What does bravery really mean? Is it the bravery to hold on when you know the end is close and the battle you fought so hard is lost, or is it the capacity to face terrifying things?
For a sixteen-year-old girl, bravery meant standing by her father, who never wavered even under the most trying circumstances.
A man by the name of Tom Mitchell told the following tale.
This loving father remembered his daughter complaining that she didn’t feel well and requesting to be taken to the doctor because she thought she had a sinus infection.
Yes, sweetie, I’ll come get you tomorrow after school. If you’d like, we can have supper together afterward,” he replied.
The next day, the two did enjoy dinner together, but it was not at their preferred eatery. Rather, kids were having difficulty swallowing the food at Fairfax Hospital’s pediatric oncology unit. These father and daughter would have more than 450 meals there together, not to mention the hundreds more in the years that followed.
Instead of a sinus infection, his daughter had a massive tumor that had gone to her lungs and collapsed one.
It was a genuine struggle. Even though they knew it wouldn’t be simple, they were committed to fighting as a team.
Hodgkin’s illness, stage four, was Shayla’s diagnosis.
Tom tried to convey to them what it meant to be brave and withstand the trials and problems life placed in front of them by purchasing two sterling silver “feather” bracelets and placing one on each of their wrists.
Then he made three promises: he would stay at the hospital every night until Shayla was cancer-free; he would wear the bracelet until then; and he would persevere as long as she did.
Shayla’s cancer struggle dragged on for years, during which she had blood transfusions, chemotherapy, radiation, painkillers, and more medication. Her body could not take all of this, and as a result, her heart grew weak and a defibrillator had to be quickly implanted within her chest.
Shayla was getting ready for chemotherapy one day when she started screaming, “Help me, Dad! I’m shocked by it! ..I’m shocked by it.
Tom continued his explanation of what had occurred. I drew her in and gave her my strongest embrace. It almost blew her out of my arms and stunned her once more. But I resisted letting go. That’s exactly how I hugged her, fiercely as I could. As swiftly as it had begun, it stopped startling her, and we hurried to the hospital.
As it turned out, the device’s maker had to recall thousands of them because they were malfunctioning, and Shayla’s chest contained one of them.
More chemotherapy sessions, blood transfusions, a botched bone marrow transplant, and more uncomfortable sleepless nights ensued. But until the very last, Shayla never once considered giving up.
“How in the world was I meant to talk to my sweet kid about this? How would I ever have the courage to tell my daughter that she was going to die? There’s a quote I once heard that kind of captures my thoughts. “Can a guy who is terrified still be brave? He can only be bold at that moment. I had to have courage for HER! Of course, I did have that talk with her, and despite how unbelievable it may sound, it ended up being the most incredible, lovely, magical, and fantastic conversation I have ever had in my life. I sincerely pray you never, ever have to have it. Tom gave a portion.
“Dad, am I still brave?,” she murmured in his ear.
Then he met her gaze directly and saw into her soul. He was aware that she was beyond tired of battling and that it was becoming impossible for her, but he suddenly came to a chilling realization. She exhibited bravery for him rather than for herself.
Shayla tragically passed away a few days later, but her father will always remember her bravery and strength.
Shayla, rest in peace.
Kindly TAG your loved ones in this heartwarming tale on Facebook.
MINHA NOIVA SE RECUSOU A TIRAR UMA FOTO COMIGO, DIZENDO QUE EU NUNCA DEVERIA USAR SHORTS, MESMO NO VERÃO — SÓ MINHA NETA ME DEFENDEU.
Era uma vez, em uma pequena cidade, uma avó chamada Evelyn. Ela era uma mulher vibrante na casa dos sessenta, cheia de vida e risos. Todo verão, ela esperava ansiosamente pelas reuniões familiares, especialmente o piquenique anual no parque onde seus filhos e netos se reuniam para comemorar. Este ano, no entanto, as coisas tomaram um rumo inesperado.
Ontem deveria ser um dia divertido em família, cheio de risadas, jogos e comida deliciosa. Evelyn tinha escolhido sua roupa favorita para a ocasião: um short confortável e uma blusa brilhante e alegre. Ela amava a sensação do sol em sua pele e a liberdade que vinha com o uso de shorts. Ao chegar ao parque, ela foi recebida com abraços e sorrisos de sua família, mas mal sabia ela que o dia logo tomaria um rumo azedo.
Enquanto a família se reunia para uma foto em grupo, a nora de Evelyn, Sarah, de repente se recusou a tirar uma foto com ela. “Você nunca deve usar shorts, mesmo no verão”, disse Sarah, sua voz pingando de desdém. “Suas pernas enrugadas me assustam.” Evelyn ficou surpresa, seu coração afundando com a dureza das palavras de Sarah. Ela sempre acreditou que a família deveria elevar uns aos outros, não destruir uns aos outros.
Sentindo-se magoada e atordoada, Evelyn ficou ali, sem saber como responder. Mas quando ela estava prestes a se recolher em sua concha, sua doce neta, Lily, deu um passo à frente. Com uma determinação feroz em seus olhos, ela olhou diretamente para sua mãe e disse: “Nana está ótima, e ela pode usar o que quiser!” As palavras pairaram no ar, uma poderosa declaração de amor e apoio.
Evelyn sentiu uma onda de gratidão inundá-la. Naquele momento, ela percebeu que, embora alguns membros da família pudessem ser críticos, outros conseguiam ver além das aparências e apreciar a essência de uma pessoa. O apoio inabalável de Lily a lembrou de que a beleza vem em muitas formas e que a confiança nunca deve ser sufocada por opiniões ultrapassadas.
Conforme o dia avançava, Evelyn se viu cercada de risos e alegria, graças à bravura de sua neta. Elas brincavam, compartilhavam histórias e aproveitavam o delicioso piquenique. Evelyn sentiu um renovado senso de orgulho, não apenas de si mesma, mas do vínculo que compartilhava com Lily. Era um lembrete de que o amor e a aceitação podiam triunfar sobre o julgamento.
Mais tarde naquela noite, quando o sol começou a se pôr, Evelyn reuniu sua família para uma última foto. Desta vez, ela estava orgulhosa em seus shorts, ladeada por seus filhos e netos, com Lily bem ao seu lado. Todos eles sorriram brilhantemente, capturando um momento que os lembraria para sempre da importância de se defenderem uns aos outros.
Evelyn sabia que enfrentaria julgamento novamente, mas com o apoio de Lily, ela se sentiu fortalecida para abraçar seu verdadeiro eu. Quando olharam para a foto mais tarde, ela não conseguiu deixar de sorrir, sabendo que o amor e a aceitação sempre brilhariam mais do que qualquer crítica.
E assim, a família aprendeu uma lição valiosa naquele dia: celebrar a individualidade e apoiar uns aos outros, não importa o que aconteça. Afinal, a vida é curta demais para se preocupar com o que os outros pensam, especialmente quando cercado por aqueles que realmente amam você.
Leave a Reply