Miracle Of The Fleas

Eleven days ago Ashtyn had severe full body neuropathy pain from head to toe. Of course the chemotherapy side effect she was experiencing was extremely unusual and had not been seen to that degree before. As Ashtyn cried while sitting on the exam table in clinic, my sister Jen looked at her with helpless tears in her eyes. I was heartbroken too and didn’t know what to do for her. The only thing that came to mind was this. “Ashtyn, I don’t know why you have to go through so much pain. All I can think of is the miracle of the fleas. During WW II there was a women’s concentration camp full of fleas. I wonder if the prisoners called upon God wondering where He was and why they had to deal with fleas in addition to everything else. Later they learned that the guards wouldn’t come in the room where their bunks were because it was infested with fleas. Miserable fleas saved them from torturous rape. I don’t know the future but maybe this neuropathy pain will benefit you in some way.” Almost two weeks later I still don’t have all the answers and I don't suspect I ever will. What I do know is that 2 1/2 days after being admitted to the hospital for pain, Ashtyn had expert eyes on her and immediate skillful care when a fever suddenly spiked and her blood pressure dropped. Nurses and doctors were able to quickly send her to the intensive care unit for the lifesaving medication norepinephrine. I can’t say for sure what would have happened if Ashtyn never had neuropathy pain. I don’t know if she would have gotten sick at the Ronald McDonald House or what would have happened had we not been in the hospital. I'm not concerned with the unknowns. But one more thing I do know is that we wouldn't have met Shelli if Ashtyn didn't have to stay in the hospital for antibiotics. Shelli is a 20 year old calm, patient, non-complainer, tough as nails girl from Alaska. She is staying at a different Ronald McDonald House building and will be in Seattle for one year fighting relapsed neurosarcoma. We love her already.