On Friday, I finally tuned in to Hot 103 while at work. “Already Friday!” I thought… But, listening in late, must be better than not listening in at all. I didn’t hear Jasmina and David’s phone interview, but heard instead many other stories, just as touching.
“How does it feel to go out and to have to explain to people about your son?” Ace asked a mother. She replied, “We get used to it… I’m expecting a PhD in the mail one of these days!” she laughed.
A father talked about his son’s development with the rare condition he had, commenting “you have books about what a child’s development should be at certain ages and we wonder when is it going to happen? Is it going to happen?” Ace asked in what ways having a son with such a rare condition affected the family. “Sometimes, if he cries in the night, or something, we wonder, ‘Is it a normal baby thing, or a thing because of his condition?’ ” The mother added, “If we worried all the time, we wouldn’t be a family.”
In one day, there were many incredible stories, but perhaps, beyond the conditions that were so varied, what shone through was not the disease, but the resiliance… The patient that learned at such a young age what a bone marrow transplant was, the patient that continued her chemo treatments, the patients who hoped they’d get better, the families that stayed positive…
As Avril Lavigne sang “Keep holding on”, clips of the interviews that had been aired played. Trying to ignore the lump in my throat as the music played, trying not to think, so the tears wouldn’t fall, I noted some of the quotes…
You’re not alone
Together we stand
I’ll be by your side
You know I’ll take your hand
When it gets cold
And it feels like the end
There’s no place to go
You know I won’t give in
“We would be waking up every morning wondering if Haley was alive.”
And another, with tears in her voice: “This is really difficult, I didn’t think it would be this hard!”
Keep holdin’ on
Cause you know we’ll make it through
We’ll make it through
“The doctor’s didn’t think she’d make it through and she did and she’s our miracle”
Just, stay strong
Cause you know I’m here for you
I’m here for you
“All these things I never knew about until I came to Sick Kids.”
There’s nothing you can say (nothin you can say)
Nothing you can do (nothin you can do)
there’s no other way when it comes to the truth
So, keep holding on
Cause you know we’ll make it through
We’ll make it through
“When you start something, you’ve got to finish it.”
“I literally live in the hospital with her.”
So far away
I wish you were here
Before it’s too late
This could all disappear
Before the doors close
And it comes to an end
With you by my side
I will fight and defend
“You feel like your life is falling apart around you… and it is… but you have to stay positive.”
Keep holdin’ on
Cause you know we’ll make it through
We’ll make it through
Just, stay strong
Cause you know I’m here for you
I’m here for you
“You just don’t go through things like that without the people at the hospital”
I had listened to the radiothon while at work, and my co-worker and I were in tears the whole day, not to mention even the clients. What amazing stories these people got to share, I admire EVERYONE who has gone through these struggles, and those who kept there focus on God, From the little I have seen and heard, David, Jasmina, the family & friends have given SO much of themselves to offer help to Sebastien, offer support and encouragement and love to each other, and it is SO beautiful to see, and such a great example for all of us to learn from. The love that you have for each other is remarkable!
Sebastien amazes me every time I log in and read another blog, the progress is a miracle, thanks be to God!
All the Best to you,
With Hugs
Lindsay