This year we have watched as there have been many that we know battle ailments of different kinds, including cancer. As the holiday season drew near and what to do for our service gift was in our minds, Christian Hernandez who Heath teaches and coaches track with at Provo let him know that his daughter was just diagnosed with cancer. His daughter, Gali, is 3 years old. They have a 6 month old daughter, Ariel, Gali, and a 5 year old son, Ezra. Our hearts broke for this sweet little girl whose life and health just changed drastically, and imagined Brooklin getting that diagnosis when she was 3 since our 3 kids would have been about the same age difference. He described the treatments that she would have to be going through, and we wanted to give them some extra Christmas cheer with presents that gave them some fun things to do as they spent time in hospitals and separated from each other.
We went to Target and the girls helped us pick out things for the kids. It was a sweet shopping trip as the girls picked up very specific things for each of the kids and describing how it might help Gali feel more comfortable as she was in the hospital, or Ezra to keep his mind off of his sister and parents being away from him, or to help the baby Ariel feel happy. They were precious in helping to pick these presents for them, especially trying to find soft, comfortable things for Gali to have while she was sick. We went home and the girls were anxious to help wrap the presents for the kids, each in their own specific wrapping paper just like we do with their presents at our house. We also got a dinner gift card for Christian and his wife, Olivia, to hopefully allow them time together during all these tough times.
After this year of spending much time on our knees praying for healing of friends and family, especially in these last few months, we felt grateful to remind us of the blessing of health and healing that we’ve experienced as we spent time giving to this family that will be pleading and praying for the same. Heath delivered the gift basket to Christian at work - he was surprised and grateful.
Thank you for your constant example of service to others. We are always watching you look for ways to serve us and others around you, and we are grateful for this specific opportunity each year to go out of our way to find a specific, close way for our family to serve. We are grateful for the Savior, who came to take away all the pain that is experienced during difficult times like this, and a Heavenly Father to whom we know we can pray to help us and others through difficult challenges as well.
