Yesterday was a day that will forever be burned into my memory. It was the day that I spoke to an audience of over 1,500 people; the day that I shared my heart and passion not just for my sons with hemophilia, not just for the hemophiliacs infected with HIV during the 1980’s, but it was the day I spoke out for all the individuals living with chronic illness.
When I walked on to the round, red TED carpet I felt empowered. Not sure of who was in the audience, all I could do was pray that at least one person heard my message of hope and took it to heart. I wanted to reach all of those moms who watch their children suffer. I wanted the caregivers who give completely of themselves to know that they are not alone. I wanted those who worked in the hospital/homecare setting to know that they are appreciated beyond measure.
The response was beyond my wildest dreams. When people stood and clapped at the end of my talk, it was as if all of those nights in the hospital, the ice packs, the pain medications, the missed vacations, lifting the wheelchair in and out of the car all came to this moment. The moment where I could put it all together and share that it mattered.
The beauty of a TED event is that it’s not just about the talk on stage, but the conversations that are had between sessions, at lunch, over a good beer at the after party. I was so blessed to engage in conversations with people who were caregivers, hospice nurses and even those who were afflicted with a chronic illness. The conversations were absolutely amazing.
As the day came to a close I had a fantastic meal with my husband, I started to cry and said, “This day would never have happened if my Caeleb (aka Christian) had not suffered so much!” My husband said, “But Cazandra, God has redeemed it all.”
Yes, dear husband, you are right. We will pass through the waters again and they will not sweep over us. We will walk through the fire again and not be burned. I know this because God has never left us
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“But now, this is what the Lord says he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Isaiah 43:1-7 (NIV)
Today I Am Thankful For:
- Mountaintop experiences
- An opportunity beyond my wildest dreams
- Excitement for what is to come
- A fantastic Sunday afternoon nap
- Hope
