Prayers for Macy Grace

Don and I have a little friend. Once she was a vivacious, precocious, active, beautiful, inquisitive, caring, hungry-for-life little girl. Now she is very ill.

Her name is Macy Grace Helm. Her parents are friends who live in Colorado Springs. Sometime last year Macy's parents, Brandon and Kelly, began to notice changes in Macy's behavior, eating habits, activities of daily living. A little time went by and she got sicker and sicker.

Macy was diagnosed with Pediatric Nephrotic Syndrome. I've heard it told that the lucky ones grow out of this illness as they grow older. But right now? Well, right now Macy is living every parent's nightmare.

Since our house flooded we have been staying with Macy's Aunt Linda (aka Aunti LaLa) and Uncle Mark. I've seen the devastation and drop-dead-tiredness of 2 parents who not only have Macy, but a rambunctious 2-year-old, Max. Macy has been admitted to the hospital three times since we've beens staying with Mark and Linda, twice in Denver, once in Colorado Springs. Her little body is swollen from the effects of the massive doses of steroids she has been given over quite a long period of time. She is moody, withdrawn, tired and oppressed by this disease. Now she has begun an 8-12 week cycle of Cytoxen, a chemotherapy drug that will literally crush her white cells, so she can't go to preschool, have children over to play, go to church, etc., etc., etc. After the first dose of this med, she became quite ill and is now on her third admission to the hospital. I don't know the reason for this relapse, whether it be the Cytoxen or something else. She has a pic line in place to administer her meds (which once again are huge amounts of steroids).

Brandon and Kelly (aka Mom and Dad) are exhausted. Today Max is with Mark and Linda so that Mom and Dad can be with Macy in Denver. I can't imagine what this family feels on a day-to-day basis. I hope I am not speaking out of turn, but I would seriously be afraid of the unknown.

God bless Mark and Linda for their servitude towards this family, their family. They treat these 2 children as if they were their own. When I look at Mark and Linda, I see "Jesus with skin on", as our once pastor, Mike Worley of the Gathering refers to those of us who are Christ-followers.

Please pray for this family. Please pray for Macy Grace. This little child of God is suffering; I don't know why she is suffering, but she is suffering. In all my years of nursing, I've never seen anything like it! Of course, we are praying for a miraculous healing, but if God chooses not to do that, we are praying in other directions. Please join us.

Thank you,

Hazel