In my younger, pre-mommy-hood years and then even into my early new mommy years, I can remember hearing the St Jude commercials and seeing the pictures of the sweet little ones battling all sorts of cancers and illnesses. I can also, so clearly, remember me saying "I'm so thankful that's not my child..."
And then in a split second all that changes. It becomes YOUR child....
You can remember playing as a child. Staying out for hours. Getting dirty, drinking from the water hose, baking in the sun because you were having too much fun to come inside. NOW, imagine all that being taken from you, because you are confined to a bed for 8 hours receiving a poison that is killing good and bad cells. Later leaving you sick and motionless. The toys lying idol on the floor because you are too tired to play... at 5 years old.
Not a pretty picture huh?!?
I've said this before, but when you have your first sweet blessing from God, you never, ever imagine them so sick. Yes, a sniffle, a cough. But never the ugly "C" word. It just doesn't happen to people like me. It's a one in a million chance. Then, that ONE becomes YOUR baby. What now?!?!
Braxton has taught us so much, our eyes have been opened to an entirely different world. A world that is so often over looked, possibly because a person can't stomach the site of such a little person fighting for their life.
We have met so many people along this road with Braxton. Some have finished the fight victorious and some are still fighting, with everything in their tired little bodies for one more day. Fighting to win this awful thing that takes so many way too young.
Children have more fight in them than we realize. They don't complain, they aren't grumpy. They are just kids, trying to be normal in a world of chemo, tummy aches, body aches, blood transfusions and hospital stays. They want to play and run around just like their friends. They are hero's, warriors in the fight to survive.
Sitting here I can name so many besides Braxton: Vinny, Maci, Benjamin, Lily, Westley, Austin, Ashton, Hunter and the list goes on and on. A couple of these names have sadly earned there wings, too early.
The very first night that we were in the hospital with Brac, I can remember the diagnoses being presumptuous, they were sure it was Leukemia but not 100%. Dr. Wofford, told us that the research being done has shown the leukemia cell, in as early as the heel stick the newborn receives in the hospital. Meaning they can see it premature, years before the child is ever diagnosed. To me that is AMAZING!! A CURE!!! Oh it is so close but in order to have it, we must be AWARE that there is a shortage in research funding. Research can not continue without the proper resources. So this month I ask you... when you go into an Old Navy look to see if there is an Alex's Lemonade Stand, all proceeds go to pediatric cancer research. When you see a sign asking you to donate a dollar, think about hard.... think could that be my child or someone close to me one day. There is a cure somewhere. A cure so that children of the future will not have to fight as hard as these amazing children have.
Visit this foundation, set up by a dear friend to help raise awareness and funding for a cure. Money donated here, helps the families fighting with these warriors as well.
Also, keep these children that are fighting these different cancers in your prayers, remember their families, remember their doctors. Your prayers are felt. They are desired and very much appreciated.
