Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Hold your babies tight!

I put this on Austin's CaringBridge site at www.caringbridge.org/visit/awall today. I thought I would put it here as well for those that aren't linked to the CaringBridge site to see.

When cancer touches your life as closely as it has ours you can't help but always be in prayer for those around you. We hear stories of cancer survivors all the time and though no one person's story is ever less important than another, sometimes one person's story may touch you in a different way. Maybe we can relate to them because they share the same type of cancer or because they are in the same city or whatever the case may be. You just never know why God places that person close to your heart.

Over the last several years, we have followed 4 year old Alexa's story. And though Alexa is now an angel in heaven, I still stay in contact with her mom, Crys, via blogs and email. I fell in love with that little girl and her family and I just can't let go of that bond . . . . or that scrunchy smile!

Then just a few months ago, I somehow ran across Kate's caringbridge site. A 5 year old little girl who is fighting with a brain tumor. Her parents are new to this cancer stuff so they are struggling and learning along with Kate. They also have two other children that they have to share their time with, so it's been a tough journey thus far and it will be a long road ahead.

And this morning, I learned of Laurren (you may have seen her on channel 5 news). A spunky 13 year old who has only been given until about December to live. Her rare form of cancer has just taken over her lungs with tumors and they are actively growing fast. She didn't pray for God to heal her - she prayed that God would give her a positive attitude!


Last night as I was walking to bed, Shane stopped me and put his arms around me and said, "I love you, Momma." I just stood there in that moment. As he was getting in my bed to lay with me for a few minutes to have our nightly chat about the day, he said, "I just love you so much. I don't know what I would do without you and dad." And with tears in my eyes, somehow I managed to get out, "Buddy, I don't know what we would do without you either."


Moments like that make me stop and realize how precious life really is. What a blessing it is to be able to hold my child and hug him whenever I want to, to be able to tell him "I love him" a thousand times a day and to hear him say it back. I can't imagine the pain of having to watch your baby be in so much pain from chemo and radiation and all the drugs and not being able to do anything about it except hold them and just hope. Just hope that those toxic drugs are going to keep them alive. Ironic, I know. But, nor can I imagine the heartache of losing my child.



Please take time today and everyday to hug your babies tight and tell them that you love them. You never know when life will change and you may not be given the opportunity to "rewind." Make each moment last . . . . you never know when it could be your last moment!


Love and blessings!

--Jessica



Pray for our kiddos and their families. They shouldn't have to go through and endure what they go through at such a young age!








































1 comment:

Team Russi said...

Great post. I think of Alexa and her sweet family daily. Our children really are the blessings.