What does bravery really mean? Is it the bravery to hold on when you know the end is close and the battle you fought so hard is lost, or is it the capacity to face terrifying things?
For a sixteen-year-old girl, bravery meant standing by her father, who never wavered even under the most trying circumstances.
A man by the name of Tom Mitchell told the following tale.
This loving father remembered his daughter complaining that she didn’t feel well and requesting to be taken to the doctor because she thought she had a sinus infection.
Yes, sweetie, I’ll come get you tomorrow after school. If you’d like, we can have supper together afterward,” he replied.
The next day, the two did enjoy dinner together, but it was not at their preferred eatery. Rather, kids were having difficulty swallowing the food at Fairfax Hospital’s pediatric oncology unit. These father and daughter would have more than 450 meals there together, not to mention the hundreds more in the years that followed.
Instead of a sinus infection, his daughter had a massive tumor that had gone to her lungs and collapsed one.
It was a genuine struggle. Even though they knew it wouldn’t be simple, they were committed to fighting as a team.
Hodgkin’s illness, stage four, was Shayla’s diagnosis.
Tom tried to convey to them what it meant to be brave and withstand the trials and problems life placed in front of them by purchasing two sterling silver “feather” bracelets and placing one on each of their wrists.
Then he made three promises: he would stay at the hospital every night until Shayla was cancer-free; he would wear the bracelet until then; and he would persevere as long as she did.
Shayla’s cancer struggle dragged on for years, during which she had blood transfusions, chemotherapy, radiation, painkillers, and more medication. Her body could not take all of this, and as a result, her heart grew weak and a defibrillator had to be quickly implanted within her chest.
Shayla was getting ready for chemotherapy one day when she started screaming, “Help me, Dad! I’m shocked by it! ..I’m shocked by it.
Tom continued his explanation of what had occurred. I drew her in and gave her my strongest embrace. It almost blew her out of my arms and stunned her once more. But I resisted letting go. That’s exactly how I hugged her, fiercely as I could. As swiftly as it had begun, it stopped startling her, and we hurried to the hospital.
As it turned out, the device’s maker had to recall thousands of them because they were malfunctioning, and Shayla’s chest contained one of them.
More chemotherapy sessions, blood transfusions, a botched bone marrow transplant, and more uncomfortable sleepless nights ensued. But until the very last, Shayla never once considered giving up.
“How in the world was I meant to talk to my sweet kid about this? How would I ever have the courage to tell my daughter that she was going to die? There’s a quote I once heard that kind of captures my thoughts. “Can a guy who is terrified still be brave? He can only be bold at that moment. I had to have courage for HER! Of course, I did have that talk with her, and despite how unbelievable it may sound, it ended up being the most incredible, lovely, magical, and fantastic conversation I have ever had in my life. I sincerely pray you never, ever have to have it. Tom gave a portion.
“Dad, am I still brave?,” she murmured in his ear.
Then he met her gaze directly and saw into her soul. He was aware that she was beyond tired of battling and that it was becoming impossible for her, but he suddenly came to a chilling realization. She exhibited bravery for him rather than for herself.
Shayla tragically passed away a few days later, but her father will always remember her bravery and strength.
Shayla, rest in peace.
Kindly TAG your loved ones in this heartwarming tale on Facebook.
A woman died in a head-on collision, but when they checked her phone and saw her Facebook page, they were speechless.
Police said a woman died in a head-on collision on a US highway right after updating her Facebook status and posting selfies.
The 32-year-old, Courtney Sanford, posted on her Facebook page at 8:33 on Thursday morning, saying, “The happy song makes me so HAPPY.” Police were called about the crash at 8:34 that same morning.
According to the officers, Ms. Sanford was driving alone when her car crossed the center line, crashed into a recycling truck, and caught fire. The collision caused the truck to be pushed off the road.
She was driving on Interstate 85 in North Carolina on her way to work. The police said there was no evidence that her speed, drug use, or alcohol was a factor in the crash.
The Facebook link wasn’t revealed until this past weekend, when her friends told the police that several of her online posts seemed to have been made around the same time as the accident.
Lt. Chris Weisner from the High Point Police Department said the crash was a real-life example of what happens when you text and drive, as reported by WGHP TV.
Lt. Weisner explained that Ms. Sanford had been taking selfies on the highway and updating her social media just before the crash.
He said, “In just a few seconds, a life was lost so she could tell her friends she was happy. It’s really not worth it.”
He added that, while it’s sad, it’s a serious reminder for everyone to stay focused while driving.
John Wallace Thompson, 73, was driving the truck involved in the crash and was not injured.
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