It’s been one month. One month since our sweet girl took her last breath here on earth and opened her eyes in heaven. On one hand it feels like we just lost her moments ago, and on the other it feels like we have been without her for so long. It’s impossible to reconcile the feelings of loss, they are just too fresh. Yet every day, God is good to help us navigate the mine field of grief. Very carefully guiding our steps, keeping us from disaster.
Today we found ourselves back at St. Jude. It didn’t even register that this was the one month anniversary of Kayleigh’s death until I had to date a piece of paper. That was when it hit me. And while it was a little sad, it seemed like the perfect place to be today. We had the opportunity to see some of our wonderful therapists, nurses, and primary doctor. As we continue moving forward, our goal is to be advocates for DIPG children and families. This terrible disease has been around for more than 30 years and yet we still have no medical answer.
Tim and I spent part of our visit discussing how we can most actively find DIPG research, specifically. We have some thoughts on what we are going to do moving forward and we look forward to sharing those ideas with all of you once we have a plan in place. We are certainly going to need all of your continued prayers and support to make a difference. It seems there is little profit in pediatric cancer research so there is very little done. I think it’s time we change that. If nothing else, Kayleigh’s journey has created some new, loud, persistent voices for these precious children!
As you continue to cover our sweet friend Anna with your prayers please add our friend Lindsey and her family to your prayer lost. Lindsey is 15 and fighting DIPG. It just so happens our paths crossed today so I was able to give that sweet girl a big hug. Isn’t it beautiful how the Lord works out the smallest details for the perfect result? I’m quite certain it’s because I needed to ask all of you to be praying on Lindsey’s behalf. She is on the same chemo trial Kayleigh was on. She is experiencing some increased symptoms but our prayer is that it’s not tumor progression. Please pray for God’s hand to be on Lindsey and her family. For protection, wisdom, peace and healing!
So yes, it’s been a month. But as I reflect over the month I can honestly say there have been more good days than bad. More joy then grief. No matter what happens around us, hope remains.
Lamentations 3:24
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”
Hebrews 11:1
11 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
Romans 5:1-5
5 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜
