Cancer Sucks

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  If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can all learn from them.  When you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope?  We have two options, medically and emotionally:  give up, or fight like hell.  ~Lance Armstrong

People always ask me how I can do the job I do on a daily basis, and I always give the same reply...  Kids are awesome.  Yes, they get sick quick, but they get better quicker.  They respond quickly to treatment and never complain.  They are resilient.  Their sickness is never their fault.  For the most part, they are sick for a reason and willing to do anything to get better.  They listen.  They want to help themselves.  And for the most part, minus the crazy adolescents, kids are always truthful and happy.  And they are funny and brave and really awesome to be around!  Kids rock! 

However, I do know one thing that makes my job tough....Cancer and kids.  The two should never go together!  EVER!  It makes no sense to me and no matter how hard I try I cannot make sense of it.  And I know that there will never be a day that it will make sense.  EVER!  It breaks my heart to pieces.  I cannot even begin to fathom the emotional toll it takes on a parent, let alone the child being diagnosed.  It's heart wrenching.   

However, I do strongly believe God hand picks these children, as I do about CF kids, which you can read about here in my Touched by an Angel post.  Looking into these kids faces says it all.  They are angels.  Incredible human beings.  They make a difference and touch lives and will forever and never even know it.  It's amazing the things you can learn from kids going through cancer or other chronic illnesses if you actually take the time to sit back and observe.   They are heroes that face the ultimate fear and they face it head on with so much strength and dignity.  I cannot say enough about these children.  They have definitely put a mark on my heart and have forever changed the way I value life and the people around me.  Life is precious!

I have had my handful of kiddos that we have admitted into the hospital for a new diagnosis of cancer.  Not fun, not even a little bit!  Having to diagnose one kid, is one too many in my book.  It pulls at my heart strings every single time.  It breaks my heart, but deep down I know, these children are going to make a difference.  God picked them for a reason, one that I will never know until I ask the Great One Himself....     

I challenge you this year, as the holidays approach, please try to help some child and his/her family.  Whether it be by picking an angel off the angel tree, sending a card to a child in need of being uplifted, participating in a toy drive, volunteering, etc., please take time this holiday season to make a difference.  It only takes a second and means the world to those in need.  And as you do this encourage one other person to do the same, lets spread the joy this holiday season and help those who help us become better people.  Lets make a difference! 

Here is a story of a little girl fighting cancer right now.  Pray for her and her family please, she's an angel, to say the least....http://graciecare.blogspot.com/.