Stories
Lindsey Ann
Lindsey Ann was diagnosed with kidney cancer in September 2006. After surgery and chemotherapy Lindsey now has been in remission for over a year. Here is how her “papa” Jeff explains the experience of pediatric cancer.
Having childhood cancer invite itself into our home, our lives, and our precious little Lindsey Ann has been the best, and the worst, event of our lives. The childhood cancer “experience” can be best surmised by relating it to a tornado. It was the single most terrifying experience that our family has ever known.
Our personal tornado hit us without warning… There were no sirens announcing its coming and absolutely no chance to prepare. It was upon us in an instant and we were all being tossed about on the raging winds of uncertainty. We were all scared and we were quite literally face to face with the very real presence of death.
In an effort to comfort those that are currently being tossed about in those same winds of uncertainty at this very moment, I could lie... I could tell you that my family survived unscathed. I could say that once the storm passed we embraced the sunny skies and that we've been living happily ever after.
The problem is that anyone that has ever been swept up in this tumultuous tempest would most likely take offense to that, and rightfully so. They would take offense because deep down they know the truth...
When the tornado called childhood cancer hits your home and your family it quite literally destroys it. It rips off the roof, shatters the windows, and tears the entire structure from its foundation. It will leave in it's wake a bittersweet longing for the way things used to be, a euphoric sense of victory through faith for having survived, and a heartfelt desire to build anew on that old foundation of family and home with newfound insight into what is truly important.
Maddie Height
Once upon a time, in a place that is no more,
Lived without Cancer, before I turned four.
Now I am six and almost seven,
I talk about dying and going to Heaven.
Lots of times it’s hard and can’t keep things straight,
My mom says it’s the chemo and all the medicine I ate.
I worry too much and wake up at night screaming,
Mostly I’m crying because I think my mom’s leaving.
The worst thing is that I don’t know what I did.
How come I got Cancer when I’m just a little kid?
How come?
-written by Maddie Height age 6