Echoes.

I wrote a bit ago about Layla Grace and how she has touched my heart. 
The amazing thing to me is not that she could, really, but that so many people feel the same way.
Following tweets regarding her lead you through big names like Kevin Smith, Ryan Seacrest, Jenny McCarthy and Lance Armstrong.
Amazing.

Amazing the power of this electronic world, that between blogs and tweets and facebook news of Layla has spread around the world.

Being a parent means that you want the absolute best for your children.  You want to leave a legacy for them to remember.  You want them to remain in good health.  You want every happiness for them. 

In this case, it’s Layla that’s leaving a legacy.  Layla that will look down and wish her parents and sisters every happiness.

Her mom has said on her blog many times that Layla has accomplished so much in her short life - that obviously God had a plan for her.  
And she’s right. 
Because there are other people out there like me, people that find themselves waking up in the middle of the night to check twitter for updates.  People with prayers on their lips and in their hearts.  Even non-believers with fingers crossed and hopes and well wishes.

Before I never knew anything about childhood cancer.   Now I know that there are strange names and strange cancers that I’ve never heard of whose victims make up such a small part of the cancer community.
But small isn’t less important.   In any way.
These are cancers with small cure rates and long memories.
Small amounts of press and large amounts of suffered. 
How many of you have walked a 5k in honor of Neuroblastoma recently?  Exactly.

In the past few months I’ve read blogs and news articles and science bits and learned more than I ever wanted to know about the things that can twist and warp inside our bodies.

I’ve learned to value myself and my health more – a blessing I’ve been given that I take for granted.
And I’ve been growing this knot inside of me that says that my life needs to mean more.

You see?
Layla’s even leaving a legacy to me.  A total stranger.  A friend of a friend.
My life has changed for the better simply because she has existed.
I love her for that. 
And wish like hell there was something I could do to make this easier on her family.  But especially on her.

God bless her sweet little heart.