Sweet Delaney

If you're like me, plans for christmas are stressing you out. This past weekend, I had 2 hockey games, 1 practice, 1 picture session for hockey, overnight guests, mcing a function at church, birthday party, shopping, working on christmas cards and a bunch of other stuff to do. I had the weekend planned to perfection with little room for error. We had overnight guests as well and in the morning, after preparing them breakfast, the phone must have rang although I don't remember hearing it. Our friend Roxanne called to say that Sophia's birthday party to chuckee cheese would be postponed. One of the 2 invited guests wasn't feeling well. Roxanne had received a call from our friend Lisa, that Delaney had woken up that morning with a nose bleed and she was taking her to the hospital to get her checked out. I broke the news to Isaac that Delaney wasn't feeling that well and the party was cancelled. After some initial disapointment, he became distracted by the pending hockey game. After our game, I thought I should check in and see how Delaney was feeling. When there was no answer at their home, I began to worry. At 1:45 that afternoon, i got a phone call that still gives me chills... "Hi Bruce, It's Steve.... Delaney has Luekemia" At that moment, life came to a stand still. I don't remember the next hour, it's a blur filled with tears and anger. Priorities came to the surface and the fact that my christmas cards weren't done or my material wasn't ready for the evening banquet didn't seem to matter. I took my carefully planned out day and pitched it out the window. I sat on the couch in a daze, prayed a lot, and cried a lot. My long list of things I need to do before christmas is even longer now but i don't really care. Some of you may get your christmas cards from me this year, some of you may not. My heart is hurting and broken for our friends and sweet little laney and I don't feel festive. The house might not be clean, I may not get all the stocking stuffers bought, and christmas will come whether i'm ready or not. I could try and get all those things done but I still wouldn't feel festive...

But today a glimmer of hope. The roller coaster of emotions seems to be climbing yet another hill. News that our little friend's chemotherapy seems to be working and fighting the bad cancer cells. One of the IV's was able to be taken out and freed up her thumb sucking hand. Not a big thing to some, but to a father of a frightened little girl seeking comfort, it's a huge thing. And this afternoon, our friends opened up their world and posted this sweet sweet picture of their little girl. I can't stop looking at it... her body fighting this horrible disease yet a picture of beauty and hope. This picture makes me happy, seeing her smiling, knowing she's doing better... So now i guess, with a little motivation, i will start back on my list, still with a heavy heart, but now filled with a little hope.