Family’s walk of faith aims to inspire others

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- No parent is prepared to hear their child has cancer.

This summer, one Starkville family learned their 18 month old had a form of pediatric cancer. She’s now cancer free.

T.J. and Joy Bradford wants to share their journey with the hopes of helping someone else walking in the same shoes.

She doesn’t know it now, but little Reagan was diagnosed with what could have been a deadly cancer.

Her mom Joy was at work when her husband had to make the gut wrenching phone call.

“T.J. called me and he said it’s cancerous. It was the toughest, the toughest thing we’ve ever walked through,” said Joy Bradford.

“That moment felt like the hardest punch in the gut that you could imagine,” said T.J.

It took multiple doctor visits until doctors finally learned Reagan had B-Cell Lymphoma.

“I was just asking God, I was like how is this possible. This is not real life. I was screaming this is not real life. This is not possible. How is this our life,” Joy asked.

Emotions flooded Joy and T.J. Faithful believers, the two were embarking on their toughest battle. Spiritually, physically and mentally.

“You have anger, you have fear, uncertainty. It’s really a disorienting experience,” said T.J.

Leaning on faith, the Starkville family was faced with another challenge. Doctors feared the cancer was in her blood.

“We were praying and believing and we told God this doesn’t change who you are. This does not change what we believe. We need you to come through,” Bradford.

He heard their cry. The cancer was concentrated to the mass on Reagan’s ear.

“It let me know that, the Lord is like i’m with you. He promised he’d never leave us or forsake us,” said Joy.

It was a hard mountain for them to climb, but their faith never waivered. As Joy leads other believers in worship, they want others to know their mountains can be moved too.

“It’s okay to be angry, it’s okay to be upset, but that doesn’t change who God is. It doesn’t change anything about God,” said Bradford.

“Faith is a blind thing, so you’re not seeing naturally all the time what God’s doing in the background,” said Joy.

Reagan is still undergoing treatment and will for the next 2 years. If someone is going through a situation like this, the Bradfords are reaching out to help minister.

You can email them at bradfordfamily1107@gmail.com