Our small and mighty warrior

I have never had a moment like this one. Where all 4 of us witnessed a moment like the one we all had minutes before the surgeon came out of the OR to talk with Brian and I. We had gotten the message that Dr.Tracy was closing and she would be out to talk with us shortly. We knew the surgery was over and we could see our little girl again. Brian and I were hugging, Doug (Brian's dad) and Brad (our friend) were both still there after 11 hours, close by, waiting with us. Brad was looking out the window from where we had been sitting and waiting all day. He was praying. And this small rainbow began to appear in front of his eyes.

We watched in awe as it became more clear. It was hard to speak and we all were over come with emotion. I laughed and teared up. We all had chills. There was no rain. And it was vertical, not even in a shape of a bow. But the colors of the rainbow were there in the sky right between the buildings in downtown Durham . Right where we could see it from the Duke OR family waiting area. And then our Doctor came out with a relaxed smile. She had the news we had waited exactly 4 months to hear. They got it. Charlotte's tumor had been safely and successfully removed. Areas around the major blood vessels and arteries that had been areas of concern, were cleared of most of the neuroblastoma only leaving behind what Dr. Tracy believes to be dead and scar tissue too great a risk to remove. Pathology will tell us more in the time to come, but she did it! And today, our girl isn't yet cancer free, but she is tumor free. We were admitted March 14 wondering what could be wrong with our baby who had been suddenly feeling so awful and tired. Tumor was found March 15. And now after 4 months, 5 chemotheraphy rounds, and a 10.5 hour surgery later...she is tumor free. The massive abdominal tumor that had snaked it's way around her organs and major vessels has been successfully removed. And she has more treatment remaining to help "mop up" any cancer cells that remain. Although the surgical team worked slowly, methodically for over 10 hours to perform this feat, there were zero complications. It was considered uneventful. That word makes me laugh because I can't imagine what they did for our little girl as being uneventful. This was the biggest event in our lives. And God walked with us, surrounding sweet Charlotte through it all.

And as we witnessed this amazing step in Charlotte's journey, feeling God around us and even viewing his presence as a tiny mighty rainbow, we also witnessed the beautiful love and spirit from friends and family who could rally around us that day. Instead of wringing our hands, sick with worry and tears all day wondering what our baby girl was going through on that operating table, Doug, and our friends Brad, Deborah, Amy, Jaime, Jerod, Tom, and one of the pastors from our church came to sit with us for a time. Pray with us. Make us laugh and distract us. Bring us nourishment. Kept our spirits up, our minds at ease, our hearts light as best they could. We chatted, prayed, went for walks, played a game, and before we knew it....our baby girl had done what we hoped she could. The doctors did what we prayed they could do. And God did what he always does, for what seems impossible to us is possible with God. And Taylor and Parker were cared for by our moms and another grandfather poppy, aware that their sister was having a surgery to remove her tumor but blissfully unaware of any stress or dangers. God has shielded and surrounded them as well these past 4 months. And they are getting to have a happy childhood even though our new normal consists of many days spent apart as Charlotte battles.

Today, our little might warrior is recovering beautifully so far. We decided to have an epidural put in during operation for postop pain management and it's working wonderfully for her, helping to target abdominal pain in leu of heavy narcotics. Her right adrenal gland, often believed to be where this neuroblastoma originated, was removed and so her left one will be taking on its duties regulating her heart's functions. We will be in the pediatric ICU for atleast another day if not more as she heals and then we will be moved to another recovery room back in our oncology wing. We will keep everyone informed as she recovers and gets ready to tackle the next step in her journey.

And we will continue to share this nightmare turned inspiring story with you all. Because what we are witnessing is not meant for just Brian and I alone. There is a bigger power at work here. And some people may go their whole lives not realizing. There is a greater love, a gift, a miracle that is out there. Not just for Charlotte to feel and experience, but for anyone who is willing to believe. And as our faith grows through Charlotte's journey, Brian and I feel called to be her little voice: Small at times but Mighty just like the rainbows that follow her and follow those who believe.