Every 4 hours, one of the 40,000 children in this country in treatment for cancer, earns their angel wings and loses their lives to this ravaging disease.
Every 4 hours. That's 3,000 children every year. It is the leading cause of disease-related death for American children... our children.
Every 4 hours, parents are forced to watch their child die right before their eyes, helpless to do anything to stop it. There is no word in our language for a parent who loses a child.
Every 4 hours, brothers and sisters lose their siblings. It creates a hole that no one else can ever fill. For some they are now only children. A piece of their heart, heritage, life, and identity has been taken and can never be repaired.
Cancer is relentless.
This past weekend we said goodbye to another beloved child from Brenner's. Emmy, was an amazing little 7 yr old girl- full of spunk, sass, compassion, wisdom, joy, and optimism. Her cancer overtook her little body on Friday morning. She was sleeping between her parents and reached up asking to be picked up. At that moment Jesus picked her up and lifted her into His presence. If you have ever wondered what these children experience at the end. This has been the case for so many. Just this month four of the children we know who have earned their wings all passed away in the same way. They looked up and smiled and asked to be picked up. Some were even able to stand from their death beds after days of not moving and walk across the room to be lifted up. In the midst of such heartbreaking loss it is comforting to know that Jesus carries them up Himself. They can see Him.
The kids had a chance to play with Emmy this past Christmas at the Polar Express party and really get to know her better. She is the ultimate hostess making everyone, especially the kids feel at home. That's her in her red pajamas...
This past March when Julia had her surgery, Emmy was in the hospital with us. After 3 difficult days, Julia was out of bed for the very first time and landed at the art table, right across from Emmy. Within seconds Emmy was talking with Julia. They were discussing their favorites- colors, animals, names, flavors, etc. We had been having a really tough time getting Julia to take her medications and to cooperate with her procedures. Emmy, lovingly, in her own little way talked Julia through each one- giving advice and all the tips and tricks she had learned. And Julia listened.
That's just who Emmy was. She was the first to speak up if she needed something or wanted something done differently, but she was also the first to look out for all those around her. Emmy battled neuroblastoma for 3 years- half of her short life- both at Brenner's (an hour from her home) and in NY. Emmy's battle was far from easy and cancer took so much from her, but it never changed who Emmy was as a person. Her personality and heart continued to shine through as she played with her older brother, had crazy fun with all her girlfriends, and lived every moment of her life to the fullest. And through it all she never stopped loving those around her. Not just her family and friends. Emmy routinely made sure the other kids at the hospital were taken care of and received the things they needed. She often would donate toys to the family crisis center where her mother worked because those kids needed them more. She would tell her mother to go back and help the families, she was fine at the hospital with her dad. Emmy knew what life was all about and she lived her life well. She knew her Savior and walked through this battle with Him. She knew why she was here and she accomplished what God had set before her with all the grace, spunk, spirit, and joy God could fit into her 7 year old little body.
It is still a shock to me that Emmy is not here on this earth any more. I think I will still look for her when we're at the hospital. It is hard to imagine someone so full of life being gone. As much as we will miss her, I know her spirit and all the many "Emmy stories" will live on for a long time. Thank you, Emmy. The world is a better place because you were in it.
Please pray for Emmy's parents- Rod and Dare, her big brother Hayden, and all her little friends who are missing her terribly and finding their way in this world now without her.
And for the thousands of other families that experience this every 4 hours... every single day.
Every 4 hours. That's 3,000 children every year. It is the leading cause of disease-related death for American children... our children.
Every 4 hours, parents are forced to watch their child die right before their eyes, helpless to do anything to stop it. There is no word in our language for a parent who loses a child.
Every 4 hours, brothers and sisters lose their siblings. It creates a hole that no one else can ever fill. For some they are now only children. A piece of their heart, heritage, life, and identity has been taken and can never be repaired.
Cancer is relentless.
This past weekend we said goodbye to another beloved child from Brenner's. Emmy, was an amazing little 7 yr old girl- full of spunk, sass, compassion, wisdom, joy, and optimism. Her cancer overtook her little body on Friday morning. She was sleeping between her parents and reached up asking to be picked up. At that moment Jesus picked her up and lifted her into His presence. If you have ever wondered what these children experience at the end. This has been the case for so many. Just this month four of the children we know who have earned their wings all passed away in the same way. They looked up and smiled and asked to be picked up. Some were even able to stand from their death beds after days of not moving and walk across the room to be lifted up. In the midst of such heartbreaking loss it is comforting to know that Jesus carries them up Himself. They can see Him.
The kids had a chance to play with Emmy this past Christmas at the Polar Express party and really get to know her better. She is the ultimate hostess making everyone, especially the kids feel at home. That's her in her red pajamas...
That's just who Emmy was. She was the first to speak up if she needed something or wanted something done differently, but she was also the first to look out for all those around her. Emmy battled neuroblastoma for 3 years- half of her short life- both at Brenner's (an hour from her home) and in NY. Emmy's battle was far from easy and cancer took so much from her, but it never changed who Emmy was as a person. Her personality and heart continued to shine through as she played with her older brother, had crazy fun with all her girlfriends, and lived every moment of her life to the fullest. And through it all she never stopped loving those around her. Not just her family and friends. Emmy routinely made sure the other kids at the hospital were taken care of and received the things they needed. She often would donate toys to the family crisis center where her mother worked because those kids needed them more. She would tell her mother to go back and help the families, she was fine at the hospital with her dad. Emmy knew what life was all about and she lived her life well. She knew her Savior and walked through this battle with Him. She knew why she was here and she accomplished what God had set before her with all the grace, spunk, spirit, and joy God could fit into her 7 year old little body.
Please pray for Emmy's parents- Rod and Dare, her big brother Hayden, and all her little friends who are missing her terribly and finding their way in this world now without her.
And for the thousands of other families that experience this every 4 hours... every single day.
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