Two Kids

I’m not much what you’d call the praying type.  I think that subject has more than played itself out here. That aside, there are two kids out there this week who could use prayers’ prayers and other folks’ positive stuff.

My cousin has a daughter who has been sick for most of her life but has never really had to suffer from it. This week, the suffering begins. My cousin, his wife, and their whole family are about as tough as it comes on this stuff. Nonetheless, it’s not going to be fun. In fact, it stands a good chance of being pretty ugly. As described on her website, “Mandy has Neurofibromatosis Type 1. She has bilateral optic gliomas, the left being substantially worse than the right. She also has two lesions in her cerebellum and suspected lesion on her hypothalamus.” I still have no idea what it means. I only know she has to have chemo and that is never good.

I have a good friend and former roomie who lives in St. Louis. He oldest son, Liam, went through treatment once already. They thought they were though it. Now, it’s back to some of the worst stuff a kid can experience.  Again, I don’t know what it means, but the phrase “sprinkle tumors on the brain stem” sounds more than a little bad.

Tonight, I hugged my kid a few more times than usual and felt exceptionally lucky.

My thoughts are with both families tonight.