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The Child's Prayer For A Normal Day

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By SHERRY TUCKER

Published: September 23, 2007

'Dear God, please help my tummy feel good so I can go to school tomorrow.'

Many parents would be shocked to hear this prayer, thinking they must have misunderstood - a child praying to go to school, wishing only for a normal day?

Unfortunately, a select group of parents knows and understands this prayer all too well. They pray no other parent ever has to hear their child say these words. These parents, just as my husband and I, are living or have lived through the nightmare of pediatric cancer.

I heard my 8-year-old son pray this many times during his 10-month battle with a cancerous brain tumor. His wishes were simple - to feel well enough to play with his friends, to laugh while chasing a soccer ball, have a full head of hair or just to be able to eat a normal meal. Things we took for granted before cancer arrived on our doorstep - and ultimately took our son's life.
Pediatric cancer is the ugly runt of the pack in the cancer world. It seems to be last in line when it comes to handing out government research dollars. The lack of any new drugs or treatment protocols for children facing cancer in the last 20 years is evidence of this.

Perhaps it is because only about 13,000 kids are diagnosed per year, small beans when compared to some of the other cancer types - unless it is your child. Or perhaps pediatric cancer is just too hard to look at because it is so scary. The 'ignore it and it will go away' theory seems to be at work.

It is not going away.

In fact, when you are directly affected, as I have been, it seems like it is popping up everywhere. Each school day, 46 more children will be diagnosed with cancer; unfortunately, there is no way to know if it could be your child. Pediatric cancer does not discriminate.

These innocent victims to this hideous disease are picked without warning. No screening tests or preventative measures are available to give them a chance at dodging the grip of cancer. It just appears, and one day they go from having the carefree normal days of childhood to facing challenges that would make many adults buckle at the knees.

Amazingly, every one of these kids faces the cruel and punishing treatments required to fight the monster living inside them with uncommon courage and grace. Never giving up hope, even when all medical options are gone, that they will live again to see the normal days they once had.

September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month. This is a time to stand up and take notice of these heroes who quietly live among us. There are many organizations that provide funding to help with the quality of life issues pediatric cancer patients face or that provide funding for research specifically for pediatric cancer. Donate your time or money to help. Give these kids hope - give them back their normal days.

Sherry Tucker lives in Valrico with her husband and 13-year-old daughter. Since the death of her son, she and her husband started the Giving Hope Through Faith Foundation, which helps local families affected by cancer by providing them with monthly gift c

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