www. Char l es tonPhys i c i ans . com | www.Hea l thL i nksChar l es ton . com | 81 tough obstacles before and had come out on the other side. Doctors prepared to give Eli chemotherapy and radiation – in fact, Eli was one of the first patients ever to receive this type of radiation for his type of lymphoma. The Clarks praised many doctors,: the radiation oncologist, Dr. Samuel Cooper, and especially Dr. Twombley. “Her passion and care for her patients is phenomenal,” Stephanie said. “She joined us during critical meetings with other doctors, often holding Eli in her arms.” Treatments were successful. In fact, when the Clark family took their annual December trip to Dr. Cooper’s office for Eli’s full MRI, they got news that left everyone speechless. In December 2022, Eli’s scan was clean. Having PTLD and surviving five years out is so rare that Dr. Cooper and Eli’s parents happily asked, “Where do we go from here?” Now 13 years old, Eli is a mostly normal kid with just a few delays in writing and memory, according to Stephanie. “He will tell you that he has survived death twice,” she said, beaming. To celebrate his triumphs and the entire family’s faith, Eli was baptized last summer in the company of some of the same people who prayed for him in the earlier years. To Stephanie, this is no surprise – she had visions of community members praying for her son and even comforting her husband in the hospital waiting room more than once. “Eli is just an amazing kid,” she mused. “The child has had more happen to him in one year than some people ever have, and he is incredibly strong. He is here because God has big plans for him – he has a purpose.” Eli with his brother Gabe – Thanksgiving day 2021 in North Carolina. Summer of 2022. Seacoast Church Ocean Baptism at Isle of Palms. Josh and Lisa Suratt are with Eli.
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