“You need to come on over to the student center,” my husband, Randy, spoke softly over the phone, the noises in the background almost overriding his voice. “The students are turning out like never before!” “I can’t bring Andrew down there though, his counts are too low.” I responded. We’d… Read more“Good Blood from Bad – Unexpected Blessings from Caregiving”
Category: 31 days of Unexpected Blessings from Caregiving
The Unexpected Blessing of Four-Year-Old Faith
The most inspiring thing, in a caregiver’s journey, is faith. And when that faith comes straight from the four-year-old patient, it brings incalculable blessing. My four-year-old sat on my lap in the quiet office. Two pastors flanked my husband and myself as they readied for the anointing. I’d never attended… Read more“The Unexpected Blessing of Four-Year-Old Faith”
Patients and Patience
I found myself unable to finish my 31 days of Unexpected Blessings in October, but I’ve enjoyed writing about the blessings that came from caring for a child with cancer (even though no one would choose that journey) and so want to finish the series. I’m a “plan it”… Read more“Patients and Patience”
When the Caregiving is Over – my dad
Today my daddy went to sleep in Jesus. An example of steady and firm faith in the saving grace of Jesus Christ, he has always been a person of wise advice, sure guidance and steadfast love. Dad grew up on the streets of Boston but thanks to the kindness of a… Read more“When the Caregiving is Over – my dad”
Community Caregiving – the best medicine
“Mommy, I want to go to Cradle Roll class”. The girls headed out the door with daddy on the way to their classes and then church, but Andrew and I stayed behind. I rubbed his bald head and said as brightly as I could, “We’ll go read some stories and… Read more“Community Caregiving – the best medicine”
Caregiving Sorrow Turned Into Joy
Today I join Kate Motaung and the writers at Five Minute Friday and the prompt is: Joy. The first few moments after the doctor said the word “Leukemia” I was frozen, until I bolted for the bathroom and lost my stomach into the sink and stared at myself in the… Read more“Caregiving Sorrow Turned Into Joy”
Nurses and Blood: Care and Life
This is a special day in the 31 Days of Unexpected Blessings from Caregiving, because today there are two blessings in one story. Both are extremely important, and one can’t be rightly told without the other! Michelle had been on duty the night we first arrived at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. … Read more“Nurses and Blood: Care and Life”
Train Up a Child (it strengthens the fight)
Battling your child’s cancer is not for the weak-at-heart. The weird thing is that as a parent, you find yourself stronger-at-heart than you ever believed possible. Probably because there’s really no other option. What’s a parent going to do? NOT be there for their child? That’s not an option. So… Read more“Train Up a Child (it strengthens the fight)”
The Kindness of Strangers
It was really hard to see Andrew’s hair fall out. It was incredibly difficult as Andrew’s skin went from pale to pasty and straight on to completely colorless. It was annoying that he had to wear a face mask to go anywhere at all. It was lonely to be isolated. … Read more“The Kindness of Strangers”
It’s the Little Things (that encourage a caregiver)
I scanned the envelope for a recognizable address. The handwriting was not familiar nor the return address. I tore it open, happy that it was obviously not a bill, like the rest of the mail. I pulled out a short note and a check for $36 fell out. It seemed… Read more“It’s the Little Things (that encourage a caregiver)”
