We are not alone

The early mornings around the hospital are the hardest times for me as a mom.  Usually it's quiet and only the nurses and parents of kids are moving around trying to accomplish tasks before the kids wake up and need all of our attention and energy. My thoughts from the quiet this morning kept coming back to this phrase:

WE ARE NOT ALONE

We are not alone...my friend from church, Teresa and her 14 year old son Jacob are right across the hall....literally five steps away from our room.  Jacob has been struggling with a different journey for a longer time, but they were admitted again the day before we arrived.  Teresa, having experienced "club Sutter" several times before, sent me over her brand new sleeping pad to add to the top of the Oh so hard hospital chair/couch/bed contraption that becomes a parent's office, kitchen, closet, livingroom and bed, so I could have a better first night's sleep. Thank you Teresa.


We are not alone....across the hall is another little girl named Emma.  She's 2 1/2 and blond with a peaceful round face like our Emma Kait.  She was also admitted the same day we were with Leukemia.  Her journey stretches out 3 years ahead of that family.  She has two siblings at home and a mom a dad who look just as tired and "deer in the headlights" as we do.  My sister Bethany has actually met this family before as they have a common very good friend.  We have shared our stories of disbelief in the hallway together as we pass to the kitchen to grab a snack or a warm blanket for our Emma's. I pray strength and healing to you little Emma


We are not alone....since 2am on the night we were admitted, we have shared our small hospital room on the 6th floor with three other souls.  Beautiful 6 month old baby Diana who has a tender spirit and large dark trusting eyes and her parents have spent the last 4 days mere 6 inches from Emma Kait's bed separated only by a curtain, which we have to move aside and wiggle our IV pole around her crib every time Emma needs to get up.  At first I thought, "Oh, no.  We have to share our room with an infant.....a crying, needy, up at odd hours, baby."  She has been a blessing to us.  She is the happiest baby I have ever known...even in the face of now getting dosed with chemotherapy and other drugs which she often vomits from, she smiles every time we see her and she settles down and sleeps quietly the entire night. Her parents speak very little English, so we unfortunately were audio witnesses to her parents learning for the first time on our second morning here that their precious baby girl (they also have two boys age 4 and 3 1/2) is "very sick" with Leukemia.  We heard the news in slow, deliberate speech that comes when using a translator.  We heard the shock, the fear, the mourning in their sobs as the news sunk in.  We have shared our space with these kind and considerate people, smelled their wonderful beans, rice and tortillas three meals a day, heard their baby babble and click her little lips as they sing lullabies to her.  Please keep them in your prayers.  I will forever be linked to Diana and her family and will continue to pray for her miraculous healing. Blessings, strength and healing to you sweet family.

We are not alone....the outpouring of love has been staggering.  I can not begin to express our gratitude at the hundreds of offers to help in so many ways.  We are being carried by you, our family, friends, co-workers, prayer chains, bible studies, churches, and cloisters both here and around the world.  You are truly being God's hands and feet to us.  We are forever grateful and humbly thank you for lifting and carrying so our load seems easier to bear. Leaning on your support.

We are not alone...our God is here.  He will be victorious.  He loves Emma Kait.  She is more precious to Him than I as her mother can even begin to fathom.

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.
Isaiah 40:11
 
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6
 
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7
 
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. 

I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
 
Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
Psalm 55:22