Gut Wrenching/ To Tears of Joy

[g8r925]

I didn't know quite where to post this, but wanted to share my life for the last week. I have a little girl that is 14 months old, and she has her daddy's heart in the palm of her hand. She has been sick with a cold/flu since before Thanksgiving, we have taken her back and forth to Doctors and ER visits since then, will little to no improvement. Well this past Monday while my family was together eating dinner, my mother noticed a small lump behind my daughters ear. I felt it at it was hard as a rock, I was a little concerned and told my wife to keep an eye on it, if it didn't go away in a day or so we would take her to here Primary Physician. Two days pass, no difference, so we went to her Doctor. He examines her, we show him the bump and he immediately wants to us to undress her. He examines her groin and finds that her lymph nodes in her groin area are swollen, this happened over night. I then start to really get worried. The Doctor looks at me and my wife and tells us that these are signs of a very severe infection, or worse yet LEUKEMIA. My heart fell to my feet, I was immediately sick...... He prescribes us a High powered antibiotic and tells us to give it three or four days, and see if the swelling goes down, If not we need to have blood work done to determine whether she has Leukemia or not. Well I waited for 24 hours as a nervous wreck and couldn't take it anymore. So we went back to the Doctors and told him we had to know if our little girl was sick, he agreed and sent us to the ER to have a blood panel done. The ER Doctors where fantastic, and tried to calm us, and my little girl was a champ, she had four vile's of blood drawn and didn't even cry. Daddy couldn't watch. Well the next hour and a half where the longest in my life. Finally the Doctor comes back and shuts the down behind her, and I again start feeling sick, and prepared my heart for the worst, she smiles and said the most wonderful words I have heard "YOUR LITTLE GIRL IS OK". I'm 6'2 and 350 played football all my life, rough and tumble kind of guy, and I cried like a baby, while I held my Gift form God tightly in my arms. God has bless my family one more time.

Just wanted to share hope some one getting encouragement from it. :joecool:

[reformedgator]

Thanks for sharing. I rejoice in your blessings.

[bofusgators]

That's wonderful. God bless you and your family.

[hgators]

Having had a son who went through an increibly diffcult time, my heart goes out and jumps for you at both ends of this. Thank God he is fone, but there's nothinh to describe what you went through.

Words can't describe the joy I have for you.

[GatorAbe7]

Thanks for sharing 925. No matter how many years with her, she'll never get too old for her not to be your baby anymore. I say this from the opposite viewpoint. When I was 26 I was referred to an Oncology department due to symptoms of Leukemia. I was by far the youngest patient in the waiting room, and about the only one not looking like I was ready to pass away. When thankfully the tests came back negative, I called my Dad in the parking lot of the hospital and he cried.

[bigg8rfan]

Glad to hear your daughter is okay. I have 2 daughters and as my wife likes to say "they have me wrapped around their pinky finger".

[brolowe]

Most inspirational story and I really thank you for writing it for us. I too have lived thru both sides of that fence. Myself, my children, good and bad. Life has these special ways of treating us to appreciate the good, and all the moments and trying to make the best of them. It is a most humbling teacher. Glad all is well with you and your working to appreciate all the moments and love of your kids. Have fun and enjoy. They're all just more of the blessings.

[KendrellJones]

May God bless you and your loved ones.

Truly!!

[g8r925]

Thank you all for your comments, words fall short of the feelings, the peeks and valleys that my wife and I shared in the past few days. I have been through the lose of cancer with my grandfather, and couldn't imagine facing that again, although God's grace is sufficient for all things. I believe this little girl has been given to us by God to keep her daddy close to HIM. I love both my children deeply, as any father would, but we had another scare with this same little girl while my wife was carrying. I can't really explain it, but there is a special bond between her and I that I can't put into words.

[northgagator]

925,

Children have a way of melting any adult's heart.

The can do it in a time of joy and in a time of sorrow.

You may be under the impression that your job is to help her grow and that impression is correct.

At the same she has a job too. That job is to continue your growth.

Please take note of how you grew during the bad times and the good times with your children. In either situation your growth benefits everyone near and dear to you.

[GunGator]

Tears in my eyes, God bless.

[mamag8ter]

Thank you all for your comments, words fall short of the feelings, the peeks and valleys that my wife and I shared in the past few days. I have been through the lose of cancer with my grandfather, and couldn't imagine facing that again, although God's grace is sufficient for all things. I believe this little girl has been given to us by God to keep her daddy close to HIM. I love both my children deeply, as any father would, but we had another scare with this same little girl while my wife was carrying. I can't really explain it, but there is a special bond between her and I that I can't put into words.

God Bless and keep you all. What wonderful news.:angel:

[Jaggator]

I share your joy and happiness g8r925 and it was very inspirational. This popped into my mind as I was reading...

"Because HE Lives I Can Face Tomorrow."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M-zwE33zHA

[mkpulley1]

God Bless you Brother!

[g8r925]

I share your joy and happiness g8r925 and it was very inspirational. This popped into my mind as I was reading...

"Because HE Lives I Can Face Tomorrow."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M-zwE33zHA

Thanks Jag, I sing that very song in our services just about twice a month. I grew up listening to my grandparents play and sing it from childhood.

[secgator]

My daughter is now 19 and is STILL my baby girl. Always has been and always will be. I know exactly the feeling of waiting for 'news' when something isn't quite right about her.

My wife and I got ours back when our daughter was 18 months old....we got the diagnosis of our girl being autistic. Not the same as a terminal health issue-thank God--but a lifelong issue we will all be living with. The waiting to find out what was wrong was the hardest part. When we learned the news...Valentines Day 1995....it was a crush. But then, when we look around and see how lucky we are compared to so many others---we feel blessed, so we know those tears of joy as well.

But again I have to say...she is STILL my baby girl. Something about a daughter does that to a dad. :)

[kurt_borglum]

A son's a son til he takes a wife, but a daughter's a daughter for the rest of her life.

Thank goodness no serious illness, however, did the bumps go away? She okay now?

[mfpardnor2]

Heart touching story with a great ending.

[deathroll]

So happy this ended well. I continue to marvel at how powerful love is. I have 3 grown daughters. Each is healthy, each is happy. I still worry after them every day. Always have, always will. It's a blessing.

I lost my aged father 6 months ago. He was not only my Dad, he was also my hero. I intend to talk about him here on GC (start a thread) about him someday. As of right now, it's still too soon.

God bless your little ones.

[igabradley]

what great news

[ovillegator]

Just awesome...God's teaching moments are not always easy to understand.

But you got a blessing there, both with the news, and more so with your daughter!

[raycgator]

Great news and made my night. Gonna be a dad next month and with everything thats preoccupying my mind right now, all I care about is her health and safety once she's born.

Good luck to you and your family

[g8r925]

Great news and made my night. Gonna be a dad next month and with everything thats preoccupying my mind right now, all I care about is her health and safety once she's born.

Good luck to you and your family

Thank you for the kind words, and congratulations on being a father, your life will never be the same after you hold her for the first time. I have two and they both hold a half of my heart. My wife wants to know what happened to her part, and I just look at them.:yes:

[g8r925]

Hey guys, just wanted to update. We finally found out today what has been going on with our little girl. She was diagnosed with IGA which is a autoimmune deficiency. Don't know much about it other than what I can find on the web, but I did find out that it's genetic. So there is a chance that my other child might have it to, and maybe even me or my wife. It's not the best news in the world but at least it's not cancer. Thanks again for all your thoughts and well wishes.

[gator1986]

Sorry to hear it man! That's horrible, my last 3 weeks have been the same, my sister is 28 and has cancer that has now spread through her lungs, and bones. She is unfortunately on her death bed, hospice has come in to take care of her. Just 4 months ago she was diagnosed, 3 weeks ago she was told there was nothing they could do after months of chemo/radiation. It's horrible to watch, and watch someone you love suffer. I hope the best for your daughter no one deserves this especially at young ages. You definitely start to enjoy life more, and the little bits of time you have with someone.

[G8trGr8t]

86..really sorry to hear about your sister..too young.

I constantly remind my kids the most valuable thing we have is our health and we should never take it for granted.

[gator1986]

86..really sorry to hear about your sister..too young.

I constantly remind my kids the most valuable thing we have is our health and we should never take it for granted.

I can definitely be held at fault for living my life too much. Not caring about anything just going with it. This has totally changed me, when you see someone that is going to pass and you have known your whole life, knowing that you will never be able to call them again and talk it made me at least stop and think have I taken everything for granted. I have, and with this short time we have left I am using the most of it texting/calling everyday, going back and forth to visit her in Alabama. I too remind everyone health is very important, some people say I take it to the extreme. Be in my shoes for a day and you might think twice. But thanks again, we took one last photo and I think everyone on here would be proud to know, she was wearing her Gators sweater in that picture. =) she's still representing.

[g8r925]

Sorry to hear it man! That's horrible, my last 3 weeks have been the same, my sister is 28 and has cancer that has now spread through her lungs, and bones. She is unfortunately on her death bed, hospice has come in to take care of her. Just 4 months ago she was diagnosed, 3 weeks ago she was told there was nothing they could do after months of chemo/radiation. It's horrible to watch, and watch someone you love suffer. I hope the best for your daughter no one deserves this especially at young ages. You definitely start to enjoy life more, and the little bits of time you have with someone.

I am deeply saddened by your news, I will be praying for you and your family during this time. I have been down this road, my dad died about four yrs ago with a brain tumor. He was hear one day and it seemed all was fine, and the next he was having brain surgery and then was gone. His cancer was found in the fourth stage, and they couldn't get it all, he lasted four months form diagnosis to departure. He was a pastor for over thirty yrs and was a great man, but to see him after his surgery was almost more than I could stand. He would look at his Bible and wanted to read it so badly but due to his cancer and the havoc it has done to his brain he couldn't read anymore, and had little comprehension skill left. That was heart breaking to me. I had grown up my whole life seeing him up every morning at 4 am sitting in his recliner reading his Bible and praying, and then it was gone. I am truly sorry for what you are facing but know that I will truly be praying for you and your's my friend.

My daughter's condition isn't as bad as it could have been, and the Lord in heaven knows that I have thanked him over and over again for that. God Bless.

[g8orbill]

925-May Gods Grace continue to shine upon you and your family

[gatorknights]

Happy for you and your family.

[ovillegator]

1986 & 925... Wow, I was just floored reading these. God bless both of you and your families.

1986, unfortunately for all of us, life is temporary. But like 925's Dad, I know that there is life beyond this one, and that brings me comfort in times of painful loss... I know how badly you hurt, for I have been there too, but I know I'll see my lost loved ones again, cancer-free, pain-free and perfect. And that hope gets me through. There is no pain on earth that darkens the joy and freedom awaiting your loved one on the other side. I hope there is some comfort in knowing you're not really saying 'goodbye', you're saying 'see you later'.

It still doesn't lessen our hurt and loss, for we are the ones left behind when they move on. All we can do is, as you say, cherish each moment we have here on earth with each other -- and take comfort in knowing we'll be together again.

My prayers are with you and your families.

[g8r925]

1986 & 925... Wow, I was just floored reading these. God bless both of you and your families.

1986, unfortunately for all of us, life is temporary. But like 925's Dad, I know that there is life beyond this one, and that brings me comfort in times of painful loss... I know how badly you hurt, for I have been there too, but I know I'll see my lost loved ones again, cancer-free, pain-free and perfect. And that hope gets me through. There is no pain on earth that darkens the joy and freedom awaiting your loved one on the other side. I hope there is some comfort in knowing you're not really saying 'goodbye', you're saying 'see you later'.

It still doesn't lessen our hurt and loss, for we are the ones left behind when they move on. All we can do is, as you say, cherish each moment we have here on earth with each other -- and take comfort in knowing we'll be together again.

My prayers are with you and your families.

Comforting word, which brought a precious memory to my mind. The last words I spoke to my dad was "I'll see you in a little while":cry:

[gator1986]

I am deeply saddened by your news, I will be praying for you and your family during this time. I have been down this road, my dad died about four yrs ago with a brain tumor. He was hear one day and it seemed all was fine, and the next he was having brain surgery and then was gone. His cancer was found in the fourth stage, and they couldn't get it all, he lasted four months form diagnosis to departure. He was a pastor for over thirty yrs and was a great man, but to see him after his surgery was almost more than I could stand. He would look at his Bible and wanted to read it so badly but due to his cancer and the havoc it has done to his brain he couldn't read anymore, and had little comprehension skill left. That was heart breaking to me. I had grown up my whole life seeing him up every morning at 4 am sitting in his recliner reading his Bible and praying, and then it was gone. I am truly sorry for what you are facing but know that I will truly be praying for you and your's my friend.

My daughter's condition isn't as bad as it could have been, and the Lord in heaven knows that I have thanked him over and over again for that. God Bless.

Yea it's horrible to watch someone so close get totally destroyed and know your helpless, and to see their health deteriorate is awful, but your daughters in good health and that's all that matters! Someone had their eye on your daughter, and your all blessed. Thanks for the words my good sir it is greatly appreciated. I will keep your daughter in my prayers as well.

[gator1986]

1986 & 925... Wow, I was just floored reading these. God bless both of you and your families.

1986, unfortunately for all of us, life is temporary. But like 925's Dad, I know that there is life beyond this one, and that brings me comfort in times of painful loss... I know how badly you hurt, for I have been there too, but I know I'll see my lost loved ones again, cancer-free, pain-free and perfect. And that hope gets me through. There is no pain on earth that darkens the joy and freedom awaiting your loved one on the other side. I hope there is some comfort in knowing you're not really saying 'goodbye', you're saying 'see you later'.

It still doesn't lessen our hurt and loss, for we are the ones left behind when they move on. All we can do is, as you say, cherish each moment we have here on earth with each other -- and take comfort in knowing we'll be together again.

My prayers are with you and your families.

I know it's definitely sad, and what my mom is going through is even worse. She actually was diagnosed with kidney cancer two months before my sister was, and she went through chemo/radiation and came out unscathed (thank god) then my sister got diagnosed, unfortunately she is not. she is with my mom, and to hear my mom cry all the time it really kills me, but as my mom says she will be your guardian angel, so I know my sister will still be right next to me. I know I'll see her again, and seeing her not suffering will make me happiest the most. And thanks for the words, greatly appreciated.