Unshakeable Faith

Monroe called and told me to get there quickly- the doctors had something important to tell us.  I didn’t know whether he knew the diagnosis already, I didn’t take the time to ask him.  But he definitely knew something bad was coming.  He told me to leave the children at home, call my parents and have them meet us there.  His mother was already there.  I scrambled to get there fast.  That drive, in retrospect, was the longest drive of my life.  It wasn’t all that far from our house to the hospital, but I’m sure I stopped at every red light between those two points and prayed all the way.  I think I knew it was bad, very bad.  I couldn’t get there fast enough.  Time dragged on.  I finally arrived and went down the hall to McKenzie’s room.  She was there resting comfortably as usual and Monroe and his mother were there with tears in their eyes.  My parents arrived soon after and Dr. Patel came in to explain things.  I remember the details of the treatment he sketched on the whiteboard.  I remember the word “cancer” and learning to spell “neuroblastoma”.