Good morning…
As I woke in the middle of the night, I opened an amazing gift which has been many years in the making. I watched the touching talk seventeen-year-old Audrey DeShelter shared with a large audience at a recent fundraiser for the fight against childhood cancer. Audrey has been the focus of a handful of our blog posts over the years, most notably One Dynamic Daughter from November 9th, 2019, and last night’s Valentine’s Day text from her mom to our Fab Five friend group included a link to Audrey’s speech, which helped to raise a shocking 3.3 million in one night.
Overwhelmed with emotion as I listened to Audrey describe in her own words the cancer journey we have intimately shared with her family, I texted back our inner circle of soul friends.
Wow. Up in the middle of the night, I just watched Audrey’s incredible talk. How powerful.
Makes me cry to think of the rollercoaster we have ridden with you and your family, Jennifer. We have prayed through each inch of Audrey’s story with you. At age five, her going home early from trick or treat because her leg was aching so badly. The shocking diagnosis of stage 4 neuroblastoma. Grueling treatment. Cancer free – NED. A shocking relapse. Travel to more treatment. Texting in the long scary nights. Cancer free – NED. Then relapse. Again and again. With each relapse phone call, I vividly remember where I was. We sobbed devastating tears each time. Last year’s code blue moment was the absolute scariest with the brutal treatment that almost stole her life while trying to save it. “How much can her tiny body endure?” we all prayerfully wondered.
We have been privileged to walk through it all with you, Jennifer. Texts. Phone calls. Hospital visits. NED and holiday lunches. Stromboli meals delivered to your doorstep. Repeated visits to the Northside prayer chapel. Thank you for letting us journey with you, feeling deeply with you the intense highs and lows.
How wonderful it will be to join for lunch next Thursday at 11:30 am at our regular spot. I look forward to celebrating this week’s cancer free scans, seeing your gorgeous smile and hugging you so big. Thanks for sharing this video. There is so much beauty to celebrate.💐
Oh, thank God—he’s so good! His love never runs out. All of you set free by God, tell the world! (Psalm 107:2, MSG).
…Sue…
P.S. I highly recommend you take a few minutes and watch Audrey tell her powerful story: https://www.dropbox.com/s/skohu8w758kdot6/Audrey.mov?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/skohu8w758kdot6/Audrey.mov?dl=0)
