One of the hardest parts of being a part of the pediatric cancer worlds is all the loss. I'm not sure why it happens this way, but at our hospital most children seem to earn their wings in the summer months. Last summer 12 children we knew passed away. This summer 9 more. Every loss hurts so deeply. It is hard enough to be a child fighting cancer, but to lose your friends in the battle alongside you is devastating. Watching cancer take children from their parents and tear apart siblings cuts deep in a place that never heals.
Camp Brenner is full of heroes- so many courageous cancer kids. God gives these children such strength, wisdom, compassion, and courage. They are all heroes to us. But every once in a while God sends a special child to be their hero. Haley Parker is one of those.
Haley is one of those kids who lights up a room. As soon as you walked in you knew she was there and you were drawn to the light and joy that radiated from her. She is a child of God and she takes that calling very seriously. She has an amazing gift for sharing her faith and HOPE with everyone around her no matter their age.
All the kids know her and love to play with her. She can relate to a toddler just as easily as a teen.
The young ones love to play and color with her. (She is a big coloring book fan!)
And for so many of the older teens Haley is there to help them walk
through the cancer world and face their fears, struggles, and pain with
grace and God's power.She even had the idea to have a prom for all the teens in treatment and her dream came true...
God gave Haley some amazing tools to accomplish her mission on earth. Aside from her radiant beauty and smile, she has an infectious laugh, playful spirit, and the voice of an angel. Haley is never afraid to burst into song- wherever she may be. The clinic, the art room, the halls, her hospital room are always filled with this incredible voice. And sometimes if you were lucky enough Mr. Colin is around to provide instrument backup.
And we love all the chances we get to hand her a mic and let her shine at parties...
fundraisers...
Haley's battle with stage 4 Ewings' Sarcoma was long and grueling. The massive pulmonary damage and metastisized cancer made breathing difficult and singing a miracle. She even sang at her mom's wedding and led worship at her church! Haley endured 22 months of treatment and this past May was told she did not have much time left. She spent the next weeks in the hospital being every bit Haley making all her many visitors laugh with her funny voices and skits, songs, art, and precious spirit.
She spent precious time with her siblings, parents, family and friends...
But in the end, God called Haley home and healed her Himself in heaven on June 20th (her sister's birthday).
There are some people in our lives that are so vibrant it feels impossible to imagine they are gone. Haley is one of those. It has been so hard to accept the fact that she is not still here. Every time we are in the hospital a part of me hopes she might still be there. I can still hear her voice singing as if she were standing right here. I know heaven's choir gained an amazing angel. I fully expect the clouds will part one day and Haley's beaming face will be singing down on all of us.
On August 31, we had the privilege of celebrating Haley's birthday with her family and friends.
Her mom, Donna, passed out balloons to all of Haley's little friends.
We prayed together and sent them flying.
And as they drifted up the balloons seemed to dance in a choreographed design. They all gathered together in the sky and stayed that way until we couldn't see them anymore.
Haley, we are so proud of you for the way you fought your own battle with determination and never failing HOPE. But even more incredibly we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the little warriors you helped along the way. No matter how bad you felt you put on a smile and a song and took off down the hall to brighten another child's day. You so boldly shared your faith in love with everyone you met, young and old. But most importantly you lived out the faith you professed in everything you did. Rest in peace, Haley... forever 16.
Camp Brenner is full of heroes- so many courageous cancer kids. God gives these children such strength, wisdom, compassion, and courage. They are all heroes to us. But every once in a while God sends a special child to be their hero. Haley Parker is one of those.
There are some people in our lives that are so vibrant it feels impossible to imagine they are gone. Haley is one of those. It has been so hard to accept the fact that she is not still here. Every time we are in the hospital a part of me hopes she might still be there. I can still hear her voice singing as if she were standing right here. I know heaven's choir gained an amazing angel. I fully expect the clouds will part one day and Haley's beaming face will be singing down on all of us.
On August 31, we had the privilege of celebrating Haley's birthday with her family and friends.
Her mom, Donna, passed out balloons to all of Haley's little friends.
Haley, we are so proud of you for the way you fought your own battle with determination and never failing HOPE. But even more incredibly we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the little warriors you helped along the way. No matter how bad you felt you put on a smile and a song and took off down the hall to brighten another child's day. You so boldly shared your faith in love with everyone you met, young and old. But most importantly you lived out the faith you professed in everything you did. Rest in peace, Haley... forever 16.
