What does bravery really mean? Is it the bravery to hold on when you know the end is close and the battle you fought so hard is lost, or is it the capacity to face terrifying things?
For a sixteen-year-old girl, bravery meant standing by her father, who never wavered even under the most trying circumstances.
A man by the name of Tom Mitchell told the following tale.
This loving father remembered his daughter complaining that she didn’t feel well and requesting to be taken to the doctor because she thought she had a sinus infection.
Yes, sweetie, I’ll come get you tomorrow after school. If you’d like, we can have supper together afterward,” he replied.
The next day, the two did enjoy dinner together, but it was not at their preferred eatery. Rather, kids were having difficulty swallowing the food at Fairfax Hospital’s pediatric oncology unit. These father and daughter would have more than 450 meals there together, not to mention the hundreds more in the years that followed.
Instead of a sinus infection, his daughter had a massive tumor that had gone to her lungs and collapsed one.
It was a genuine struggle. Even though they knew it wouldn’t be simple, they were committed to fighting as a team.
Hodgkin’s illness, stage four, was Shayla’s diagnosis.
Tom tried to convey to them what it meant to be brave and withstand the trials and problems life placed in front of them by purchasing two sterling silver “feather” bracelets and placing one on each of their wrists.
Then he made three promises: he would stay at the hospital every night until Shayla was cancer-free; he would wear the bracelet until then; and he would persevere as long as she did.
Shayla’s cancer struggle dragged on for years, during which she had blood transfusions, chemotherapy, radiation, painkillers, and more medication. Her body could not take all of this, and as a result, her heart grew weak and a defibrillator had to be quickly implanted within her chest.
Shayla was getting ready for chemotherapy one day when she started screaming, “Help me, Dad! I’m shocked by it! ..I’m shocked by it.
Tom continued his explanation of what had occurred. I drew her in and gave her my strongest embrace. It almost blew her out of my arms and stunned her once more. But I resisted letting go. That’s exactly how I hugged her, fiercely as I could. As swiftly as it had begun, it stopped startling her, and we hurried to the hospital.
As it turned out, the device’s maker had to recall thousands of them because they were malfunctioning, and Shayla’s chest contained one of them.
More chemotherapy sessions, blood transfusions, a botched bone marrow transplant, and more uncomfortable sleepless nights ensued. But until the very last, Shayla never once considered giving up.
“How in the world was I meant to talk to my sweet kid about this? How would I ever have the courage to tell my daughter that she was going to die? There’s a quote I once heard that kind of captures my thoughts. “Can a guy who is terrified still be brave? He can only be bold at that moment. I had to have courage for HER! Of course, I did have that talk with her, and despite how unbelievable it may sound, it ended up being the most incredible, lovely, magical, and fantastic conversation I have ever had in my life. I sincerely pray you never, ever have to have it. Tom gave a portion.
“Dad, am I still brave?,” she murmured in his ear.
Then he met her gaze directly and saw into her soul. He was aware that she was beyond tired of battling and that it was becoming impossible for her, but he suddenly came to a chilling realization. She exhibited bravery for him rather than for herself.
Shayla tragically passed away a few days later, but her father will always remember her bravery and strength.
Shayla, rest in peace.
Kindly TAG your loved ones in this heartwarming tale on Facebook.
Martha Stewart’s perfect response for haters who say she should dress her age
The legendary businesswoman Martha Stewart, known for her exquisite home décor and culinary prowess, is making news once more.
But it’s not for her newest dish or do-it-yourself project this time.
Stewart, who is eighty-two, is embracing her individuality and rejecting ageist preconceptions, especially when it comes to her style choices.
Stewart was asked recently about how she approaches dressing for her age while she was in New York City for the Fashion Group International Night of Stars event. Stewart dismissively answered the question of “dressing for one’s age” when it was posed, asking, “Dressing for whose age?” as reported by the Huffington Post.
For all women, Stewart’s defiance of age-related fashion standards is an inspiration. She asserts loudly that she doesn’t take age into account when making dress decisions, saying, “I don’t think about age.” I believe that as people get older, they get more and more amazing, and I salute each and every one of them, according to Page 6.
She declares with pride, “I’ve dressed the same since I was 17,” demonstrating her confidence.
Stewart has been causing a stir on social media with her daring dress choices in addition to her red carpet appearances. From taking pictures by the pool to becoming the oldest model to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in history, Stewart celebrates her sexuality and individuality with unwavering courage.
In an open interview, Stewart highlighted how happy she was to be acknowledged as a sex icon at her age and how it could serve as an inspiration to others. She said, “I’m a teacher,” according to the Huffington Post. “I want to show people that having a great appearance is possible.” There’s no justification for moping around.
Stewart kept her usual sense of humor and spontaneity when questioned about her future intentions to share “thirst traps” on social media. Stewart’s lighthearted approach to life is charming and inspirational, whether he’s laughing about taking a picture with a polar bear in Greenland or just letting things happen.
Leave a Reply