A Mother's Story of Faith, Joy, Miracles and Cancer
After a painful week of memories, media and meditations on the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, we need some optimism and some inspiration and a way to channel our collective energy into doing something positive.
Families across the country are caregivers for children with cancer and many other childhood diseases and illnesses. How can we support the sick children and their heroic parents? So many families, so many people make their way quite ordinarily in the public world and then go home to face extraordinary circumstances. I'm interested in sharing those stories because they remind us we are not alone, there is help, and because JUST LIKE ON 9/11, seemingly normal human beings just down the street from you are performing superhuman feats every single day.
I can think of no better example than Ty Louis Campbell and his family, whose remarkable story I've been sharing here.
Every day this family beats the odds.
1. SuperTy: The Story of a Child with Cancer and an Unstoppable Will to Live introduces a little boy everybody calls SuperTy because of his inspiring story. One year ago this week, his parents, Cynthia and Lou, faced every parent's worst nightmare: Their little boy, their first son, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer at the base of his skull. His mother has chronicled their story in her beautifully written blog, "Ty Louis Campbell: Our Little Fighter."
2. SuperTy 2: Living Life to the Fullest When Your Child has 'Terminal' Cancer shares a mother's story of finding faith and joy while facing a parent's worst nightmare. Since Ty was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive and deadly cancer, he has been through numerous life-threatening surgeries and undergone relentless and intense treatments of radiation and chemotherapy. Read this to learn how the family copes.
3. How Is This Miracle Child Beating 'Terminal' Cancer? Doctors gave 'SuperTy' a deadly cancer diagnosis. 'Oh yeah?' says this super survivor! This post shares some great news. Last week, Ty's parents – and all of the people who know and love this family and are cheering them on – were waiting for crucial news from the latest brain scan. The waiting was agony. The news was miraculous.
Please join me in supporting all families battling mightily against cancer. Contact your local hospital or doctor's office to find support groups for those fighting cancer. Contact the local chapter of the American Cancer Society to get information. Or, if you know a warrior, lend them a hand.
Want to catch up on another story of a family caring for a remarkable child? Read the series on Fostering Love:
Read: Fostering Love: Beloved child expected to die in months lives for decades. Now what?
Read: Fostering Love Part II: What Kind of People Take in Dying Children
Read: Fostering Love Part III: Parents Fight for a Home for their Severely Disabled and Deeply Loved Daughter
Read: Fostering Love Part IV: Kind Strangers Offer $10,000 and Legal Help to Get Bridgette Her New Home
Read: Fostering Love Part V: Bridgette Gets One Step Closer to a New Home
