Faith and Sacraments

I have a strong faith. I was raised Catholic and as many of you know, went to Catholic school from kinder to the end of high school. I was a lapsed Catholic and four years ago felt a strong need to reconnect with my faith and to have a strong faith-based community around us. I guess we were being prepared for this moment.

Our kids go to Catholic school and the kindness and love we have received from teachers, administrators and families there over the last two weeks has been so touching. They've filled up the meal train so quickly, sent gifts and cards and positive messages. They are loving and supporting Abby during this tough time and it makes my heart sing. Each and every one lifts us up and makes us feel loved and so grateful for the village we have helping us to raise our children. 

I have been helping with the youth ministry a bit over the last 3 years with our amazing youth minister. Abby is preparing for confirmation in February and Ollie has been preparing for First Communion in April, but we'll now have to postpone that Sacrament until next year. He did get a Sacrament this week, though...

Our priest has been aware of the seriousness of our situation for weeks and was praying at my request. Last week we put Ollie on the prayer intentions list so everyone could pray for him. Abby and I were at mass with friends last Sunday and none of our eyes were dry when they read his name. They're also saying a mass for him tomorrow at St. George. 

Our priest also offered to come and give him the Sacrament of the Sick before chemo starts and to my surprise, Mario (who believes, but is not super religious) immediately said yes that everything helps. We explained to Ollie and he agreed that it was okay to do the Sacrament. 

Monsignor Hans came to our house last night and all four of us sat at the dining room table where he had set up a tiny altar. The blessing is like a mini special mass. Monsignor knows our kids from school and church and was extremely gentle in explaining to them what everything meant and what each part and symbol represented. He explained that it is a very special blessing and the ultimate fulfillment of baptism and is very special because most of us never have that Sacrament, so now Ollie will have more than most other people as he grows up. The kids were so reverent. Abby and I were a bit teary by the end after we all prayed the Our Father together. There is comfort in faith and ritual and knowing that God's special blessing has been given to my boy. It's certainly not the Sacrament we expected him to get this year, but I am glad he had it. 

When the kids departed Monsignor stayed and asked us many questions about the diagnosis and treatment. He told us that based on his experience ministering to families like ours, the road will be long and hard and we will feel darkness at times, but we must remember that He is with us and the entire Parish is praying for us. He left promising to visit Ollie in the hospital. Over the last four years I have come to know our priest a bit better. He is a stoic German with strong views on the Church, but he knows the importance of creating a strong community, is so very kind and always there when you need him. 

While I am Catholic, I have friends of all faiths praying to their higher power for Ollie. Others have told me they don't pray but are sending positive vibes or lightness his way. It all helps to build our faith in God's goodness and that our boy will get through this and be well. 

Apologies for the long post, but one more important thing happened today that I believe is related. We were waiting in the Medical Day Unit (where Oncology is located) for the next part of his day to prep for his PICC line insertion and for them to inject the first chemo into his spine to keep the nasty lymphoma out of there for sure. As we waited, Molly the clown was there and could see our stress and just kept giving us winks and high fives. At this time a little boy about a year older than Ollie ran over to Molly to high five her and exclaimed excitedly that it was his turn to ring the bell today. 

I explained to Ollie that kids that are brave warriors and beat cancer have a special ceremony at the end to ring the bell and have everyone cheer. A bit later when we were rolling him to the OR, there was a massive joyous crowd of family and CHEO staff around the bell with the beaming boy waiting to ring it. Everyone was cheering including us and Ollie said he's going to get to ring the bell too when he's done chemo. 

There are signs of hope everywhere.

Ollie with "Mr. Llama Llama Blue Pajamas" that his sister bought him so that he knows she is with us.