing to report.  They were supposed to go over some of the motions that were filed, but the “other side” wasn’t prepared.  It ‘s getting quite ridiculous!  They’ve been investigating us since July.  Filed the petition in September and THEY’RE not ready?  Oh, and I forgot to mention that one of the reasons that the trial was asked to be moved to January is because “it’s not fair” that it was 2 against 1.  As in Ken and I having 2 lawyers to their one.   Pathetic!  Oh well!  I guess this all just makes them look worse and worse.

Thank you everyone for your OVERWHELMING support over the past couple of weeks.  Just truly AMAZING!   We went from 300 likes on the Hope For Jacob FB page, to over 800 as of this morning!!!  Also, thank you for all the encouraging messages.  What faithful and wonderful supporters we have.  

For those of you that live in or near Marquette County and can be at the courthouse to support us next week – the 15th, we would greatly appreciate it.  The judge will be going over the motion to dismiss the case.  Hopefully he’ll see all the support we have and realize just how crazy this case is.  It will be held at 1:30 in the original courthouse at the top of the marble staircase. 

Please continue to keep us in your prayers!  We know God has BIG plans for us and we are excited to find out what they are.  I do feel blessed that God is using us.  I don’t know why He picked us, but I feel blessed.  🙂 

(more…)

Well, things have certainly been a little crazy lately.  You do one t.v. news interview and it spreads like wildfire!    I’ve been told that it’s been on several different t.v. stations downstate and as far as California.  It’s been on the radio and several newspapers as far as the U.K.  We were also invited to be on a popular talk show in New York.  We turned that down.   Not really wanting to jump on a plane and add to all the stress that’s already present.   One thing is for certain, we musn’t get too caught up in all that is going on around us and forget to continue to rely on God.  To continue praying and spending time with Him each and every day – throughout the day.  And let’s not forget to praise him and thank Him for all that He has done.  He continues to amaze us with His blessings and protection on this family.   We give Him all the glory!!!

We are so thankful for all the support we have gotten.  Yes, some of the feedback has been negative, but thankfully most of it has been positive.   Whether you agree with chemo and radiation, this boils down to parental rights.  It’s what this is really all about!   We should have the choice of what type of medical treatment our children have and how much.  Period.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers!   I will try to do my best to keep everyone updated as things progress.