That begin our 10 month long journey. She was diagnosed, officially, on October 13, 2010, with a malignant soft tissue sarcoma attached to the bone in the upper right corner of her left eye. She went through 40 weeks of chemo - with a 5 week stint of radiation at MD Anderson's Proton Center in the middle - going inpatient every 3 weeks with outpatient chemo in between. Soon after her 5th birthday (in early July), we received word on August 23, 2011 (her 2nd day of Kindergarten) that all was clear from her end of treatment scans. She is in remission and we are praying she will stay that way!
We have witnessed multiple miracles throughout this process, including Sophia's overall health. She certainly felt yucky a lot with the chemo and lost nearly 9 lbs. during the first 12 weeks, but she only had one emergency admittance for a fever and not one of us - from my husband, myself or our older daughter Natalie, 7, even caught a whiff of a cold!
But the real miracle has been the outpouring of love we received and continue to receive. From the cards and coloring books sent, to the meals made and hand delivered twice a week for the first 3 months, to all the support we've had through prayer. It has been an incredible time to watch The Lord touch people's hearts with Sophia's story. She is so strong, so brave and so sweet. While I don't wish this on anyone else, we are not sorry we've gone through it. It has brought us closer to The Lord, each other and our community.
It has taught us in no uncertain and very real terms what Jesus' love really looks like.
If you want to know more about how to support our Team Sophia Foundation - check out her FaceBook page or connect to our online store (both links on the left of this page). 100% of the money raised or donated goes back into supporting organizations that provide comfort and care to families in treatment. Just our way of paying Jesus' love forward because we have received so much.
Here is a recent addition to the Team Sophia page, a news story one of our local Houston stations did on her transition to school and the support we've received through Texas Children's! It is a great piece, enjoy!
http://www.khou.com/community/Whats-Right-Texas-Childrens-helps-young-survivors-transition-back-to-school-128844228.html
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.(Luke 6:38)
