Dearest Maddie,
One year ago, right now, at this hour, your Daddy and Mommy, and I waited vigil with you as you were being whisked off to a CT Scan at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Baltimore. Grandma Vicki, Grandpa, all of your Aunts & Uncles, cousins, and Josie were busy sending prayers up to God asking Him to make you well. A few hours later, you were shuttled by ambulance to Johns Hopkins’ Pediatric Emergency Room. The doctors performed a lot of tests and learned that you had a rare pediatric cancer, called Wilms Tumor. The doctors had the hard job of telling your Daddy and Mommy you were very sick. That’s the bad news; the good news is they said you had a 95% cure rate! Guess what? You are cured...God is so good!! Look at how healthy you look in these pictures!
Dearest Maddie,
Happy Thanksgiving! I am so thankful for your recovery! Just nine months ago you were very sick, you've been through so much...two big operations, special treatments called radiation, and special medicines called chemotherapy. The most important ingredient in your recovery is prayer. Daddy, Mommy, Josie, Grandpa and I, Grandpa Jim and Grandma Vicky, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, friends, and strangers all over the world fell on our knees begging God to heal you and bless you with a full and uncomplicated recovery.
Maddie, life can be complicated. Sometimes people have short memories and the things that are most important in a crisis falls to the background when life gets back to "normal". This note is a great example, a few months ago, I was writing to you all the time. As you improved, many of us returned to our "normal" routines. As a result, although I meant to write, I didn't, I got involved with other things and writing was something I "meant" to do.
Dearest, precious, Maddie,
You're on the home stretch, your final Chemo treatment is scheduled for August 25th, nine days from today! 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, FINISHED, yeah!! We can't wait! Mommy & Daddy, and Josie, Grandpa, your Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, everyone who loves you, and I, are thrilled this portion of your journey is nearly over! Many family, friends, and strangers around the world are deeply moved by your courageous fight and are storming heaven with prayers. God is hearing and answering each prayer. We are very blessed!
You are a blessing! Did you know you're also a celebrity? You were on TV! Your photos and your story were featured on the TV news. Your Mommy & Daddy's friends planned a big party to raise awareness about Wilms Tumor, that's what caused you to be so sick. You're a celebrity, you should milk it for all it's worth. You probably need an agent, that's a person who plans your public appearances and events. We can talk later about who should be your agent, I have an idea. Now that you're a star, your signature is very valuable, as is everything you touch. You could have your own fashion line!
Dearest Maddie,
A little more than two weeks ago our country celebrated it's 235th Birthday! Pretty old, huh? Our country was born July 4th, 1776. Every year people all over the country celebrate our nation's birthday with lots of fun stuff - parades, picnics, barbecues, fireworks, and lots more!
Exactly one week later, on July 11th, we celebrated your 1st Birthday! A very BIG event for our family. You've been through an awful lot in this past year Maddie. God created you and has a very special Mission, a plan, that only you can do! That's right, Maddie, only you can do the special work God has in mind for you. Who would think HE would have put you to work so soon? Really, you hadn't even made your journey into this world and you were already stealing hearts. Then, finally, that wonderful day, July 11, 2010 came when you made your graceful debut into this marvelous world.
