PENSACOLA, Fla. — Hey, y’all! A few weeks ago, I talked with you about the times in our life when the “unexpected” happens. Like the story I brought you of Madeleine Petite, a 28 year old Baldwin County school teacher and coach who was diagnosed with cancer when she was 24 weeks pregnant. A lot of you have been praying for Maddy and have me asked for an update. I have one.
Here is Maddy today with her beautiful pre-term but healthy and growing baby boy, Harrison. Maddy wants you to know a few things and I told her I’d help her pass those things along.
First, she wants you to know she has some good news. Her latest scans show some of the tumors are shrinking. She’s credits her doctors, her treatment, and most importantly, your prayers. She also wants you to know she’s not, in her words, “distraught.” She is in fact grateful and hopeful. And wants you to know how much she appreciates your prayers. Hey, she can say it a lot better than I can, so let’s turn the mic over to Maddy!
“I’m so thankful for y’all. Every single one of you. Having someone praying for you and supporting you and being there for you, it’s the most priceless thing you can have.”
“Cancer is uncertain. Life is uncertain. I have my days. I’m human but I’m just thankful every day that I wake up and see there’s another day I’m thankful for it no matter what it is. Being a mom and having a little boy and looking at him, I’m so grateful for that. The circumstances may not be the best but it’s a day that I get to see my son and talk to people I love and get prayers.”
“Everybody wants to do so much and I’m so thankful but the best thing and the most valuable thing we have is the prayers and that’s what we hold on to.”
As I listened to Madeleine, I began to ask myself, “what are you holding onto, Drexel? And is it something that helps you face each day with grace, hope, and faith?” It’s something we might all want to ponder as we enter a new week, and as we continue to pray for Maddy and for all of the people in our lives who are in need. And that’s your Minute with Drexel.
