More to Give

As many of you know, one of our dear law school friends has pancreatic cancer. "Julie" is 4 hours away from us. She's had a bad week. She is in the hospital with pneumonia and blood clots. The battle continues. We wanted to go and visit this weekend but we couldn't reach anyone. Their voicemail box was full. No one responded on their Caringbridge site and cell phones were off.


We felt so helpless. We've offered to help with the kids. We've offered to do anything. They say that they have enough help. They have a million people helping them. When I read the thank you's on their message board, I often wonder, what are these people doing to help? I wish I knew. What am I missing? I want to help them get though this. I want to help them to help ME get through this.

We also have a local friend that was just diagnosed with cancer. I can be more involved with this family because they are local. I am kept up to date by friends and I am active in trying to help in any way I can. As a group, we are working together to cover meals, babysitting, play dates, surprises and support.

It occurred to me today that although I can't be there for Julie as much as I need to, someone else is down there in Dayton pitching in. Just like we are here for our local friend. Our local friends have friends from all over the world who probably feel as helpless as I do with Julie.

I am trying to focus on what I can do to help while being 4 hours away. All we can really do is pray. I honestly have never prayed in my whole life as much as I have in the last month. I am sometimes in a constant dialogue asking for support for her husband, the children, the friends, her parents and for Julie. I ask for a miracle. I am praying with everything I have. I honestly didn't know I had it in me to pray this much. Once again, I ask you to skip the comments but take the time to say a small prayer for not only Julie but my local friend with cancer. Miracles are needed. And that's something I can work on being hours away.