WHY?

Let me begin by admitting I do not have permission, nor have I asked.  I simply feel that this young woman and her story are too important not to share with the world.

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Update to the post below: Our precious little Brielle was admitted to the children's hospital today and we are told she will remain there through Christmas. If you do not mind, please say a prayer for Brielle and her family.
 
"The Irish - Be they kings, or poets, or farmers, They're a people of great worth, They keep company with the angels, And bring a bit of heaven here to earth" ---Irish Sayings

Every now and then, you come across someone that makes you look at the world a little differently. Asked earlier this year, my beautiful wife and I teach a weekly class at our church. We teach a wonderful group of eleven-year-old children. Being new to the area, I did not know any of these children. The first day we taught this class one young woman caught my attention. They are all beautiful children and have wonderful personalities; however, one child seemed to be so enthusiastic and positive it was almost unbelievable.

This young woman had an odd hairstyle I thought as I looked upon her for the first time. Her hair was short and almost in a spike type fashion, not very flattering and looking much differently than all the other children in the class. When I would ask a volunteer to say a prayer she would raise her hand with so much enthusiasm, that she would almost eek out a slight scream. If I did not choose her for the prayer, she would immediately shout out, “I will say the closing prayer”. Her smile is contagious and her light shines very brightly.

As the weeks passed and I have gotten to know this young woman more, I would learn a great deal about her and her hairstyle. Months prior to my meeting her, this young woman had just endured a bone-marrow transplant. The remarkable young woman was diagnosed with leukemia. She has also endured radiation and chemotherapy. Now the hairstyle made sense and I felt like a fool for mentally questioning her hairstyle.

Her story does not end there as she has had various forms of health problems almost since birth. This remarkable young woman has required heart surgery and other medical procedures almost her entire life. In addition, the family discovered that her Father also discovered he had cancer when she was undergoing her bone-marrow transplant. Through all of her difficulties and trials this young woman is one of the most positive, enthusiastic, loving and charitable people I have ever had the privilege of meeting.

Never have I witnessed this young woman feel sorry for herself or question why. Her Mother says it is fitting that her younger sister be the bone-marrow donor as these two are the two children that are her most stubborn and impatient with one another. Now, they have the same blood running through their bodies.

Until four-weeks ago, her leukemia was in remission and she was making grand plans for the future. Sadly, we learned that her leukemia or another type of cancer has returned. I hope that it will require less chemotherapy and radiation. We have only seen her once since the leukemia returned. My beautiful wife delivered a blanket and card the entire class made for her. Her reaction was a huge grin that would thaw the most frigid heart. Tomorrow this beautiful young child enters the hospital for a lengthy stay to once again face daunting trials. This young woman is an Angel among us and her light shines so brightly, you cannot help feeling drawn to her.

I find it amazing how some people shine and flourish while facing the most severe trials. A truly amazing human lives life full and optimistic in the face of such demoralizing trials. It and she is a shining example to us all.

"Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength." ---August Wilson


"Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God." ---Bible

"We are each others angels, we meet when it is time." ---Chuck Brodsky

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It breaks my heart to announce that our beautiful angel… Brielle has learned her cancer has returned for the third time.  Her body is too frail and cannot sustain another bone marrow transplant.   The doctor’s have informed her that there is nothing more they can do for her.

My thoughts are what I would do if it were my child or me.  If it were I, I would most likely cry, shout, and feel anger, sadness and despair.  Brielle, made a bucket list.  Seriously, this amazing child made a bucket list to live every moment full.  Life is full speed ahead for this young woman and she plans to live a lifetime in the short time allotted to her. 

Her first task I have learned was telling her classmates that she would not be here much longer.  I understand she then spent the day comforting them and building their excitement for living a full life.  Her bucket list… I have seen it, is no small list.  A community is coming together to assist in trying to see that precious Brielle has every opportunity to complete her list.  A Prom with no Prom ahead, no problem… the community is going to hold a Prom.  Young women are getting their dresses as I write.  My guess is Brielle’s dance card will be full.  There are tons of things on Brielle’s list and one by one, day by day she checks them off. 

Brielle’s infectious smile, her positive attitude and her zest for living are a strong message for all of us.  I enjoyed every minute of having Brielle in my class at Church.  The world, my world, my community, my church, my neighbors, my friends, my sky, my stars will all soon be a little less brilliant.  An Angel among us is soon returning home.  Our Angel leaves us with this valuable lesson and message.  Live, Love, Laugh and always remember, it is not the amount of years we live, but the amount of living we do in those years.   

Beautiful Brielle with her bone marrow donor, beautiful younger sister, whom I also had the awesome pleasure of having in one of my classes for a year.

Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World.  Beautiful Brielle is the one in red pants, standing on Mickey's left in front of her Mother.

I love this family and my life is better for knowing and learning from them.  Brielle's amazing spirit and message will live on through all who know her and have experienced her amazing qualities.