Sophie was a normal, healthy 2-year-old up until May 18, 2017.
Sophie’s parents, Shelby and Jonathan, thought she might have allergies when she was ill. Two years old is Sophie.
Her respiratory problems led her doctor to suspect asthma. It would not take long, though, to discover just how much worse things really were.
Sophie was scheduled to get an allergy test a few days later.Still, she was unable to take the test.
She stopped breathing one night.
Any parent’s worst nightmare comes true.Shelby and Jonathan rushed to call for an ambulance. In a few minutes, they were on their way to the hospital.
It was only at that point that the physicians realized Sophie’s ailment extended much beyond allergies and asthma.
The doctors discovered a softball-sized tumor in little Sophie’s chest. It had been identified as T-cell lymphoma. Cancer. The young girl was suddenly engaged in a life-or-death struggle.
Sadly, despite receiving intense chemotherapy, her cancer persisted in spreading. The therapy damaged Sophie’s ability to walk, eat, talk, and use her hands.
Sophie’s parents spent several hours at her hospital bedside while the little girl fought for her life.
Mother of Sophie, Beverly, stays by her side always. Shelby was just concerned with Sophie’s care.
She needed a stem cell transplant because of her weak body.
The mother noticed that a particular nurse was straining to remain unseen in this demanding and stressful situation. But Shelby was just watching.
When the nurse’s back was turned, Shelby snapped a photo, which she sent to the Facebook page her parents had created to document Sophie’s illness journey.
Shelby wrote, “I see you,” describing everything she had come across while trying to find her kid.
Mother Shelby writes:
“I watch you. I sit on this couch and I see you all day. You go to such lengths to avoid being seen by me or my child.
I notice the little fall in your face when she sees you, and she bursts into tears. You go out of your way to reassure her and win her over. I observe you hesitate to prod her or take off the bandages. In a given day, you say “no owies” and apologize more than most people say “thank you.”
“I see that you have a lot of rubber wristbands around your stethoscope and on your arms; each one is a symbol of a child you have loved and raised.
I watch you slip the covers snugly under her and stroke her little bald head. I watch you giving consolation to the mother who has just gotten bad news. I see you trying to chart on the computer while carrying the baby whose mother is unable or unwilling to go with her to the hospital.
For twelve hours, you put everything else in your life on hold to care for the sick and dying children. You smile as you walk into every room, no matter what is going on in there. You come check on us even though Sophie isn’t one of your patients because you noticed her name on the schedule.
“You phone the blood bank, pharmacy, and doctor as often as necessary to ensure that my child has the supplies she needs on time. Just as you do for her, you come to see how I’m doing. You sit and listen to me talk for ten minutes, even though your phone is vibrating and your to-do list is a mile long.
“I watch you. You are visible to all. There aren’t enough cards or goodie bags to express our gratitude for you. You are Jesus to us every single day. Our children wouldn’t have what they need without you. Mothers like me would not feel heard or logical without you. We couldn’t have saved our infants without you.
Shelby’s profound remark touched not just the nurses for whom she wrote the essay, but also other parents who witnessed firsthand the value of nurses on the pediatric ward and shared similar stories.
These nurses deal with some of the hardest times in a parent’s life on a regular basis, which makes their profession incredibly difficult.
Sadly, Sophie was never able to survive long enough to thank all of the medical personnel who fought to save her life.
Her body could not handle the severe cancer and all of the treatments because it was too little.
She relapsed again on December 22, 2017, and her family decided to cease her medication. Sophie was done.
Parents On January 4, 2018, after 13 days of cuddling, reading, singing, watching movies, and being adored, Sophie passed away in Shelby and Jonathan’s arms.
“Throughout this entire process, my intention has been to be transparent and truthful, bringing light to the realities of fighting cancer.” While I haven’t concealed the challenging times, I have also been able to draw attention to the incredible things the Lord has done during this time. “I hope to keep doing that as we move on without her,” Shelby declares.
Cancer immediately comes to mind as the worst thing. especially when it goes after children.
To live each day as though it were your last is the lesson to be learned from Sophie’s experience. To treasure as though tomorrows never came.
Her story also highlights the importance of praising the amazing nurses and other hospital staff.
As healers, helpers, playmates, storytellers, counselors, and comforters, they have a profound impact on countless lives; they look after not only their young patients but also their entire family.
They voluntarily participate in a fight that most people would like to avoid. And they do it every day for a series of families after that.
Share parent Shelby’s thoughts to raise awareness of the incredible work that the hospital and nursery staff do.
