Lessons from Kylee by Sharon Heagy

 Kylee was born September 13, 2004.  A precocious little girl with a vivacious personality. She was full of life, had an easy smile and contagious laughter. As the only kids in our small congregation, she and her older brother brought a breath of fresh air through the church whenever they came through the door. They were adored by one and all.

In February of 2007 Kylee complained of severe pain in her leg so her Grandpa and Mom whisked her away to the hospital in the city. X-rays showed green stick fractures. Her whole leg was adorned with a bright pink cast which she loved to show off. But the pain didn’t get better. She was admitted to hospital on April 5. Upon further investigation the doctors gave the family some dire news for which they were unprepared. Is anyone ever prepared? This beautiful little girl was diagnosed on Sunday, April 8 – Easter Sunday - with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and the poking, prodding and treatments began. Though some of the things she went through added to her pain, whatever the medical staff did to her, she always looked at them and said, “Sanks”, knowing they were trying to help. She was brave and courageous. 

The family, the church and the community began to pray in earnest for healing and Kylee herself always said she would be “growing up for Jesus.” She was responding well to the treatment and everyone was full of hope. The community banded together and held a fundraiser to help with travel and other expenses.  There was almost a celebratory atmosphere as it looked like Kylee was going to beat this horrific disease. 

On the fifth of May, less than a month after her diagnosis, as her mom held her in her arms, Kylee suddenly stopped breathing. The ambulance was dispatched and, with Kylee and her mom on board, they raced for Regina as the paramedics desperately tried to revive this precious girl. Dad sped along behind in his pickup. In the middle of nowhere they stopped along the highway. Kylee had passed away. Mom and Dad tearfully held their baby close one last time, clutching her and each other.

The autopsy showed no cancer anywhere in her little body. Was it the treatment? Was it something else? The report was inconclusive. 

The family, the church, and the community were in shock. Grief lay heavy like a dense fog. The church went through a crisis of faith and a shaking that was deep. We were all perplexed and numb, left with only whys that would never be answered. “The Lord gave, and the Lord has …taken away?” (Job 1:21 NIV Question marks mine – then and now) “may the name of the Lord be praised?”  We all struggled between anger, doubt and trust. Yet to whom could we turn if not the Lord. “Our strong tower.” “The lifter of our head.” (Proverbs 18-10, Psalm 3:3) The One who loves us beyond our imagining and who sacrificed his own Son for us. Yet the battle was real.

A request came for me to write and deliver the eulogy. Where would I find the words? Where would they come from? What could I say about such a short life? Two and a half years. But come they did. Through the dryness, through the numbness. They came through tears, they came as a result of Kylee’s strength and bravery, which I know now was given to her by God. An answer to prayers. And I got to the place where, like Kylee, I could say to the Lord, “Sanks.” 

But I still had to get up on the platform and deliver it. The morning of the funeral came and I experienced something that left my mind stunned but my heart full. During prayer I had a vision. It was clear and vivid and alive. Kylee holding the hand of Jesus, walking away from me. They stopped. She turned her head and looked at me and asked me, “Are you going to talk about me today?” All I could do was nod. Then she replied in her own sweet voice, “Sanks.” 

God was always there through it all. Carrying us when we were too weak to walk, too weak to write. The service was full of praise, of hope and of love. Were people still struggling? Yes. But what a witness as we all leaned into Him, especially to those in attendance who had never met Jesus. 

We have no more answers than we did then but rather than destroying our faith through the storm, we were strengthened and learned many lessons, especially about God and His sovereignty, love, grace and mercy.  Soli Deo gloria.

Thanks for visiting today and God bless.

 

 Sharon Heagy writes from the wonderful town of Rockglen, Saskatchewan, where she lives with her husband, a big dog and furry cats. She writes to bring hope and humour to a world that needs both. She can be reached at sharonheagy@gmail.com