Amanda Blake
Can you imagine what Christmas morning must be like in Heaven? After spending 15 Christmases with her family, Amanda Blake will spend this Christmas in Heaven in the presence of the very reason we are celebrating here on earth. As we are bowing our heads in Christmas services and focusing our hearts on the manger with thankfulness that God came to earth in the form of a baby, Amanda will be bowing her knee and focusing her gaze on the One we honor.
It is no coincidence that Amanda is our December CBC child. It was Christmas time a year ago when Amanda began to struggle with knee pain. Her father took her to the pediatrician which lead to x-rays and an MRI being ordered. On Christmas Eve, while many of us were celebrating and singing Christmas carols, Amanda was being lulled by the incessant humming of an MRI machine. The day after Christmas, while others were enjoying the gifts they had received, Amanda and her family were receiving news they never could have imagined.....Amanda had cancer.
The news shook the Blake family of four. Amanda's father, who was a hard working single parent, was forced to leave his full time job and become and full time caregiver as he helped his daughter battle for her life. Amanda's two brothers, Dylan 11 and David 14, rallied to support her in her fight.
Before diagnosis, Amanda was an honor student at Coral Springs High School where she was involved in music and theater. However, she didn't audition or sign up for the role she was about to enter when she was diagnosed at age 15 with an aggressive form of bone cancer called Osteosarcoma. By January, Amanda was being treated aggressively at Miami Children's Hospital with chemotherapy. In April, after realizing the cancer did not respond to the chemotherapy, Amanda underwent knee replacement surgery only to discover soon after that the cancer had spread to her lungs. Again, the battle began and she was flown to MD Anderson in Houston for further treatment options.
On November 1st, 2009, just before her 16th birthday, Amanda's battle with cancer ended and she went to be with the Lord. Throughout the batttle, Amanda always had a smile and tried to encourage others. Although her family misses her sorely and her presence will never truly leave them, they know she is free from the pain and the battle and they want to allow her to still encourage others through the power of sharing her story.
We share Amanda's story with you at this time of year as a reminder of what these children and their families are battling as they face the chemotherapy, blood tests, scans and results that change their lives forever. Unfortunately, Amanda's story is not rare. This is happening at alarming rates. Children and battling cancer and this is what the families are facing. Please pray for these families. Please consider how you can help and support these families through these very difficult times. If you would like to directly support the Blake family please contact us at info@childrenbattlingcancer.com.