She came prepared with a few more plaques made by Tara Davenport. We gave one to our neighbor Traejen Kingston in the room next door. He was there the same day for his treatments while we were. Traejen and Jessica share some of the same things. They share the same birthday and now they share the same wing in the hospital once a week. They even share a few similar battle wounds from fighting their illnesses together. Now they share the same pink and blue door hangers that say, "Having a Melt Down....Come Back In 10". I'm sure all the parents of a terminally sick child can relate. I've talked to a few of the parents up here on this wing who have said, "Too bad those signs don't come in Giant Neon Lights".
There are definitely moments, but you somehow get through it. You stay strong for your child and you realize that the Lord does not abandon these little kids. They ALL have angels attending to them. And we as spectators, feel the effects of the thousands of prayers that go up on our behalf as we try to turn our will over to Him who is perfect in every way. In some ways, it's like choosing to jump off the edge of a cliff. It's sure scary and hard at first, but when you start to fly and realize the Lord won't just let you fall, he'll carry you, he'll rescue you. It's in those moments you realize you can do anything. Nothing is too hard for the Lord, and so nothing will be too hard for us. Letting go is the hardest thing to do as a parent. You want so badly to have it all turn out the way you think things should, but our timing is not the Lord's. Our desires are not always his. Our perspective is rarely his. He is perfect. His timing, his plan for each life, and his desire for us is PERFECT. THAT is what we must trust.......and so we do.
We later took another plaque over to our other neighbor in the onclology wing of the Pediatric floor. His name is Gage. Gage is 9. He had a cancerous brain tumor that left him paralyzed, partially blind, and bed ridden. He and his family have been there in the hospital for 66 days. Gage is amazing. The same age as Traejen and going through some pretty hard stuff right now. Man, these kids are strong. It's hard to see them have these kinds of struggle and to be missing out on so much that life has to offer, but it's pretty cool to be around them. The more you spend time with these kids, the more you realize they may not necessarily be going through what they go through because they have lessons to learn, but more because they are teaching us. We gave Gage the sign that said "Cancer Can Go Jump Off A Cliff". Coming right out of surgery and radiation, we held it up to his one eye, and he started to giggle. That made everyone's day.
Jessica said that day was hard to actually leave the hospital. With as much as she hates being there, it was difficult to leave our sweet friends behind. We feel blessed for every day and every new lesson. We are being blessed beyond what we deserve and definitely feel the love of the Lord through all this. Jaden said an interesting thing in his letter this morning, he said, "May God keep you in his almighty hand .......that you may be able to bear the burdens you've been blessed with. "
We are Blessed beyond what we deserve. We do know that.
We love you all. It is so kind of you to wish Jessica well, to visit with her and love her through this. May every one of you be blessed for your acts of kindness toward our family. We really do appreciate it.
Plaque made by Tara Davenport.......(don't be surprised Tara, if you get a bunch of orders soon. The nurses in Oncology LOVED these.)
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