Sunday, February 20, 2011

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

12 comments:

  1. Oh, Honey--I love you so much!! --Mom

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  2. Oh Rebecca...with tears in my eyes, Emma Kait & your family has been in my prayers from day one. And now to hear about those other little souls that share a room with her, I will pray for them too. At least Teresa & Jacob are there. And she is able to show you the ropes of things (even though deep down you wish you didn't need to know these things). I will share this blog on my blog & get more people praying. May God be with you all. Send Teresa my love and that I'm still praying for Jacob too. In fact Tuesday morning women's bible study group has been praying for both Emma & Jacob and we will continue to pray for them.
    And you are right...you are not alone.
    Love you, nicole

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  3. Precious friends...

    We pray for you several times a day. We pray for healing for you, Emma. We pray for peace and strength for you Rebecca, Jon, Joseph and Benjamin.. We pray for wisdom for the Dr.'s. After reading this post, it is easy to see that you are a light in a very dark place. We will pray that the light will be seen, and that Christ's face, hands and feet will prevail where you are.

    We love you all!

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  4. Dear Rebecca~

    We are keeping Emma and your family close in our hearts & thoughts and praying for you all everyday.

    Love In Christ,
    Annie, Tony, Anderson & Abigail

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  5. it's hard to type while crying...oh becca! we love you and send our prayers to you...we have passed your sweet emma's needs on to our faithful pray-ers around the world...she is now on prayer lists in NY, Mexico, OR, WI...and on! we so love you. your faith and strength in this is amazing.
    thank you for taking the time to share with us these words.
    christa for all.

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  6. Dear Rebecca,
    Pudge and I are heart broken and are praying for the entire family. Your beauty and love came through in every word you wrote. Emma Kait is surrounded by love and strength. I have a number of friends who have been down this road and now lead healthy, vibrant lives, some with children of their own. There is much hope though the journey will be hard. May God's strength and love be with you every second of the way. We will check in with Pam and Allen to find out how they are and the rest of the family. All our love is with you - Suzi & Pudge.

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  7. Dear Rebecca -
    Keep writing, your words are a testament to our great God. Ken and I are praying for all of you. We love you!
    Nancie

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  8. "...and we cry Holy, Holy, Holy. and we cry Holy, Holy, Holy. and we cry Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord!"...the song i woke up singing in the early morning. praying you are all getting much needed rest in your own beds!
    God is gracious,
    c6

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  10. Rebecca,
    Our family and church family over here in Eastern WA are praying for you guys. I wish I was closer so we could offer some practical help.I'm chanting Jeremiah 29:11 on your behalf "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

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  12. Dear Emma,
    What a great team you have on your side.
    With the Lord in control.
    Have a Happy Easter.
    We are all praying for you,
    Dr Tweet

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