One boy’s fight for his life has become our city’s call to prayer.
Grand Prairian Carter Wheeler needs our prayers and support now more than ever.
Sometimes it only takes one child to remind an entire city what truly matters.
For Grand Prairie, that child is Carter Wheeler.
Carter was a healthy 7-year-old boy who loved soccer and loved going to school. He is the most happy, loving, and charismatic child. Around Thanksgiving, he started complaining of leg pain and was limping when he walked. At first, doctors thought it was just a pulled muscle. But within a week, Carter completely lost the ability to walk and was screaming in pain.
At the emergency room, an MRI revealed a tumor on his lower spine pressing against a nerve. He had emergency surgery to remove part of the tumor and undergo a biopsy. Days later, his family received the news that would turn their world upside down: the tumor was cancerous.
After weeks of additional procedures and testing, the full diagnosis came back: Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a rare and very aggressive cancer that had already spread to Carter’s bone marrow. The doctors placed him in the high-risk category and immediately began treatment.
Carter is now facing 18 months of extensive treatments: chemotherapy, radiation, stem cell transplant, immunotherapy, and additional surgeries. He spends one week each month in the hospital, which means he cannot go back to school for the foreseeable future. Because of nerve damage, he still cannot walk on his own — but he is working hard in physical therapy, determined to one day play sports and be a normal kid again.
The medical bills are mounting — parking fees, gas, food, and the day-to-day costs of treatment all add up quickly. Through it all, Carter’s family has focused on keeping him happy, strong, and loved, even as the weight of this battle continues to grow.
Since his diagnosis, Carter’s story has moved beyond his own fight. He has become a symbol of faith and resilience, a rallying point for prayer across Grand Prairie. People who may not always agree on much have found themselves united in lifting his name, his family, and his healing up in prayer.
Now, as Carter’s health has taken a turn for the worse, that call to prayer feels more urgent than ever. His fight is no longer just his own — it belongs to every neighbor, teammate, teacher, and friend who refuses to stop believing for him.
What began in Grand Prairie has now spread across Texas and even the country, with people from coast to coast pausing to pray for a little boy they’ve never met but feel deeply connected to.
In a city as large and diverse as Grand Prairie, we often look for ways to build unity. Carter has given us one. Through his story, we are reminded that community is about showing up for one another, standing together in hard times, and never losing hope.
So today, we ask you to keep Carter Wheeler and his family close to your heart. Pray for healing. Pray for strength. And pray for the kind of peace that passes understanding.
And if you feel led to do more, Carter’s family has set up a GoFundMe to help with medical expenses and the many needs that come with this journey. You can support them directly here: Carter Needs Us: Facing Neuroblastoma.
Because Carter has given us more than a reason to come together — he has shown us the power of prayer to knit not only a city, but a country closer.