Hey Everyone!
As some of you know, Dafne is one of our very special Warriors. I had the pleasure of visiting her last Christmas, and her smile lit up the room so beautifully that it was like an early Christmas gift to everyone there. This is the month of Dafne’s 9th birthday, and we couldn’t let it go uncelebrated by The Paxton Andrews Foundation!
Paxton’s Momma set out on a shopping mission to find the perfect gifts for Dafne, and we conspired with Ssmarty Cakes to bring the party to her hospital room. In a ridiculous rainstorm, Mare and I set out to get the party started!
When we arrived at the HOT Unit, one of Dafne’s nurses came out from the nurses’ station and told us that Dafne had been looking forward to this all week. She awoke up at 6:00am, asking when we would arrive. When we walked toward her room, she was sitting at a little table with some of the other kids on the unit, working on an art project. (One which they were working on to play a prank on one of their doctors. They are so awesome.) When she saw us walk in, she jumped up from the table and said, “Wait just a sec! I have to get back into my room!” She grabbed her I.V./monitoring rig and, like a flash, she cruised into her room.
When we arrived at the door, she was back in her bed with eyes shut tight. When we exclaimed, “Open them!” She took one look at her birthday cake and lit up like a fire cracker. It was a beautiful sight. Mom Maria was wide eyed and smiling. It was an awesome moment for all of us. Next came the presents from Danna, all wrapped up in a Hello Kitty bag. (Daphne was rocking some Hello Kitty pajamas that morning, and Mare and I looked at each other and chuckled. Perfect choice.) She loved her gifts, especially, and very specifically, the Burt’s Bees lip balm. For you guys that know Danna, this was pretty awesome.
After gifts were opened and the cake was cut, Daphne and Mare left the room to hunt for plates and share cake with some of her friends. Maria and I had a chance to talk about Dafne and for me to get an update on treatment. It wasn’t long into the conversation that we were both in tears. Cancer is a scary thing. Cancer inside your child is a gut wrenching, paralyzing, inexplicable fear. Then, Maria shared with me that Dafne consoles other kids in the unit whenever they’re scared (especially before a surgery) by telling them that she has angel named Paxton, and that he will watch over them too. So many kids in the unit talk about their angel, Paxton. I was told that there are parents that have said that they silently ask him to watch over their children while they wait for surgery to finish. Paxton’s spirit is strong in these kids. Maria and I could not control our tears as we talked. It was a moment I’ll never forget.
After more cake, more laughs, and lots of talk about the book Diary of a Wimpy Kid and the one and only Justin Bieber, it was time to go with big hugs and a promise to return soon. Every visit with Dafne is a joy, but it’s joy mixed with fear so strong that every part of us aches. She is starting another round of chemo, and we are hoping that she responds well. Please keep Dafne in your thoughts. Send her prayers and positive energy.
Think of all the other kids, as funny and vivacious as Dafne, fighting cancer. Today they are pulling pranks on their doctors. Tomorrow, some of them will have surgery (probably one of many). Some of them will have chemo drugs pumped into their little bodies. Some of them won’t have another birthday. This is the reality. This is why we have to fight harder to find a cure for cancer.
We need more birthdays.
Please consider a donation today. Please help these kids.
