Today, my local radio station 98.7 WMZQ is having their annual Country Cares for Kids St. Judes Radio-a-thon. It is going all day today (Friday) and all day tomorrow (Saturday). They're raising so much money for St. Jude's Children's Hospital. As I type this, I am listening to the radio. I have tears streaming down my face. I continue to get chills.
As I listen to these stories--Stories of pain, sorrow, heartbreak. A mother telling the of the last days she had with her young daughter. The story of a young woman who first came to St. Jude's when she was a young teenager, and is now coming back as a college student--once again for treatment... "I remember when I was younger, I wasn't worried about losing my hair. I thought it was cool. But now? As a woman, your hair is part of you identity. As it falls out I can't help but cry." Well, I cannot help but cry either.
I love the radio-a-thon. It always makes me cry and pray. It shows me over and over again how immensely God has blessed me. As I hear the stories of hope and tears and sorrow and joy... I can't help but cry. God is so amazing. He's blessed me so much. I just pray that if God ever gives me or someone I love a challenges such as this that I can face it head on. That I can face it with faith and courage and strength, that I might be able to trust in Him 100%. I truly cannot imagine what it must be like to watch your child, brother, sister, best friend suffer. I pray I never have to face that.
I am so thankful to MZQ for doing this. It is an amazing thing. If you want to call or donate or even listen live, you can. The phone number is 1-800-963-4673. You can also go to the website to donate. People are donating thousands of dollars--Dollars that will help to find cures. Dollars that will continue to allow St. Jude's to admit people who cannot afford the care, who do not have insurance, and who have to travel great distances to get care.
There are actually 2 songs that I will be sharing with you. One is called "Braid My Hair" by Randy Owen (lead singer of Alabama). The other song is called "Skin" by Rascal Flatts. Both songs are truly beautiful, and I hope that you listen to them.
It fills me with joy as I hear the names of people who are becoming Partners in Hope. Every month they will donate $35 to St. Judes...
And now?! Oh... Oh! Gary Allen's song "Life Ain't Always Beautiful" is playing while a woman tel of the last few days of life she had with her 4 year old son. She's telling of taking him home... Of saying good-bye. Oh! And now it is Rascal Flatt's song, "My Wish For You". My wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want it to // Your dreams stay big // Your worries stay small.
Wow. I just... Oi. *sigh* Today has been and will be a very emotional day--As will tomorrow, I have no doubt. I'm just so thankful to God. This just shows me how very and truly blessed I am. It touches my heart, brings tears to my eyes... I currently have about $50--And yes I am planning on donating it. My siblings will also prolly end up donating something too. I'll let you know what the total ends up being when we do it.
In Christ,
~Mariah
Wow. That's amazing. There are thousands and thousands of stories like these. Thousands too many. Yet, to many people, cancer is a foreign concept. They think, "Oh, that will never happen to me or my child." Even though there are children in your own town, maybe even you neighborhood, who have or are still batteling the "big C". These children show so much more strength than you could imagine. More than they should have to. 36 children are diagnosed with cancer each day in the US. Think about it. That's enough tho fill an elementary school classroom. Every day. Hospitals like St. Jude need money. What your radio station is doing is wonderful. People need to realize that childhood cancer isn't rare. It is, in fact, too common. Yet, in the last 20 years, only 1 new drug has been approved for childhood cancer. It makes me sick.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, those are my thoughts. Not sure if it made sense.
~Amelia
I already donated to several other places, but yeah...I guess I just don't know how to respond to something like that. I had a cousin who died of cancer when he was about 30 or so, its tough. Even those that survive it usually have it come back and it wrecks most of their life trying to deal with it. That's what happened with my cousin, he battled with it for years, at one point he had it almost completely gone and then it came back and killed him.
ReplyDeleteWow...That's awesome that you are doing this Riah! My moms best friend died of cancer a few years ago, and I remember how hard that was for adults, but I can't imagine how hard it must be for children that have cancer!
ReplyDeleteKy
Great post, 'Riah!
ReplyDeleteIts always really touching to hear testimonials like that from those who have been touched by great organizations such as St. Judes...thanks for sharing!
In Christ,
Mia