Hope
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.
Emily Dickinson
This post is a little different from my usual posts. For a long time I followed the story of a friend's daughter's battle with leukemia. Her mother would post updates online, through the Caring Bridge Network. We journeyed together to the present day where Chloe is now finished with her therapy and is making great and positive strides to good health. Sadly this is not the case for many children and one little girl especially has become dear to me. Anika Wilke was diagnosed with leukemia at 22 months of age. After enduring more than two years of chemo she was free of cancer.....three years later it came back. Next Saturday will be Anika's ninth birthday. Her parents are hoping she lives long enough to see it, but they know the cancer has her now. The doctors have told her family that she will not survive. All they can do is try to manage her pain. Her family would love to have her come home for just one day but it doesn't look as if that will happen...
Anika's story is obviously heart breaking and the worst of it is still to come. It makes me feel so very grateful for the health of my own nine year old girl. Life is so fickle and so hard for some people. I'm so thankful for the life I am fortunate enough to lead and I wish for peace for Ani and her family. I can NOT imagine their pain.
Jessie and I want to send Anika a little something for her birthday. Apparently anything pink would go down really well with her! You can't go wrong with pink! If you felt so inclined, this is Anika's address.
Anika Wilke
c/o Banksia Ward, level 3 Woolworths building
Royal Children's Hospital
Herston Road
Brisbane Qld 4029
AUSTRALIA
Here is the link to the Caring Bridge Network for Ani.....
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/anikawilke/journal
Thanks for reading.
