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The bright colors and toys scattered around the hospital playroom were deceptive. The adults who huddled there were doing their best to put on “happy faces,” despite the tears that wouldn’t stop flowing.
Zara’s mother, Collette, had brought Zara to the Children’s Hospital ER in early February with what she thought was an upper respiratory infection. Doctors ran tests that delivered a crushing blow: Zara has acute myeloid leukemia. The family knew how serious the diagnosis was. Collette was a social worker meeting the needs of children and families that were battling this very same battle. Zara’s dad, Marcus, worked in a hospital and was soon to be a registered nurse. It was unimaginable to comprehend how this vibrant little girl who loves to sing and dance is now having to battle cancer. “Why now? Why Zara?” Collette remembers crying. “Please God, she is not even three years old. Her entire life is in front of her…Please. How could this happen to our family?” Zara’s first round of chemo was to start immediately. The doctors had said that Zara would need to remain in the hospital for as long as six months. The stress of this unexpected situation began to take a huge toll on the family. “Where do we turn for help?” Zara’s aunt, Sylvie, remembers thinking. “We need to find someone who has been through this experience to help us better understand what to expect and to stay focused.” Then Sylvie got the idea to call the Rock Church, where she had been worshipping at the 12 PM service for more than four years. The Rock told the family about Rock Cancer C.A.R.E., a new ministry founded by a cancer survivor named Tamela Reed. Its goal is to be the “gap filler” for cancer patients and their families.. Collette and Sylvie first talked to Maria, the Rock Cancer C.A.R.E. intake coordinator. Maria’s role is to find out the needs of patients and their families, and then get the information to the ministry’s leadership team. The Rock Cancer C.A.R.E. leaders quickly connected with their volunteers to help Zara’s family. Volunteers provided home-cooked meals the very first week of Zara’s chemo, and continue to do so on a weekly basis. Other volunteers have been lifting this little girl up in prayer, and visiting and laying hands on her and her family. There have also been very generous volunteers who have provided financial support in different ways. “We never expected Rock Cancer C.A.R.E. to come to our aid so quickly with so many people ready and willing to help.” says Collette. “We feel truly blessed to have met and gotten to know so many wonderful individuals who have truly shown God’s love.” Zara continues to endure chemo treatments, with three more to go. But as long as she and her family need help, Cancer C.A.R.E. will be there to help meet their needs, not only spiritually and emotionally but to also fill the “gaps.” |
Playing in the center of the storm sat Zara, a two-and-a-half-year-old with luminescent eyes and a sweet smile.
The voice on the end of the phone was chipper, alert, and gave the impression of a woman filled with the sparkle of God’s love. I asked her, “Nelly, how can we help you?” As she replied, I could tell she was slightly out of breath and I could hear an echo of footsteps. She said, “Well, I could really use a ride back from my chemo treatments.” I asked her if now was a good time to complete her intake form so we could send out a request to assist her. “Yes! now is good.”
Members of the Rock family often go above and beyond what would be considered “normal” to support the church, its ministries, and the community at large. So when Ryan Oropallo came to the Rock Cancer C.A.R.E. ministry with a unique idea, ministry leaders embraced it as another exciting and surprising blessing.
In Brasil, Ryan trained with Ricardo Vieira, a nine-time winner of the championship, and also a fellow brother in Christ, known for his work with needy children in some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Brasil. At the championship, Ryan faced a long day of competition with Ricardo’s support, and walked away with the gold medal! Ryan believes that he could never have succeeded without supernatural support. “The only sensible explanation is God's blessing. The talent and competition in Brasil is obviously top-notch. An American was not supposed to go to Brasil and win this tournament. To even better show an example of God's power, He didn't allow a single point to be scored against me [during] the whole tournament.”
