As families focus on ‘finds’ at the mall, as another shopping frenzy faces folks the day after Thanksgiving. At our house, that day brings ‘flashbacks’ of Black Friday 2006 that are forever forged in my memory!

Yesterday – our ‘flashback’ of that fateful ‘Thanksgiving’ day as we realized our precious, two yr. old granddaughter named Rebecca was sick again. With a constant ear infection, a scraped knee that would not heal, and bruises on her little body that she called her ‘owies’. She even cried out in pain when her Grammy hugged her.

On that ‘Black Friday’ she had a dr.’s appt. and had bloodwork done. A phone call at 9 pm that night revealed she had ‘acute lymphoma-leukemia!’ A death sentence!!!! Had a sword pierced my heart, the horror, the heartache, couldn’t have been worse! I let my Bible fall open as I tried to pray – no words came as I read God’s promises in Psalm 34; often tears came as I read Ps 118:24.

By midnight she was admitted to Children’s Hospital in the ‘Oncology’ floor.

Sleepless nights and fears flooding our hearts, daily we watched her being pricked, poked, and prodded, as weeks of chemotherapy begin. God heard our prayers and our ‘precious’ was a good patient, adjusting to her new life. So we prayed!!!

After six weeks, she came home for Christmas. We didn’t need presents under the tree – having her home was the very best gift. Now we prayed as she began a year-long cancer treatment program at Children’s. While people wear colored ribbons for each kind of cancer as Rebecca was our reminder. So we prayed!!!

Today as we gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, we see a vibrant, vivacious teen across the table – Rebecca’s now called ‘Becca’ and is 18 years old! She is now an honors student, plays several kinds of sports, has her driver’s license and we remind her of God’s healing hand on her life. Now she has just been accepted into Christ Hospital School of Nursing upon graduating next spring. PTL for our ‘miracle’ as we practice ‘thanks-living’ and continue to pray for her!!!

Tomorrow as we face the future, we know God has His plan for Becca’s life.

And at this Thanksgiving season, we think of those parents sitting by the bedside of their child stricken with some kind of cancer. Let’s pray daily for God’s healing hand on their loved ones as well as for those doctors and nurses who care for our precious children.

By Libbie ‘Gramma’ Bennett

P.S. Signs of childhood cancer:

– Fever, fatigue, loss of appetite.

– Lumps or swelling on their body.

– Crying, whining, irritability.

– Falling with bruises.

– Nosebleeds, nausea.

For a child with any of the above symptoms, see a dr. for a checkup asap!