“Let hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and
pray at all times." ~ Romans 12:12
Cassie took her young daughter to
the ER that morning with a 104.5o fever - the culmination of two
months of vague symptoms without a clear diagnosis: occasional bellyaches,
frequent fevers, constant joint pains.
The doctor, a forty-something woman with a warm smile and a
kind face, took blood for testing and noted that Riley’s liver felt
enlarged. She ordered X-rays and an
ultrasound.
When the same doctor entered their exam room forty-five
minutes later, her smile had vanished. She
met Cassie’s eyes first, then glanced down at Riley who was clutching the tiny
stuffed puppy she’d been given by the X-ray Tech as a reward for being
brave. Something was definitely wrong.
A nurse asked Riley, “Do you want to come with me and play
with some Legos, sweetheart?” and led her away.
The doctor closed the door. “Her blood work is very concerning,” she’d
said. “I know this is a hard word to
hear, but I’m 99.9% certain we’re looking at some sort of blood cancer.”
Two days later an oncologist would confirm the horrifying
news. He explained the disease and said
that for the next 3 years Riley would receive spinal taps, injections and oral
doses of radical chemotherapy – just enough poison to kill her Leukemia.
Cassie remembered few details from that moment; time
spiraled into a dark abyss of fear and anxiety.
She realized the enemy her 5-year-old faced was much more than a silly
cold. As a single Mom, how could she
ever face this battle alone? She cried
silently for a minute; then collected herself as an orderly entered the room
with a bouquet of beautiful flowers.
Cassie read a card from her best friend Emily. How sweet she thought!
Then she noticed a second card attached. It read:
“Dear Mrs. Bradley, I took your order at DesignWorks florist. My seven year-old had leukemia many years
ago. He’s fine now and a healthy young
adult. Treatment has improved so much
since then as well. Good luck. My prayers will be for you and Riley as you
face the challenges ahead. Shalom, Laura."
For the first time, she felt her worries relax and her spirit
soar. They were in a hospital filled
with sophisticated medical equipment and technology. Riley was being treated by some of the best
doctors and nurses on the planet. But it
was a stranger in a flower shop that shared her compassion and gave Cassie the
hope to carry on.
Christians know that Christ brings hope to those who
believe. He’s a bright star in a sometimes
desperately bleak universe. He brightens
our inner selves with the promise that smiling and laughter are just around the
corner.
“My child, you are as you need to be, born
with the exact talents this world needs.
You are pure of heart, strong of spirit and brave. Whatever your talent is, use it for love,
peace and healing. Know that I love you,
no matter what." ~ Jesus
