Sarah. But that’s not really important. [“He must become greater; I must become less.” – John 3:30] I’m the one whose jumbled thoughts you will be reading as I try to articulate what it means to follow Jesus by loving on families facing childhood cancer or other life-altering illnesses.
With that said, welcome to the Break the Grey blog!
What is Break the Grey, exactly?
Technically speaking, it is a ministry that exists to share the love and hope of Jesus Christ by serving, supporting, and encouraging families facing childhood cancer or other life-altering illnesses. That’s our mission statement: the guiding principles behind what we do what we do.
It’s come a long way.
Break the Grey was started in 2005 as a response, of sorts.
When I first learned that the words “childhood” and “cancer” occur in the same sentence together, I was fifteen years old. Now, roughly six years later, the thought still sickens me.
Even though I’ve never had cancer, I got a slight glimpse of what these kids go through every day during my own journey. (And yes, I do mean slight. It would ignorant and disrespectful of me to claim to know exactly what they and their families are enduring.)
My journey has afforded me the great privilege of meeting some of these most courageous families and their precious children.
Growing up, all of my transplant care (pre- and post-) was coordinated Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville, KY. There, the children’s kidney unit shares the 7th floor with the children’s cancer care center. It was there that I first encountered the reality of childhood cancer, and it has haunted me ever since. I cannot forget the kids I met.
I played with them. I had pizza parties in their rooms. I felt guilty for having long hair. I talked and listened to their parents. I shared my McDonald’s with them.
When my post-transplant care transitioned to mostly outpatient, I thought I had left all of that behind. But then I was diagnosed with an immune system defect and returned to the 7th floor yet again to receive treatments alongside these most amazing warriors.
I was reminded of the fact that I can’t go back.
I can’t pretend that childhood cancer doesn’t exist.
I can’t not do something about it.
Sara Groves puts exact words to my passion:
“I saw what I saw and I can't forget it
I heard what I heard and I can't go back
I know what I know and I can't deny it
I heard what I heard and I can't go back
I know what I know and I can't deny it
Something on the road cut me to the soul
Your pain has changed me
Your dream inspires
Your face a memory
Your hope a fire
Your courage asks me what I'm afraid of
And what I know of love
Your dream inspires
Your face a memory
Your hope a fire
Your courage asks me what I'm afraid of
And what I know of love
We've done what we've done and we can't erase it
We are what we are and it's more than enough
We have what we have but it's no substitution
We are what we are and it's more than enough
We have what we have but it's no substitution
Something on the road cut me to the soul
I say what I say with no hesitation
I have what I have but I'm giving it up
I do what I do with deep conviction
I have what I have but I'm giving it up
I do what I do with deep conviction
Something on the road cut me to the soul
Your courage asks me what I’m afraid of
Your courage asks me what I am made of
Your courage asks me what I’m afraid of
And what I know of love
And what I know of God”
Your courage asks me what I am made of
Your courage asks me what I’m afraid of
And what I know of love
And what I know of God”
- “I Saw What I Saw,” Sara Groves
What began as a response has now turned into a crusade of sorts. And not just for kids with cancer.
Growing up as a terminally ill child, undergoing a kidney transplant at age eleven, and being diagnosed with a rare immune system defect five years later at age seventeen has taught me that childhood cancer isn’t the only disease that devastates families. There are, unfortunately, way too many to name, each with their own life-altering symptoms, treatments, side effects, and protocols.
And for each precious child affected by a life-altering illness, there is a beautiful family. Dads, moms, brothers, sisters, and extended family, each with their own unique and specific physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs.
That’s what Break the Grey wants to call awareness to. Those are the broken pieces we seek to mend.
And with those pieces, we seek to facilitate a mosaic through which the love and hope of Jesus the Christ can shine – brighter than any darkness.
Welcome to Break the Grey. Welcome to the journey.
There is hope. There is rescue. Speak out. Raise awareness. Do something. Keep fighting for the cure. And never, ever give up hope.
Hoping, Believing, and Never Giving up,
Sarah
