Cancer seems to be everywhere all of a sudden. Recently I started following Layla Grace's story on twitter. Her mom, Shanna & dad, Rick blogged about Layla's brave battle against neuroblastoma. She was about the same age as my daughter, with siblings that were about the same age as my other children. They blogged their triumphs and defeats throughout this battle. They were so relate-able to me. It broke my heart. I found myself praying like I haven't done in a really long time for Layla to be healed. I hugged my babies more, snuggled them more, listened and relished their every word.
What if that my was baby girl and our family going through this...I can't say I would even begin to fill their shoes. They are the most humble, god-loving, good people. What's neuroblastoma you ask? I recently just found out myself. It is cancer of the nervous system. The survival rate is less than 30%. The most upsetting thing is that a simple urine test at birth would have been able to dignose this cancer before it had a chance to really grow. It wasn't Layla was 15 months that it was diagnosed giving it time to grow into massive tumors. This is probably why the survival rate is 30%. Had it been diagnosed early on maybe the survival rate would be higher.
Now parent should have to go through this. Her father recently spoke on-air to a radio station saying "we just feel blessed to have borrowed her from God for a short while." WOW! Their faith is inspirational! Layla did more in her short life, than I have ever done in mine. She has brought so many of us closer to God & closer to our families. Her mom had blogged during the final weeks at home with hospice that it was too quiet and she would give anything to have Layla playing at her feet while she tried to load the dishwasher. Layla has changed me as a mother, for that I am forever grateful. I have cried many tears for her family and the grief that aches their hearts. I pray for her sisters, one to young to quite grasp all this entails, and almost too young to hold on to her memories of her sister and the other old enough to experience the pain & grief as an adult, but as we all, can't really understand it all.
So today we will get 4 pink, purple (her favorite color), blue & yellow balloons, write our prayers to Layla, and watch them as far as we can as they make their way to Heaven, where Layla is healed and dancing with her angels. She has left her smile on our hearts & we will continue to pray for her and her family that they may be wrapped in His loving arms of comfort during the days, weeks, and months ahead.
Her parents have now started The Layla Grace Children's Cancer Research Foundation raising money to further research to help other families that are dealing with neuroblastoma in their own precious children. You can visit her website at www.laylagrace.org
