The legacy of a lasting impression

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“People will forget what what you said and forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel”. Yesterday, Charlotte was having ear pain along with head cold symptoms so off to the pediatrician we went. There was a nurse there helping out for the day from Duke Children’s Hospital and she REMEMBERED Charlotte from her time with the pediatric surgical team. Charlotte has had 7 surgeries during her time in treatment over the years at Duke and this nurse was helping out in the OR during one of Charlotte’s surgeries. I thought about this on our drive home and how could this nurse who sees thousands of kids remember our Charlotte and her name? And the Maya Angelo quote above rang out to me. Later on when we got home, 2 of Charlotte’s best friends rang the doorbell with get well cards they made her. Charlotte will never remember what they say or even that they did this…but she will remember the way the people she has in her life makes her feel. I believe we all do. The impressions last. And maybe Charlotte and her story left an impression on this nurse somehow and maybe as time goes on, her spirit and story will continue to touch so many others in a positive way. It’s one of our biggest hopes.

Later that night, Charlotte shared she was scared if she was sick she would need to go back into the hospital. My heart felt crushed. She doesn’t remember much of what happened to her, but she remembers the way it made her feel. She does remember fear associated with pain and the longing for home. I tried to assure her and told her those days in the hospital for cancer treatment are long behind her. Brian and I pray every single day for this very hope. And we wonder if the work we are doing through Be The Rainbow Foundation somehow protects her-that surly God will grant her mercy if we are busy helping other families instead of busy fighting her cancer. I know God doesn’t work this way, but I still keep trying to bargain with him. The truth is, although Charlotte is in a good spot, our fears exist because Neuroblastoma works at a cellular level scientists are still trying to figure out. How and why it returns in kids who have beat it is still unknown. And the truth is, she still needs our prayers with scans coming up. I don’t remember everyone’s kind, loving, hopeful words and gestures over all this time, but I remember the way you’ve made us feel. And through our village, we have found such strength.



Muddy and playing in the rain…just being 8











 

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