FAITH, PATIENCE, HOPE AND GRATITUDE
The following is an article I was asked to write for,"The Family Pulse" magazine.
It was published for their December issue.
Could I have imagined composing my thoughts about coping with my child’s life threatening illness a year ago? Never! Sadly though, I am doing just that. On December 17, 2007, our amazing daughter Kristin was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, A.L.L.
Shortly after she began her junior year of high school, Kristin began to have difficulty finishing her cross country races. In December she experienced sudden and excruciating pain in both knees. After a frantic visit to our family doctor and some lab work, Kristin was quickly diagnosed with A.L.L. and immediately admitted Children’s Hospital Oakland.
With Christmas a week away, plans for the highly anticipated holiday quickly vaporized. Presents were left unwrapped, sugar cookies were abandoned on the kitchen counter, plane tickets to visit family across the country were unused, and lonely decorations stood as sentries over our vacant home. The customary family traditions we had treasured in the past, were now forgotten. Almost simultaneously, amazing friends and strangers immediately coordinated the “disaster clean-up,” easily putting any FEMA team to shame. They took our other children into their busy homes, watched over pets, cleaned up the holiday mess, and most importantly gave undying support. Oddly, the joy we have found in our familiar holiday traditions were not the ones we were gathering strength from. Instead, we began drawing from the well of what has built the foundation of those “customary traditions.” A well steeped in faith, patience, hope, and gratitude. Are not all of our traditions touched by at least one of these attributes?
Since “D-Day” (diagnosis day) our lives have understandably changed forever. Kristin has borne the full brunt of cancer’s cruel assault on the innocent. While none of us walk in her shoes, as her parents, we certainly walk beside her every step of the way. Her brothers walking in front and behind her, and the many other Angels in her life, too numerous to name, lifting her up each step of the way. Kristin has spoken of this often. Their strength, faith, and hope support and carry her through this trial, making the unbearable load a little more bearable. Again, the “well of traditions” was filling her with the strength to face this trial and her father and I were drawing heavily upon them too.
During those early, ominous days in Oakland, Kristin was given some Lance Armstrong material to read. After looking over them she said, “Live Strong is good, but I want to choose to, “LIVE HAPPY.” She has done exactly that and more! As her parents, we see absolutely no other choice, no other option, than to follow her exceptionally wise declaration. If you could be a “fly on the wall” so to speak, you to would be amazed at her strength. None of it is for show. She gracefully rises each day, willfully facing the challenges that await her. I will honestly say that some of those challenges are awful. Getting rid of cancer is nasty business. On occasion we have asked her about this, or have said we were proud of her. She simply responds, “I just do.” As her parents, we have concluded that Kristin undeniably has a “sure and steadfast” foundation that is built upon the time honored traditions of faith, patience, and hope. Understandably, gratitude is forthcoming, as there are not many teenagers who are grateful to be living with cancer!
Is there is something to learn from all of these experiences and from those waiting down this unchartered, bumpy road? Yes. As a family, we look forward to celebrating our holidays with the “customary fanfare,” but at the same time we will continue to draw from the well that fills us with the comforting traditions of faith, hope, and patience. Then there is gratitude. Are we grateful for this moment in life we are sharing as a family? Oddly yes. We share an overwhelming sense of gratitude and togetherness each day. The more experiences we share, the more blessed we feel. Then, strangely, at the same time, each of us realizes just how little we knew before Kristin’s diagnosis.
Through this trying journey there are a few things we do know to be true, that go hand in hand with those comforting traditions. Say I love more often than you think you should, birthdays are for joyous celebrations, and always love deeper, speak kindly, and give more generously.
Warmly,
Leslie, Darren, Eric, Kristin, Cody, and Wyatt Katich
It was published for their December issue.
Could I have imagined composing my thoughts about coping with my child’s life threatening illness a year ago? Never! Sadly though, I am doing just that. On December 17, 2007, our amazing daughter Kristin was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, A.L.L.
Shortly after she began her junior year of high school, Kristin began to have difficulty finishing her cross country races. In December she experienced sudden and excruciating pain in both knees. After a frantic visit to our family doctor and some lab work, Kristin was quickly diagnosed with A.L.L. and immediately admitted Children’s Hospital Oakland.
With Christmas a week away, plans for the highly anticipated holiday quickly vaporized. Presents were left unwrapped, sugar cookies were abandoned on the kitchen counter, plane tickets to visit family across the country were unused, and lonely decorations stood as sentries over our vacant home. The customary family traditions we had treasured in the past, were now forgotten. Almost simultaneously, amazing friends and strangers immediately coordinated the “disaster clean-up,” easily putting any FEMA team to shame. They took our other children into their busy homes, watched over pets, cleaned up the holiday mess, and most importantly gave undying support. Oddly, the joy we have found in our familiar holiday traditions were not the ones we were gathering strength from. Instead, we began drawing from the well of what has built the foundation of those “customary traditions.” A well steeped in faith, patience, hope, and gratitude. Are not all of our traditions touched by at least one of these attributes?
Since “D-Day” (diagnosis day) our lives have understandably changed forever. Kristin has borne the full brunt of cancer’s cruel assault on the innocent. While none of us walk in her shoes, as her parents, we certainly walk beside her every step of the way. Her brothers walking in front and behind her, and the many other Angels in her life, too numerous to name, lifting her up each step of the way. Kristin has spoken of this often. Their strength, faith, and hope support and carry her through this trial, making the unbearable load a little more bearable. Again, the “well of traditions” was filling her with the strength to face this trial and her father and I were drawing heavily upon them too.
During those early, ominous days in Oakland, Kristin was given some Lance Armstrong material to read. After looking over them she said, “Live Strong is good, but I want to choose to, “LIVE HAPPY.” She has done exactly that and more! As her parents, we see absolutely no other choice, no other option, than to follow her exceptionally wise declaration. If you could be a “fly on the wall” so to speak, you to would be amazed at her strength. None of it is for show. She gracefully rises each day, willfully facing the challenges that await her. I will honestly say that some of those challenges are awful. Getting rid of cancer is nasty business. On occasion we have asked her about this, or have said we were proud of her. She simply responds, “I just do.” As her parents, we have concluded that Kristin undeniably has a “sure and steadfast” foundation that is built upon the time honored traditions of faith, patience, and hope. Understandably, gratitude is forthcoming, as there are not many teenagers who are grateful to be living with cancer!
Is there is something to learn from all of these experiences and from those waiting down this unchartered, bumpy road? Yes. As a family, we look forward to celebrating our holidays with the “customary fanfare,” but at the same time we will continue to draw from the well that fills us with the comforting traditions of faith, hope, and patience. Then there is gratitude. Are we grateful for this moment in life we are sharing as a family? Oddly yes. We share an overwhelming sense of gratitude and togetherness each day. The more experiences we share, the more blessed we feel. Then, strangely, at the same time, each of us realizes just how little we knew before Kristin’s diagnosis.
Through this trying journey there are a few things we do know to be true, that go hand in hand with those comforting traditions. Say I love more often than you think you should, birthdays are for joyous celebrations, and always love deeper, speak kindly, and give more generously.
Warmly,
Leslie, Darren, Eric, Kristin, Cody, and Wyatt Katich
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Comments
Love you forever,
Georgia
ps--looks like Chaton is going to have TWO additions to her family (and they are not Chaci's twins!) in the next while. A brother and a sister. She will foster to hopefully adopt! WOW!