A Rare Form of Cancer

As we prepared to leave church, our pastor asked us to wait a moment while he told a story about one of our members. It was about Blake, a brave 11-year boy who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. His family was obviously distraught by the diagnosis and was I need of comfort. The pastor asked the congregation to pray for Blake and his family as they endured this trying period of their lives.

As we bowed to pray, I looked to my right and saw a woman break down crying while others tried to console her. Next to her stood a young boy that I realized was Blake. As his mother wept, Blake stood tall and took in all of the prayers that were being said on his behalf. I had to look away or else I would have started bawling on the spot. My heart ached for Blake and his family.

Although Blake refused to succumb to fear, I know that his chances for survival are slim. So do his parents. They have to live with the fact that their son may never know what it’s like to get a driver’s license, kiss a girl, vote, marry and have children of his own. When Blake’s mother and father held him in their arms for the first time, they were filled with hopes and dreams for their precious child. None of them included being a preteen cancer patient.

Of course, Blake’s illness made me think about my own children. How would I react if Nee, N, or X contracted a debilitating or fatal disease? The truth is, I don’t know. I’d like to think that I’d be the strong father who holds everything together for the child’s sake. But the truth is that I’d probably be a terrible mess. I couldn’t imagine life without one of my precious darlings. Losing a child is perhaps the greatest parental fear.

My cousin, Chad, was killed when he was eleven. He was riding his bike beside the street when a car ran him down. My aunt has not been the same since her son died. Whereas she was once deeply religious, she no longer attends church and probably doesn’t believe in God anymore. She was once joyful and spry, now she is sullen and avoids contact with family. Her son died over twenty years ago, but I can still see the hurt and anger in her eyes.

I hope that Blake survives his cancer – for his sake and for his parents’. I will pray for Blake and his family and I hope you will too.

Stay Strong,
Mocha Dad

Question: What would you do if your child contracted a deadly disease?

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Tagged as: blake, cancer, child, death, illness, parent

http://www.mybrownbaby.blogspot.com MyBrownBaby

Man. Blake is in our prayers, too. As is your aunt. But I can’t say that I wouldn’t respond the same way. I. Could. NOT. Imagine. The very thought of living life without my babies shakes me to the core. Seriously.
http://www.mybrownbaby.blogspot.com MyBrownBaby

Man. Blake is in our prayers, too. As is your aunt. But I can’t say that I wouldn’t respond the same way. I. Could. NOT. Imagine. The very thought of living life without my babies shakes me to the core. Seriously.
http://knowyourteeth.blogspot.com/ The Dental Maven

Blake and his family will remain in my thoughts and prayers until further notice.
http://knowyourteeth.blogspot.com/ The Dental Maven

Blake and his family will remain in my thoughts and prayers until further notice.
http://www.momfiles.com Sheliza

I will pray for Blake and his loved ones. This is such a sad thing they are facing. I can’t even form the words to say what I would feel if any of my children were going through this. I guess faith is all they have at this point. Let us know the outcome.
http://www.momfiles.com Sheliza

I will pray for Blake and his loved ones. This is such a sad thing they are facing. I can’t even form the words to say what I would feel if any of my children were going through this. I guess faith is all they have at this point. Let us know the outcome.
http://www.askwifey.blogspot.com Wifey

I will definitely pray for Blake and all of the other “Blakes” in the world.

That is my BIGGEST fear. Losing my babies. BIGGEST.
http://www.askwifey.blogspot.com Wifey

I will definitely pray for Blake and all of the other “Blakes” in the world.

That is my BIGGEST fear. Losing my babies. BIGGEST.
Lynn

I will pray for Blake as well. In the face of an illness, a scary or frightening diagnosis, your faith and belief in God will *have* to surface through your fear. You will find that life carries on, and will put one foot in front of the other. Faith is being strong regardless of not knowing what life will bring on the next day. You will learn to live, not day by day, but in seconds, minutes and hours.
My mother has lost 3 children: one in a fire (Jr.), one through cancer (Patricia) and from congenital heart disease (Micheal). My Dad told the tragic story of how she had to be restrained by three men to prevent her from going back into the house to save my 19 month old brother. She has lost 2 brothers, and one sister. Recently, my father passed away. I was sometimes afraid to even look at her and oftentimes I wondered how could she even smile after all she had been through. It just seemed so tragic to me. I asked her one day how did she endure after so many loses and tragedies in her life. She just looked at me and said “You go on with the help of the Lord.” I don’t know what I would do if I had to go through what my mother has been through (and I pray for God’s grace, I never have to), but I certainly pray I will be strong enough to repeat the words she repeated to me.
Lynn

I will pray for Blake as well. In the face of an illness, a scary or frightening diagnosis, your faith and belief in God will *have* to surface through your fear. You will find that life carries on, and will put one foot in front of the other. Faith is being strong regardless of not knowing what life will bring on the next day. You will learn to live, not day by day, but in seconds, minutes and hours.
My mother has lost 3 children: one in a fire (Jr.), one through cancer (Patricia) and from congenital heart disease (Micheal). My Dad told the tragic story of how she had to be restrained by three men to prevent her from going back into the house to save my 19 month old brother. She has lost 2 brothers, and one sister. Recently, my father passed away. I was sometimes afraid to even look at her and oftentimes I wondered how could she even smile after all she had been through. It just seemed so tragic to me. I asked her one day how did she endure after so many loses and tragedies in her life. She just looked at me and said “You go on with the help of the Lord.” I don’t know what I would do if I had to go through what my mother has been through (and I pray for God’s grace, I never have to), but I certainly pray I will be strong enough to repeat the words she repeated to me.