Clayton Stanton McDonald went home to
be with the Lord March 16, 2009 at 8:33 am just 40 days shy of his
19thbirthday. He impacted more
people in his short time on earth than many do in 75 or more years.
He loved people and spent his days investing in people’s lives,
always thinking of others before himself. Everyone who came in
contact with him always considered him a close friend even if they
only knew him for a brief period. Clayton was diagnosed with
leukemia at 7 and under went 2.5 years of chemotherapy, had two plus
years of good health and then relapsed in 2003 and underwent a bone
marrow transplant. He again experienced a 2+ year period of health
and fell out of remission September 2006 and then underwent a second
bone marrow transplant in January 2007, and was able to enjoy his
senior year in high school with his classmates, even participation
on the diving team and qualifying for the CIF championships. After a
productive summer working with junior high youth ministry at
Atascadero Bible Church and participation in a mission trip to Costa
Rica, he began to feel anemic. A trip to Stanford in October 2008
indicated that the leukemia had returned for a fourth time. At this
point it was clear that a cure was not possible. Clayton chose to
forgo treatment and live out his final days without chemotherapy. He
then took the opportunity to tell his story to all who would listen,
speaking at Atascadero Bible Church, Cornerstone Church of Simi
Valley and multiple schools and youth groups throughout the county.
Finally on Wednesday March 11, 200 he spoke to over 900 of his peers
at Call Poly. Clayton is survived by his mom and dad Wendy and Stan
McDonald and his brother and sister Zack and Samantha, his
grandparents and two great grandmothers and extended
family.
Impacted by Clayton's
story:
I came across Clayton's story on God Tube. I
never expected to hear what I heard and see what I saw and mostly
feel what I felt. I have spent my life living for God and have
felt so alone, because once the word Christian comes out be prepared
for judgement and it can have you feeling like your the only one
feeling that and just praying that God will speak to you and say You
are not Alone and God sure did that through Clayton. I am
telling you take the time to listen to Clayton's story because if
you have time to watch one tv show, read a book, play a video game
or whatever it is you do then you have time. I am a nanny of 4
children and run this Outreach that does not only exisit on the
web. Clayton's Will in life from God was to speak of his short
life in the hopes it will draw you closer to Him so please take the
time and open your heart and mind to the blessing God gave
Clayton.
Clayton shares his story at Francis Chan’s church, Cornerstone