On Sept. 30, a candlelight vigil was held on the Daviess County High School baseball field to pray for junior Grant Oller who had been transported to Norton Children’s Hospital for bilateral pneumonia and was placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) life support earlier that day. Last night, on Christmas Eve, a similar vigil took place outside of the Oller’s home, but this time, rather than prayers for healing, there were prayers of thanksgiving.
Valerie Warren, who arranged the vigil, said her family, husband Chris and three boys, Stephen – 17, Hayden – 15 and Nolan – 12, met the Ollers several years ago when their son Hayden played travel baseball with Grant.
“The news of Grant’s sickness just really hit home with us — as he was such a healthy, athletic boy and we truly just loved their whole family,” Valerie said. “As we continued to follow the story and realized the severity of his illness, I distinctly remember a conversation around our kitchen table with our three teenage boys — when the light bulb clearly went off in their heads that tomorrow is not always a guarantee and we should not take anything for granted.”
Valerie said they began praying diligently every day as a family for Grant and his family, especially his parents, Kelly and Nick.
“We followed Nick’s Facebook posts and were so inspired by his faith and strength in this obviously trying time,” Valerie said. “My husband and I could not bear the thought of having to imagine them coming home without their son we loved so much — because we knew what that would do to us as parents.”
On Dec. 22, Nick’s 38th birthday, he included the following words in a Facebook post thanking everyone for their birthday wishes, and expressing what a wonderful birthday and Christmas it would be this year.
“As of yesterday afternoon, our journey of spending time at Norton Children’s Hospital and Fraizer Rehab came to an end. We are so excited and blessed to be home with Grant,” Nick said. “It was a very long journey, but God lead us all each step of the way. Needless to say, this will be our best Christmas ever and [we are ] looking forward to spending time together with our family. We cannot thank our friends and the community enough for your continued support, messages, gifts, and the countless prayers. We are truly blessed to have you all in our lives and thankful you all traveled this road with us.”
When Valerie read Nick’s message that Grant had returned home and that the Ollers were going to be able to spend Christmas together as a family, knowing Grant had made a miraculous recovery following being on life support for two months, she was overcome with emotion.
“My heart was elated with joy and my eyes were filled with tears,” Valerie said. “I had this immense feeling of thanksgiving to God for answering the prayers of all of us.”
The Warrens recalled a vigil being held when Grant was first transported to Norton Children’s and placed on life support, “asking God to lay his healing hands on Grant.” Valerie suggested to her husband that they should have prayer vigils of Thanksgiving for answered prayers as well.
So Valerie contacted Nick to see if it would be OK to hold a prayer vigil of thanksgiving for Grant, and Valerie said, “he was more than thankful.”
Valerie also said she had recently seen a video on the Owensboro Times Facebook page of Randy and Skylar Lanham singing at Crossroads Shelter that really touched her heart. So she reached out to the father-daughter duo and asked if they would be willing to come sing a few songs at the vigil, to which they gladly accepted.
According to Valerie, 50 or more people attended the outside vigil surrounding the Oller family while holding candles, saying prayers and singing songs of Christmas praise.
“Grant hugged my boys and told [them] their prayers are what kept him going,” Valerie said. “Wow — God is so good!”
As far as following the Ollers’ tumultuous experience over the last three months, Valerie said it has been a positive life lesson for her family.
“It definitely has made my boys grateful, stronger more faith filled boys — aware that life is a gift,” Valerie said. “The love, faith, and joy shared tonight was the greatest gift ever for my family.”
