Too young

Today's sandwich is in a ziploc bag with the notation "11–13 min". There's nothing particularly noteworthy about the sandwich: wheat bread, pepperoni, two slices of American cheese, margarine. I'm hoping this is a recycled bag, and that nothing untoward will happen in a few minutes.

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My mind keeps drifting, thinking about Andrew Sleeth. He's an eleven-year-old with a ready grin who, like Hannah, studies piano with Linda Auser. We missed him at the recital last Saturday: he is University Hospital now, fighting leukemia. He's been through several rounds of chemotherapy, preparing him for a bone marrow transplant from his younger sister. Yesterday was particularly tough, and now he's in the pediatric ICU to stabilize his body temperature and blood pressure, and to deal with a fungal infection.

I've visited Upstate's pediatric ICU a number of times over the years, mostly doing remote broadcasts for the Children's Miracle Network. The doctors and nurses work so hard to make it a light and pleasant place, yet I come away feeling a dark chill that says, "these kids are much too young for this."

Andrew's family knows better — more important, they know that his health is in the hands of a faithful and powerful God. Their faith shines through the online journal as they make their way through the tough days.