Olin and Heather have had big ambitions and goals for their life and their family since the beginning. After meeting at a Citylight church and getting married, life took off according to plan. Their marriage, careers and a family fell into place. First, Piper was born and then Olin Jr. came next. Olin Sr. applied for a new pilot training program with the Air Force and got accepted and Heather’s career in nursing was ideal. Life was packed and busy for sure, but this is what they had worked so hard for, and all was going according to plan. But, what happens when something changes and disrupts everything? For Heather and Olin it was a new and greater perspective in life that displayed a clear view of God’s hand and his purpose.
“When the doctors pulled us aside after all the tests on Olin Jr. were low,” Heather shared, “and told us it was indicative of cancer, we were in shock. The next few days we waited for a bone marrow. Olin Jr. had to have four transfusions just to get up for the procedure. His lungs were not good. We then got the diagnosis back on December 5, 2023. Olin Jr. has B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.”
The pace of everything stopped and then very quickly, fear and confusion flooded their minds and hearts. Just last year, Heather and Olin moved their family to Oklahoma for Olin’s pilot program. Having rented their home in Omaha out to Heather’s sister, they were living temporarily in their camper in a town with no community and now, with a hospital 1.5 hours away. They were also six months pregnant with their third child. Questions darted their minds asking, “How was this going to work out?” “Where and what were they to do?” “Why did this happen?”
In the middle of those questions, and during what felt like quiet, dark moments, God was there. And actually, God was always there. It was in this pause, with Olin Jr’s diagnosis, that Olin and Heather were given a new and greater perspective.
“For me, this whole diagnosis changed me and made me to pause,” Heather confessed. “My whole life I had been a planner. I liked to feel in control in order to feel secure. I had worked full time, Olin worked part time and worked towards a degree. I did our budget and had it all planned out. When Olin was commissioned as an officer and pilot, I was thinking I could do travel contract. I had the plan and I felt like I had that control. I relied on my own rather than on God. I trusted we would be provided for because of my plan. When this all happened, I knew I had to stay home. That I couldn’t be the provider, nor could I have my plan. The plan had been my whole adult life up until last year. This has been an eye opener for me in that we are provided for, God is in control, and even without my plan.”
With their entire life plan turned upside down, Heather and Olin began to see God’s hand and presence. Their family immediately jumped in by driving down to Oklahoma and helping with the kids, with driving, with meals, and anywhere help was needed. Their City Group back in Omaha was praying and supporting them. The Air Force was giving Olin all the time he needed, and their insurance coverage was generous. Two weeks after the diagnosis, Heather and Olin knew they had to move back to Omaha.
“I knew if I came back to Nebraska, I would have my parents and friends,” Heather said with hope. “Olin and I knew our church community was where we needed to be. When this whole thing happened, Olin had just finished his first phase of pilot training and got his wings. The timing was perfect because any earlier he would have had to reapply. Olin was able to keep his job and insurance.”
After transferring Olin Jr’s care to the hospital in Omaha, their family moved back and into their home. For the next few months, their family hunkered down together and cared for Olin Jr.
“We started to connect back with our City Group this past February and their arms were wide open to us,” Olin Sr. described. “And they have been all the way through to now. They are helpful and supportive. I feel so blessed and loved by our City Group. They touch us. I can’t compare what we’ve been going through to a death, I don’t know what that feels like for someone, but I know our road has been difficult and we are just starting. We have another 1.5 years to go. This isn’t a diagnosis and treatment and then over. Instead, it’s a long 2.5-year road. We know we can’t do this without God and the people he’s put in our lives. My faith had grown. My relationships have grown stronger. My outlook has changed. I’ve slowed my mental race down. I just want to live in the moment. I’m not anxious and I’m trusting God that he will take care of us. I am slowing down and taking more of a value with social interactions. This whole thing could have gone another way, and it didn’t. I now know time is the only thing you can never get back.”
In March, they welcomed Benjamin into their family and with that, more opportunities to see God’s hand and plan. Heather and Olin have seen how easy it can be for families who go through this to be angry and bitter. They have learned to come to him and cast all their cares on him. They have seen how he has answered the prayers and his faithfulness and that he is with their family.
“Going through 1 Corinthians about the church body, that we all support the body, has just been cool to see in action,” Heather shared. “I realize now my own sin and God is saying “you can’t control this but watch and see how I can.” I’m scared about what’s going to happen, how we will make certain bills, and I can get anxious about that. But it’s always worked out! We see God’s faithfulness and provision each day. Also, watching my children, specifically Olin Jr. through treatment and his minimal side effects... to see him go through this tough time and how hard it’s been on his body yet see his cheerfulness! To see my kids love going to City Group and church. My daughter was at VBS last month, and one morning after VBS she was working on a craft. She turned to Olin Jr. and said, “is Satan bigger or is God bigger?” and OJ said “God!” They know God is bigger and have those conversations with one another. To see your kids go through this tough time and still have joy is a gift from God.”
Olin Sr. quickly replied,
“There IS a lot of joy right now. I know it’s a sign that it’s okay. Everything is okay. I too struggle with not being in control. Those 13 days in the hospital last year were very hard for me, because I couldn’t fix or help, and there was nothing I could do. There’s been a lot of praying and relinquishing knowing we are not in charge. God has incredibly blessed us, our family, we are so incredibly fortunate to have people like our family and City Group in our lives.”
Last month, Olin Sr. reported back to work in Oklahoma with Heather staying in Omaha with the kids. Even with this new burden and change, they remain encouraged and continue giving their worries to God.
“There is anxiety in going back to training,” Olin Sr. replied. “I have to finish training in Oklahoma and eventually in Wichita KS, but when I think about the future and what God has for us, I’m not worried. We’ve throttled back and are no longer living on the go, go, go. I am constantly talking to God. I pray and in times where I can’t bow my head or stop what I am doing, I still converse with him. The past couple of days, it’s been telling God “I am not going to worry about it because you have carried us up to this point.” “I won’t question you and you will get us to the next point on your schedule and with your timeline.” Nothing we can do will change that. It’s relinquishing control and the unknown off my shoulders and on to God.”
Before Olin left, he thought of a Bible study group in Oklahoma knowing he wouldn’t have a Huddle or City Group nearby. He prayed with the men in his City Group for God to prepare him and for the other men that are also looking for community.
“I’ve never done this, but I knew that’s what God wanted me to do,” Olin replied after being asked how it’s going. “God showed up. There are 3-4 guys that do a study group on Saturday nights here on base. They are even texting me and reminding me to come.”
Since Olin Sr. has been back in Oklahoma, Heather has had many opportunities to ask for help and, in some cases, family and friends have just stepped in. Their City Group has come around and rallied around her and the kids. With a newborn and Olin Jr. 's hospital appointments, she’s had support with childcare, meals, lawn care, and with accountability.
“It’s easy to not go to church, or City Group,” Heather confessed. “That accountability from them and asking "what can we do?” or telling me “come when you can.” Some of the girls from City Group are encouraging BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) this Fall. People are reaching out to me every week and not just the friendship, but asking questions about our faith, celebrating the victories, and just listening. Even our children are encouraging one another. At City Group, the kids want to pray for one another. Seeing other kids pray has been encouraging for our kids and for us.”
Heather concluded with this:
“I’m so thankful for everybody. I still feel like a burden. I know everybody has their own struggles (economy, lost jobs, infertility), but they are still supporting us. Knowing they are going through their own struggles; I feel guilty that they are helping me. I find myself thinking that I’m not worthy of that even though I know that’s not true. However, when you need help, it makes you want to help others more. When you have been blessed, you want to turn around and bless others. It makes you aware of the gaps. Being on this side of a serious diagnosis, those well intentioned offers I know are not helpful. I understand that now. I see and know the needs of others more. I see and know a different perspective. I am so grateful.”
When asked if they had anything else they wanted to add, they both concluded with this encouragement to the church:
“In this walk, you can’t do it by yourself and there is a lot out of our control. In life, you have to rely on your friends, family and God. God will provide. Isolation only wants to make you fall away from faith, from your marriage, with addictions and we have found that going through a time like this is emotionally and physically taxing. You have to recognize the evil one does want to isolate you. It has been vital for us to slow down, to be in community who point us to God, who support us, and who point out the lies and remind us of truth. It can be challenging on the marital relationship, but we know that we have only benefited from one another. We have been blessed.”
Church family, as Olin and Heather look ahead, would you please pray against anxiety from being apart from each other, for a strong and biblical community for Olin in Oklahoma, and for health and healing for Olin Jr. as he continues his treatments? God knows we can’t do this alone and his purpose and plan are always good.
For updates and to help Olin and Heather and their family, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/our-sons-diagnosis-of-acute-lymphoblastic-leukemia.
Wondering where in Oklahoma? We lived in Enid for 5 years and it was an amazing experience……after coming out of the desert after 3 years. Not knowing what the future held after that, GOD poured into us during our time there.
Enid is an amazing place and many pilots did their training there as well.