There are moments in life you don’t forget, even when you wish you could.

Like hearing the words “Your daughter has cancer.” And suddenly, the world didn’t spin the same way anymore.

I had always believed in God. But believing in God on a sunny morning is different from believing in Him in a hospital hallway where your child is crying and you can’t do anything but hold on.

Chemo started the day after her diagnosis. She was so small, too small for words like oncology, infusion and anesthesiology. Her legs laid out on the bed. Her fingers curled around mine like she was afraid I might disappear — as if I wasn’t the one terrified of losing her.

People talk about strength like it’s something you build. But when you’re a mother or father watching your child fight cancer, strength becomes something God hands you because there is no other way to survive the day.

Her hair fell in soft little strands on my hands. Her eyebrows thinned until her expressions looked softer, quieter, like the world had taken something from her that she wasn’t ready to give away.

But every day and morning, she fought. She has fought with our tremendous army by her side. And, she continues to fight as she battled an emergency department visit last week.

Kinsley’s strength is a true testament that cancer does not define you.

Our hearts and prayers are with everyone touched by cancer, not only on this day, but every day!

Xoxo