Emily Project for November

Wanted to introduce you to the latest of my Emily Project families. I love telling all of you about these families because I hear from so many of my clients and readers how you pray for them and think of them often. I am still asked about past recipients constantly and I love that this blog gives me a venue to request prayers and thoughts for those who need it. Could there be a better use??

The Davidsons were nominated by a friend of theirs, Kris, an angel who wrote me to tell me about their heartbreaking situation. This one hit close to home, as baby Sadie was born last October and is the same exact age as my baby girl, Maddy.

Sadie, at age 4 months, was taken to be seen for what her parents thought was a bad case of constipation. Jennifer, Sadie's mom, told me the story yesterday about how they were sitting in a room full of sick kids, waiting to be seen, and many of the sick kids had croupe. Jennifer remembers looking at her husband and saying "Well, at least she doesn't have croupe!" No, she didn't have croupe... from Jennifer's Carepage journal, from February of this year--Sadie was then 4 months old:

"All of her tests are mostly complete and it is confirmed that she does have Neuroblastoma cancer that has stemmed from her adrenal gland on her left side to the nodes in her liver. This caused her abdomen area to grow quite large and we hope that the size will be reduced in the coming days. The DNA test results are not back yet but we should hear something by next week sometime. The good news is that her bone marrow and bone scan tests both came back negative. Sadie has started her chemo treatment this week and will undergo additional treatments for probably the next 9 to 12 months. She is handling the proceedure fairly well but I am sure would rather be home with her brother and sister. She will be in the hospital for another two weeks where she will take a additional chemo treatments as her tests require. "

Later more bad news:

"News just came back today on Sadie's MYCN gene tests and they are not good. The MYCN gene test shows that the gene has extra copies of the cancer. Her stage now is 4 and she is in the high risk category. The Doctor has said that the results of the test are most rare and Sadie will now have to undergo the most agressive of chemo treatments every 3 weeks for the next 6 months. After next series of chemo, in approximately 2 weeks, Sadie will have surgery to put in a catheter to enable the Doctors to collect stem cells for upcoming procedures. After the 5th or 6th round, (in about 6 months), Sadie will have another surgery to take out any diseased cells including portions of the liver if necessary. Shortly after that procedure, Sadie will have to undergo a bone marrow transplant. During this procedure, Sadie will have a stay in the hospital for a 6 week period. She will also be very vulnerable to any type of infection. "

What is not said here is that Jennifer and Jason were given a 20% survival rate for Sadie. Think about that for a minute...

And reading back over this journal is why I was SO AMAZED at the little baby that I photographed yesterday. She has now completed her chemotherapy, her bone marrow transplant, and is now in a clinical trial therapy which is, as Jennifer described to me, like an atom bomb to her system. But the good thing is that after the treatments are finished and she is on a break from them, she feels great. At our session yesterday, I did not see who I expected, a sick baby recovering her tiny 13 month old body from cancer. I saw a fighter, I saw eyes that were enjoying every sight and sound, I saw a healthy glow and HAIR, I saw a precious belly that was full of raisins, I saw smiles and hand clapping and outright JOY. What's more is that, aside from poor big sister being sick, the JOY was felt by the entire family. After spending Sadie's almost entire life of watching her suffer, her loving family is now able for this short time to watch her learn about what it feels like to be outside during a Texas Fall, what grass feels like, what big kids look like on Field Trips...and they were taking every second of it in and enjoying every. last. drop.

Imagine that. Imagine having pure joy at our childrens' smallest accomplishments and victories. Imagine living right in this very moment and loving it. And if we learn anything from their story...imagine it NOT taking cancer for us to do that.

Jennifer and Jason have the attitude of "It could be worse." Imagine THAT. Imagine waking up in the morning and rather than focusing on everything that is wrong in our lives, taking the time to realize that every moment is a blessing. Even in the face of cancer...of a baby. WOW.

With that, I want to introduce this amazing family to you. I wish I had more pictures of their middle daughter, but poor gorgeous blue-eyed baby woke up that morning with a nasty cold and felt not-herself throughout the session. We are getting back together after the holidays to make sure we capture sisters and big brother all together, since that has been Jennifer's dream since Sadie was born.

After you view these pictures, I want you all to do three things for me...

1-Jennifer mentioned to me yesterday that prayers and other's support are one of the things that gets her through, so leave a comment below for the Davidson's with your support and prayers--let's try to get at least 100!
2-Visit Sadie's Carepage and read more about her story and pray for her.
3-Think about their story and try each day to tell yourself that no matter how bad things get, things could always be worse!

***Edited to add: Many have asked how to leave comments--just below the last picture, click on the part that says "xx Comments"...a box will pop up, leave your comment in the box and fill out your name (or you can choose to be anonymous) below that. ***

The whole family, enjoying Sadie being able to STAND UP!!

Even 2 year old Delaney seems to realize how special this is.
The clip was a huge milestone for mom, who has waited for that hair for so long now...


She kept leaning down to kiss her handsome big brother, he was loving it.
This is what pure joy looks like:
And this is the face of strength, courage, and victory!
She loved my camera...