Grace: A Child's Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery
What an incredibly beautiful day it is here! The birds are singing, and the sun is shining warmly upon me. (No offense to those who are buried in snow—I would actually enjoy meeting snow sometime!) I am not only basking in the sun, but I am basking in gratitude for the love in my life. I am as grateful for the love I have to give as I am grateful for the love I receive.
Can I tell you how grateful I am for your love?
It feels like the presence of gratitude multiplies love inside me—exponentially.
Gratitude drives me to look outside myself to find others in need. I know this sounds weird, but I am grateful for gratitude!
I think gratitude grows rotten and ferments inside us unless it gets “baked” into something that will help someone else. When we express gratitude in kindness and love for others, it bakes a Big Batch of Love.
Those who know me know exactly where I am going…
I see a HUGE need. Tomorrow, 46 children in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer. Tomorrow, 7 children in the United States will die from cancer. There has not been a single drug approved to treat pediatric cancer in 20 years. Pharmaceutical companies contribute 50% of funding for adult cancer research, and virtually nothing for children’s cancers.
Does this sound right to you?
It does not smell like something is baking at all. It smells to me like something is fermenting.
The more I learn about what is happening (more like what is not happening,) the more I know I must express my gratitude for my life by speaking out to try to help children who have been forgotten. It’s like when a baby gets left in a car on a hot day with many people around. Everyone thinks everyone else is tending to the baby. Meanwhile, the baby is ignored and left to die.
Please don’t think someone else is taking care of this; don’t wait for someone else to “Get the Baby Out of the Car.” There is a lot of work to be done. Become a worker bee to stop childhood cancer.
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.”
(Matthew 18:10 ESV)
Please keep Anais Medina in your prayers for no fever and a great Disney trip.
Please continue your messages of support to CristaOrtz@gmail.com
Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery
Teach us, Anais! The spirit of a child with cancer!
Melinda Marchiano 
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