Prayers Wanted....

One of my best friends is struggling today. Her 10 year old daughter's best friend is dying of cancer and is not expected to make it through the summer. This is the latest update on her situation and my friend has to explain it to her daughter:

Tatum is 10 years old and has been battling cancer for 6 years. She has had multiple surgeries on her leg and lungs where the tumors have grown. This week they found 2 more tumors in her right lung and on her esophagus. The esophagus tumor is inoperable and her right lung has collapsed. At this point doctors do not want to do anymore surgeries and are just concerned about keeping up her quality of life. She has one more procedure on Monday to remove fluid from the right lung in hopes of being able to re-inflate it to make her more comfortable. Over the next few weeks Tatum will go from a healthy active girl to one who will be unable to function normally. They do not foresee her making it through the summer. Tatum is Caitlyn’s best friend and a very special girl to our family, please keep her and her family in your prayers.

There is something more to this story than a little girl dying. There is a great story of friendship between these two girls that is mature beyond their years. Some people can go through their entire lives and not experience this kind of friendship. I don't know Tatum well, but I know Caitlyn and she is quite an amazing girl. To open yourself up to someone who may not be with you for long is a difficult task. She has been there for Tatum in ways most people couldn't be. Knowing Caitlyn, she has carried a burden for this girl to keep her secrets of pain and suffering so she didn't have to go through it alone. This alliance has helped keep Tatum grounded and allows her to be a 10 year old girl.

I'm so proud of these girls for opening their hearts to each other. Though Tatum may not be on this planet for long, the friendship they share will live through Caitlyn her entire life.

Caitlyn's family has recently found out her grandpa has bladder cancer. He has started chemo this week. Its hard for adults to wrap their heads around these kinds of situations and my heart goes out to Caitlyn for being the pillar of strength that she doesn't even realize she is.

Please pray for these families........