Back in 2008 I had intended to do a blog on what a remicade infusion day looks like, but rather, I blogged about a story overheard on my personal site (which has since been neglected). I have linked the story if you want to read, but Tuesday, 7 months after Sadie’s last infusion we found ourselves in a familiar place, with familiar faces, sounds, routine. We were able to catch up with some of our much appreciated nursing staff, see the smiles of faces we had not seen in a while and Sadie got to hear (many times) how much she was missed.
However, that wasn’t what struck me Tuesday. During infusion we see lots of faces we will never see again too, lots of patients who will never cross our path again, most of whom are facing childhood cancer. Yesterday was no exception. Yesterday was perspective served in the form of a waiting room.
As we sat waiting in a very busy waiting room and hearing from several nurses and staff that it has been a “crazy day” unlike one seen in a long time, I noticed a mom who looked broken. She was standing there, getting ready to check in, holding the handles of a stroller holding her maybe 4 year old boy. His hair was falling out, her husband was by her side. Her eyes were tired, her face was lost… she looked so broken. The boy, whom I later learned was named John, was about the sweetest thing you could imagine. His biggest problem during check in was that he had a coloring page and no crayons. The mommy’s biggest fears were written in her face. I could tell, they were new to this. There is a difference in the face of a parent who has been in and out of the infusion clinic verses the parent who is just trying to understand the routine and digest that their child has cancer.
Perspective.
As they were waiting a doctor came by and place her hand on the mama’s arm “how are you holding up?” – “I’m alright”, but her voice… you knew she wasn’t. Come to find out, she is not only caring for little John, but she is 5 months pregnant, and has two older kids at home. Home now is another place… home was in another state, but she shared how they have taken shifts to pack up the house and put it on the market. How the grandparents are now the primary caregivers of the two older kids back “home”.
Perspective.
Little John was fast asleep most of the time he was having a blood transfusion in the room across from ours. I could see him all curled up in the recliner, what a sweet, sweet boy. The parents taking turns on the phone updating family, speaking with their other kids, talking to the people helping to pack up and move their house. There was a conversation with an employer with gratitude for his understanding. Conversations with a realtor about the timing of the sale of their home. Quite, gentle talk between the both of them about John.
Perspective.
As the first family that I wrote about and the many others that have cross our path, I don’t know that I will ever see them again. I don’t know them, their hearts, their beliefs or their story, but God does and I know he placed them near us for a reason. So, I pray… I pray for John and for his parents, his two sisters back home, his grandparents, for the sister yet to come. I pray for healing, for strength and for salvation. I pray if they are not believers that God would use this trial as a means to bring the family to him. I also walk away with Perspective.
Please be in prayer over John, his family and the many families that walk through the doors at Children’s for the many reasons…. Pray for the staff, nurses, doctors and social workers that are there each day not only caring for the health of all these children for whatever brings them there, but also their spirits. Lastly, do you have perspective? Do you trust that no matter the trail you face, that God knows? He not only knows, but he feels it, sees it AND planned it… He never intended anyone to be alone in whatever they face… but rather that you would face it with Him – do you?
Update: Sadie's Remicade infustion went really well. One of the things you have to watch for is after someone has been off the medication a while they are more likely to have an allergic reaction. I am happy to report no reaction for Sadie. Now time will tell if the medication is working. She goes back in two weeks for another infusion and then will go every 4 weeks. She also starts acupuncture next week, which she is looking forward to trying.
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