When was the last time something happened in your life that made you stop thinking about or perhaps even caring about other things? This 'something', whatever it was, sort of took over as number one on your list of important stuff and all the other things became a distant second. It made you feel, at times like nothing else mattered. That would have to be something pretty big, pretty important I'm sure you'll agree. Unfortunately, that 'something' has happened to my family.
A few months ago my beautiful little granddaughter Kaitlin started having problems with headaches and she woke up each morning throwing up. Her mom and dad became quite concerned and took her to the doctor to try and find out what was causing this. I might add that her mom and dad are two of the best parents a child could possibly have. Several doctor visits later the problem is still there. Their pediatrician decides she should go to the emergency room where an MRI was ordered. A tumor was found, a brain tumor. A couple of months later another MRI and it was discovered that it had grown. A neurologist decided, after consulting with a bunch of other neurologists that it would have to come out. This little five year-old angel had brain surgery. It went well, the doctor said they were able to remove over 95% of the tumor. They thought up to this point that the tumor was benign, but a pathology report a couple of days after the surgery confirms that it's not; it's cancerous and it's malignant. They were able to get almost all of it out, which was of course a good thing, but there's still a little bit of it there. Even one cell of a cancerous brain tumor is cause for concern. So now she begins six weeks of daily radiation treatments to try and take care of the rest of it.
I could give you all the usual metaphors for how we feel after all this, like run over by a truck, hit by a freight train, had our legs chopped out from under us, but those don't really describe it. What do we really feel like? Like nothing else matters. Human nature causes us to first ask ourselves why, why would something like this happen to such an innocent, beautiful being as this little girl? This sweet, little person is as close as a mortal can get to being an angel. Mother Teresa herself, no offense intended, was no closer to being an angel on earth than Kaitlin. I suppose about as good an explanation as any is we live in a physical world. Car wrecks, explosions, airplane crashes and tumors. They happen. God doesn't will things like that to happen to us but He is there to help us find the strength to get through them. We can wonder how and why these things happen till we drop but the important thing is to do whatever we have to do to get through it. First, get good doctors. She's in the care of doctors at Texas Childrens and M.D. Anderson, it doesn't get any better than that. In fact, the little lady who was the chief neurologist that performed the brain surgery on Kaitlin is now my hero. Dr. Lam, any human who can do what you did for Kaitlin or anyone else is a true hero. The world is lucky to have you. Second, pray. No more needs to be said. Pray. If there is anyone who can help get us all through this, it is God. Just pray and have faith.
As grandparents, the most valuable and precious thing we have ever had around our necks is Kaitlin's arms. Nothing compares to having that sweet, little angel hug our necks and say I love you. In fact, nothing else matters...
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