Do You Need a Perspective Check? : Pray for Kate :
Have you ever had your life turned upside down? Received news that changed everything? News that made everything you were thinking was important completely insignificant.
It’s happened to me once in my 50 years. The day after our first son was born, I was called into a small office by one of the Doctors of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to be given the news that he had been born with Hypoplastic Left Heart, a syndrome that was terminal. Time stood still.
About five days ago, a family here in the Phoenix Valley was given some news about their five year old that has, I am sure, rocked their world. Kate McRae is the five year old daughter of Holly and Aaron McRae. This past Monday they took her Phoenix Children’s Hospital to have an MRI performed. A tumor was found and surgery scheduled today. They have not left the hospital since. The surgery is in process as I write this.
Check in on Kate and the family by clicking here: Pray For Kate.
Some thoughts. I pray for Kate and her parents and her brother and sister. I am mindful of the good that I too often take for granted.
I am clearly reminded what is important.
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Very touching blog entry. Thank you Phil!
July 4th, 2009 at 7:53 am
The parents are updating things Here: Kate McRae’s updates
This morning, her Mom wrote, “It has been an eye opener being up here. Seeing many children going through unthinkable circumstances. We have often seen infants lying alone in their cribs, hooked to IV’s and monitors, with no family around. Heartbreaking. I asked a nurse about one in particular and she said oftentimes parents have to work and cannot stay with their children. I can’t imagine. One nurse said we were a rare case, with a strong family and so much love and support.”
For thirty over 20 years I’ve said I wanted to do something to help the parents in these situations…and I haven’t. I’ve actually even checked in with Phoenix Children’s hospital when I moved down here to be a volunteer. No more excuses.
LIFE for Kate and her family this very morning is very different than yesterday’s and before.
Here is a bit of her update for this A.M.:
Do not relent praying for this to come back. PLEASE! She is going for an MRI sometime this morning. They are not sure what time, but are going to work her in. The neurosurgeon will then talk with us about what the MRI shows, such as how much tumor was removed. Pray they don’t have to put her to sleep again. They don’t want to, but she needs to be still for the entire procedure. And it lasts about an hour. Pray God would give Kate extra mercy today.
August 18th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Phil,
Touching, please call me at 717-979-1334.I have urgent questions.
July 14th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Update: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate/journal