Me? Enter a contest? Why not?

Why my friend and I need a girls Get-A-Way Vacation?

I just saw a contest that would allow me to win a Get-A-Way Vacation on a Woman’s Get-A-Way Cruise. All I have to do is tell you why I NEED it.

My daughter Mikayla was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in March of 2007. She was just 4 years old at the time. While the prognosis for Leukemia is good, the treatment is long. Treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is 2 ½ years for girls and 3 ½ years for boys. We have approximately 9 months left on our journey and it has been a long faith filled journey that has shown me God’s grace and mercy every day. You are never prepared to hear the words cancer, but especially in reference to your child. We have had many hard days and my daughter has a vocabulary that includes port, spinal tap, chemo, bone marrow, blood counts, IV and so much more. I have watched my daughter go through more than any child or adult should ever endure. Mikayla is doing well and will go off treatment in June 2009. We continue to pray that the cancer will stay away, that the effects of the chemo will be minimal and that she will grow to lead a wonderful life with an amazing testimony to share!

The day Mikayla was diagnosed I established a “Carepage” (http://www.carepages.com/ carepage name: MikaylaVanWey) which is a blog for keeping people informed of your medical journey. This has been a great way for me to inform family, friends and many prayer warriors about our daily struggles, victories and activities. Through Carepages I have met many friends, parents of children with cancer, just like me. There is a bond among "cancer moms” that is instant. But there is one mom that I feel God has brought into my life, and I into hers. Her name is Misty.

I “stumbled” (with God there are no accidents!) upon a Carepage (http://www.carepages.com/ carepage name: CameronWeddle) for a little boy named Cameron. He was about the same age as Mikayla and was diagnosed just three months after my daughter with the same type of cancer. Cameron’s diagnosis date is also my anniversary so this little boy stuck out in my mind. But the postings on the Carepage drew me to this woman who wrote about her son’s battle with leukemia. She was walking my trial, and she was doing it with extreme grace and faith. She opens every entry with a scripture each day, which speaks to your heart and shows you hers. I wanted to get to know this woman and so I emailed Misty and it was the beginning of a relationship that was only brought about by God’s amazing grace. Not only do Mikayla and Cameron have the same cancer, they are on steroids the same week (this is one of the most trying times of treatment as these 5 year olds deal with roid rage), they have chemo the same exact day every month and we both have 2 other children who struggle with all that having a sibling with cancer entails. It was as if God knew that we needed each other, He gave each of us a prayer partner, a sister, someone to vent with, cry to, rejoice with and just someone who “gets it” when so many don’t.

Misty often refers to a passage in Exodus and it paints a picture of what God provided for us when he made us friends. In Exodus 17 Joshua was fighting the Amalekite army as Moses had told him to do. Moses went to the top of the hill and when he would raise his hands, Joshua’s army would be winning, when Moses arms would fall then Joshua’s army would begin to lose the battle. God provided Moses with two friends. “When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up – one on one side, one on the other – so that his hands remained steady til sunset.” (Exodus 17:12) This is a picture of what Misty is to me and I pray I am to her. When we get tired and weak, God has given us each other to “hold our hands up” encourage each other and make it through to the next day. I thank God for bringing Misty into my life. She makes the daily struggles and “roid rage” much more tolerable. There is seldom a day that we are don’t talk to one another. It is such a source of strength and encouragement for both of us. Our friendship is a blessing that we can only explain as a gift from God. How else do you explain that a mom from Iowa and a mom from Texas would be brought together with an instant bond? Both enduring the same trial (leukemia), with kids on steroids the exact same week every month, with treatment days exactly the same, and a joy and peace that only God can give in the midst of storm.

Misty and I have vowed that one day we WILL meet. We aren’t sure of the time or the place. But we have cried with each other, prayed for each other and encouraged one another daily and we are determined to come together some way, somehow. Winning this contest would be another amazing way to see God’s amazing provision to us as we walk through this storm called childhood cancer. But even if we don’t win, I have faith that God will make a way for us to meet. I know He did not bring us together on accident, He has a plan.

It would be a dream come true to meet my dear friend, Misty. And to share a once in a lifetime cruise with other Christian Women would be the ultimate way to bring our friendship together. As you can imagine the journey is long and hard, and this trip would give two “cancer moms” a much needed reprieve from the daily struggles that childhood cancer can bring, it would give us a chance to reenergize our faith, meet AND be surrounded by great women of faith, what more could we dream for?

Here are a couple videos that showcase our journey's with cancer. Enjoy...





Christie
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of things not seen" Hebrews 11:1