Over 15 years have passed since this photo was snapped of Lee, Daniel, and me. Our six-year-old son was the very first patient in the then-new center for pediatric cancer at Levine Children’s Hospital. Our beloved child life specialist had just begun her calling in pediatric oncology. Out-of-the-blue this past Friday, I got a text asking permission to use this archived photo of the 6th floor MCP clinic’s initial patient along with Daniel’s recent graduation picture from The Citadel for a staff email as they transition tomorrow into an even greater state-of-the-art facility in Charlotte, NC.
This caregiver then shared with me the drawing she had saved from 2007 Daniel made for her that opening day of his visit for intravenous chemotherapy. Her message read: “You may notice the many holes from thumbtacks in his art as it moved around the office with me. It was always a reminder from day 1, that through it all, HE was there.”
There’s a reason I’m tender toward Matthew 19:14, “But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people who are like these children.’” Join me in interceding for the boys, girls, and their parents who will enter through the brand new doors of the Torrey Hemby Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in the morning - and all the days ahead. And please pray for the loving staffers like this one who serve so courageously and selflessly - aware that in the midst of the flames of our affliction, Jesus “never leaves us nor forsakes us,” (Hebrews 13:5). #leukemia #TrustInTheLord #praiseyouinthisstorm #ToGodBeTheGlory #evenif