There's This Kid I Know...

He is five years old. His name is Brett and this past December, he was diagnosed with AML-FLT3. I have learned a lot about those six letters and that nasty little number in the past few months. If you don't happen to be in the loop, they stand for a really wicked form of leukemia that requires multiple rounds of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant to stand a chance of recovering.

It is a scary, scary journey. This little boy and his family have endured so much in the past six months. His mom is my friend, and she amazes me with her seemingly endless energy and ability to fight, nurse, love and still parent ALL of her three children! Her husband is withstanding all of this quite remarkably too - they are a strong family. You can find out more (and aid their fight!) by visiting their website: http://brettsbunch.wix.com/brettsbunch

Sandy called today to fill me on on another family's battle. She is very worried about another little boy, who was also an AML patient and is now a survivor! However, today that 11-year-old child suffered a stroke. I'm sure you can imagine, as I do, that his body is probably quite worn after such an intense battle with cancer.

Brett is recovering from a bone marrow transplant currently. He is doing well! But there is concern in our hearts for this other family and this other boy who is now fighting to recover in a new way.

Oddly, it is not fear I feel, but gratitude.

Not for this child (or any child's!) suffering. No. I wish that never happened.

I feel gratitude for open eyes - my own, first and foremost.

Tunnel vision happens. We get bogged down in our own lives, and think we do not have time or energy to help anyone else. You see charity organizations begging for time and finances on television or in your digital travels and think you are too stretched to help or your efforts will be wasted by some corrupt organization, and you pass it by. We all do it, and we as individuals cannot support all of the myriad causes there are to support!

But there is always something that can be done, and there is always something YOU can do.

For me, it's blood donation. Since Brett got sick, I've gone every 56 days to Roswell Park to direct blood donations to my favorite little superhero. Doing this, I've found, benefits me just as much as it (hopefully!) benefits Brett! I take better care of myself. I drink more water. I take a daily vitamin that I just could not remember to take with any sort of regularity before this child got sick. Now, I am like clockwork. My whole reason for doing this is to make REALLY good blood for Brett!

I've decided, even when Brett doesn't need my blood anymore, someone else will. I will keep on being a blood donor. Because now I know there are always families out there with a kid waging war on an enemy within. There is always a parent trying to be brave while hoping and praying for a miracle. There is always a community in the shadows with their hearts open and their energies directed at clearing the way for the miracle they deeply believe will happen for their intended.

Closing our eyes to these circumstances doesn't make them any less real. Looking back, I think I've partly shut them out because I was afraid of the fear and the pain of joining what on the surface may look like a losing battle. What I've learned is, when it is your friend, your community… the fear and pain in NOT acting is far more intense! I have to wait 56 days between blood donations. 56 days feels like an eternity! I have even tried to convince the donor center I am strong enough to do it more often (that doesn't work, just FYI).

Acting, giving, DOING creates hope, power and love! Don't get me wrong, tears are created too. Lots of them, and some are fear tears. But some are tears of amazement, and overwhelming pride when you see others acting, doing and helping to support your cause in amazing ways.

Not all of us are created to dash into burning buildings and save trapped babies, but ALL OF US have the ability to reach out in some capacity. It's not about having the time or not having the time, it is about having the choice to Make the Time.