Lauren and Christopher Shelts’ story with Red Mountain Grace began on an unexpected path. As Lauren, who owns a website design business, was celebrating their son’s birthday in Cleveland, Tennessee, she found herself struggling to walk. A subsequent doctor’s visit in Meridian, Mississippi, led to an emergency room visit and the life-changing diagnosis of mixed phenotype leukemia. This aggressive cancer required immediate attention, and soon Lauren was at UAB for a 43-day stay, beginning a grueling treatment regimen.

Throughout this journey, Christopher, a music voice professor and Lauren’s dedicated caregiver, found strength in their faith and the support of a vast community. “We literally have thousands and thousands of people praying for us,” Christopher shared. “When you communicate details with people, they can pray in detail. We’ve felt like we’ve been carried by the prayers of the saints.”

Lauren’s treatment was intense and comprehensive. After rounds of chemotherapy last year, she faced a bone marrow transplant in March. “I had my bone marrow transplant on March 12th,” Lauren recounted. “And after the transplant, my counts were so good, I was able to leave the hospital 12 days after, which is pretty unheard of. Usually, it’s 30.”

The Shelts’ motto, “One day at a time,” has been a guiding light through the toughest days. On the eve of potentially being told they could finally go home, they were filled with a mix of anxiety and hope. “I’m ready to get back to gardening and my website business,” Lauren said. “It’s been really nice being here in a Red Mountain Grace apartment. It’s not home home, but it’s way nicer than a hotel.”

Their stay with Red Mountain Grace provided a much-needed sanctuary. “The apartment is literally a mile from UAB,” Christopher noted. “We really are grateful. We know that there’s a lot of people that make this possible in terms of giving. Economically it would have been overwhelming to even get anything close to this. And, you know, just psychologically, it gives us a home away from home that is priceless – a priceless gift to us that we are very, very thankful for.”

Their time in Birmingham was made more comfortable by the generosity of others. “People brought us flowers and presents,” Lauren said. “I’ve gotten to work on some hobbies here. I’ve been making sourdough bread and painting.”

The Shelts’ college ministry back in West Alabama, where Christopher teaches, has been greatly missed. They host a student discipleship group, complete with Bible studies and fresh loaves of sourdough bread that Lauren loves to bake. Even during this challenging time, they found joy in cooking together, exploring new recipes, and continuing their tradition of baking bread.

Their faith has been a source of comfort and strength. “As believers in Christ and part of the global body of Christ, we have felt such an outpouring of love from our own church who’ve been taking care of our home and animals,” Christopher shared. “Here, you guys at Red Mountain Grace are providing shelter and kindness and caregiving that not only ministers to us in a very practical way but also speaks to our souls and helps us to know that God loves us and is here with us.”

As they faced the possibility of going home, Lauren and Christopher reflected on their journey. “People ask us when we first started this journey, will we make it until today? I’d say no,” Christopher said. “That’s where we had to realize we can’t worry about getting from here to there. One day at a time.”

Lauren’s recovery has been remarkable, with her numbers rising to where they needed to be in record time following the Bone Marrow Transplant. “They must have gotten a really perfect match,” Christopher marveled.

Their story is one of faith, community, and resilience. With the support of Red Mountain Grace and their steadfast belief in taking things “one day at a time,” Lauren and Christopher Shelt navigated their journey with hope and gratitude, ever thankful for the blessings they received and the home away from home that carried them through.

We’re excited to share that the good news they had been hoping for finally arrived: after 60 nights in their Red Mountain Grace apartment, Lauren and Christopher were told they could go home. With hearts full of gratitude and relief, they packed their bags and returned to West Alabama, ready to resume their lives and ministries. Their journey, marked by faith, perseverance, and the unwavering support of their community, is a testament to the power of taking life one day at a time.