Salazar Family Updates

10.30.23
Hello dear friends, we wanted to share our hearts, our needs, and give you an update on Mark. We are so thankful for all those who are standing in faith with us for healing. We feel your prayers and love daily.

Update on Mark:
Through God’s connection of a wonderful friend, Mark had the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial of a new cancer drug that focuses on supercharging the immune system to attack and kill cancer cells. It has had very positive results for those in late term cancer so we eagerly chose to participate. Every three weeks he is receiving an IV infusion at a local naturopathic clinic supervised by a ND and the CEO of AVM Biotechnology who is overseeing the administration of the drug. His first treatment was Oct. 2 and second one was Oct. 24. No changes in symptoms after the first or second treatment unfortunately.  As for how he is doing daily, he is bedridden and in constant pain that is requiring anywhere from 100mg-120mg of morphine daily. He is always fatigued and sleeps most of the day. He is incredibly weak and is only able to eat and drink very small amounts and his weight has dropped to 118lbs. (I am tearing up as I type this, gazing at him sleeping, trying to describe how this horrible disease is destroying his body). But God. We are standing in faith for a miracle, in whatever way He chooses to give it.

Update on housing:
As for our housing journey, we have been blessed by a company that has walked alongside us throughout the past year and a half and provided temporary housing for our family. We recently found out that this beautiful gift has come to an end and we have to move out by the 15th of November. Ever since we received this news, we have been diligently working to find a housing solution, but right now no viable options have made themselves available. We know that the body of Christ is what God uses in situations like ours often times. We are asking for the body of Christ (friends and family and those whose hearts have been with us on this journey) to dig deep with us and prayerfully ask God if they are to take a proactive role in reaching out to their network of people they know to help get the word out of this urgent, urgent need. Sometimes it feels inconvenient, and/or messy. We are at the point where we are asking such friends if they would be willing to have personal conversations with people they may know who have the capacity to help. That might be someone with a second house in the area, or a mother-in-law type apartment. This is a bold “ask”. But we feel that God has put it on our heart to “ask, seek, and knock”.

Update/Other:
Due to Michelle’s now beyond full-time schedule, which now includes things like taking care of me full-time, weekly Hospice visits from nurses, and substitute teaching (as she’s available), we do not have adequate income to cover the regular monthly bills of a family of five. Some of other needs that have popped up are things like Ryan growing 4 inches in two months and growing out of most of his clothing, car tabs expiring, Emily’s birthday coming up on Nov. 9th, kids sports, etc. These things are so hard to ask help for. As parents we want to be able to take care of these needs, but to be real, we are not in a place to do it right now and that breaks our hearts. You don’t think that at this point in your life you would need to ask for help, but we are humbling ourselves to do just that.

If you would like to donate and receive a tax deduction through Mark’s 501(c)(3) ministry you can do so at http://www.soulbyte.com/donate Or can use Venmo, @Michelle-Salazar-119 last four digits of phone number 8874.

We are so thankful for the body of Christ. So many of you have asked how you can help out so we wanted to let you know of our needs. These are the biggest challenges our family has ever faced. Please know there is complete freedom to share our story and our specific needs with those who may desire to join us on this journey. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued prayers and the love you have shown our family.

 Mark and Michelle Salazar