Why would God do this to my baby girl?

Why would God do this to my baby?

You may never say this, unless you are the mother of a cute 9 year old who is the of the family.

Bre was diagnosed July 26, 2011 at the age of 9. Mandi, her mom, was told that Bre had a stage IV, high risk tumor, known as a neuroblastoma. This childhood cancer monstor had invaded her elementary size body. They were told that she had a 50% chance of survival.

Her 10th birthday was just one week later.

Here is what her CaringBridge site recorded:

Journal entry by Mandi Ehmer — 8/9/2011

"Well we made it home Thursday the 4th for Bre's birthday! She was doing great until today. She spiked a fever of 103. We drove to the Clinic and they did labs and found her counts were down. But right now that just means the chemo is doing it's job! Right now will probably be here for a couple of days. Keep the prayers coming as she is not happy to be back here."

How about that for a 10th birthday present?

The thought of having her baby girl die scared her mom Mandi to death. The family was thrust into the world of battling a childhood cancer and was now struggling to process the horrible news!

Bre underwent 6 rounds of chemo. That was followed by a stem cell transplant, which kept her hospitalized for 4 consecutive weeks straight. Following the stem cell, she then did 21 rounds of radiation and 7 months of immunotherapy treatments. This treatment has stolen some of her future because the effects of chemo and radiation left her unable to have children of her own.

Here is another look into this little warrior's life from her CaringBridge page. I thought it relevant as this story is being written the day before Thanksgiving:

Journal entry by Mandi Ehmer — 11/14/2011

"Well today has been a Monday!

Brought Bre to the hospital to do a CT scan got here and found out it was with contrast and the day went downhill from there. She hates drinking contrast and last time was such a battle with her! Dr. Goodman came in today knowing Bre was coming in and she and Abby as well as Angie tried hard to get her to drink it. The only other option was an NG tube down her nose into her belly and dr really didn't want to do that either. Well she also needed platelets and they started those, took vitals and Bre had a temp of 101 so she got admitted. "

I was not prepares for an admit so Joel stayed while I went home to pack and bring stuff back.

They had to give Bre benadryl to calm her down she was in such a bad mood. Everything going on she's having a tough time!

Also cause her counts are so low surgery on the tumors in her belly is being cancelled and rescheduled maybe next week which means she might be in ICU for thanksgiving! :(

Please send lots of prayers Bres way!!! And our family. We are all going through such a rough time!

BELIEVE IN BRE!!!"

Journal entry by Mandi Ehmer — 11/23/2011

Bre is out of surgery. Everything went really well they got the 95% of the tumor without any damage to any organs. Possible later to open up the ureter with a stent but not at the moment. Post more later after we see her.

Journal entry by Mandi Ehmer — 11/23/2011

Everyone except Ben and I have left and we are sitting in Bres room with her. She is more coherent then I eve expected. She's telling people what bothers her and how she's feeling, she's asking exactly what they are doing and what they are giving her. We will be glad when the current doctor on the floor is gone at 5 pm because we don't care for her. She scares the crap out of Bre with the way she talked about the epidural in her back and I had to tell her to stop. Bres tried to sleep but she's having bad dreams and is afraid to sleep. Another good (but yet still bad) thing is that she woke up hungry and thirsty!!! What sucks is she can't eat or drink anything at all!

Overall Bre is doing really well!!!! I'm praising God so much right now for holding onto Bre and making sure that she was safe and that she didn't loose her kidney and her ureter and intestines weren't damaged.

It has been a very long day but our entire family has so much to be thankful for today and everyday! We are one more step closer to KICKING CANCER'S BUTT (in the words of Bre!)!!!!

BELIEVE IN BRE!!!! Mommy loves her precious baby girl who shows me everyday why she is my hero!!!

Thousands more words from her journal could be listed, but I believe you can see

how tumultuous Bre's cancer journey was in the beginning. Treatment ended October 1, 2012 and she was declared NED (No Evidence Of Disease) October 19, 2012.

Bre is a teenager now but those gut wrenching days of many unknowns are not far removed and still very real. She is now 4 years NED and has issues with migraines, stomach upset, asthma and restrictive lung disease.

Life has been pretty difficult, even as recent as this past weekend. Bre has been experiencing a lot of pain and although there is no cancer in her scans, you can imagine the stress these recent health issues bring to her and her family. With a compromised immune system, every sickness that she comes in contact with can be an emourmous challenge. She battles anxiety and depression because of what she has had to endure during her young lifetime.

I asked her mom, Mandi, what was the most encouraging aspect about Gilead Ministries. She replied, "Just knowing that people are praying means the world to me. Someone is always checking up on us to see what is going on. I know that prayers work. Bre is already a miracle of that. God has a purpose for her to still be here."

One of the threads that weaves through these stories is the power of others who will take the time to pray, encourage and do practical things to help the family of a child with cancer.

When you support Gilead Ministries, you become part of a team of people whose whole purpose is to make sure this happens on a consistent basis. Your partnership financially assures that Gilead will continue to impact over 3,000 families in 44 states.

But... each of those stories are just as real as Bre's!

Real people. Real struggles. Real needs.

Your commitment today makes hope possible for these people.

Please consider being a part of our year end giving. Often 30-40% of the income received by most non-profit organizations, like Gilead Ministries, comes during the last 6 weeks of the year. Be a part of making a difference in patients lives with your support.

Make your year end donation at our kick-off day, #GivingTuesday, November 29, 2016.