I have a zit in the middle of my forehead which defies all manner of concealing creams and makeup. It just sits squarely and a little bit painfully in the direct center of my forehead like a blaringly obvious red traffic light. It won’t go away.

It was on the list of things I would rather not have had happen on my weekend. I have/had a part time job working with people who have behavioral/developmental disabilities. This weekend was a nightmare, full of verbal and physical aggression which I had to fend off. I completed my final shift this morning at 10:45a. Since I missed my own Sunday meeting I decided to go to visit my Cousin in Milwaukee and go with him to his meeting which is in the afternoon. It was during said meeting my phone (which I HAD put on silent) belting out the ringtone I have programmed for my parents number (ok apparently I didn’t put the phone on silent).

It was only later when I was puttering through the stores of the mall when I remembered to check my phone. Three missed calls. Three messages. I checked the telephone number - all from my mother. The messages were deliberately vague and told me to call back a.s.a.p....

I have a friend with two beautiful little girls, the oldest is 6 and the younger is 2. Abby is the eldest and her younger sister is named Haley. Haley has a skin condition which doctors have said could be a symptom of a more serious hereditary disease. She has hyper and hypopigmentation of her skin, which means she has dark blotches of skin and areas of skin with no color on her tummy back and arms and legs. The only certain diagnosis of the hereditary disease is if it manifests itself as a brain tumor(s).

Haley started vomiting on Thursday night last week, by Friday she was dehydrated and her mom had to take her into the ER. It was then an MRI revealed a large tumor directly pressing against the area of her brain which controls digestive function. She was taken to Children’s Hospital and immediately had surgery for a shunt which would drain the fluid from the tumor releasing the pressure on her brain. With the shunt continually draining fluid she must remain at the same height in connection with the IV to avoid backflow of air into her brain.

That is what my mother wanted to tell me. I ditched my cousin and headed for Children’s Hospital via the store to get something cuddly and fluffy for Haley (I ended up with a Strawberry Scented Hopeful Heart Carebear and a Pet Lovin’ Barbie for Abby so she didn’t feel left out.)

I hate hospitals, I hate the particular grouping of hospitals which Children’s Hospital is located amongst. Froedert Hospital is directly connected to Children’s. I’ve lost several people I care about in Froedert and I had no good feelings about the latest occupant of the hospital I was about to visit.

Haley was sitting in her father’s arms when I entered the hospital room, wanting her mother desperately. Her mom was trying to take a bite of the same sandwich she had been trying to eat since lunch time. Even with the IV tubing and the morphine for the pain Haley was as sweet as she always is. While I tried to remain upbeat on my visit I felt sick to my stomach seeing her as ill as she was. I stayed with the family for about an hour before I finally headed out and back toward Madison.

My parents had my niece Summer overnight tonight, when I called to update my mom on the latest with Haley I felt a very urgent need to see Summer. I needed to hug the breath out of her a bit and contemplate how thankful I am to have her alive and healthy as she is. After countless hugs, a game of Barbies, and the discovery and subsequent coloring of some colorable paper dolls. I left for my apartment in Madison.

I started out my day concerned about a zit. I can buy a cream which should take care of that sucker in a week. Haley however has a very serious surgery to remove the tumor, radiation, chemotherapy, physical therapy to retrain the right side of her body, and the possibility of reopening her if they miss any section of the mass. If the tumor is related to the hereditary disease her mother is a carrier of, even with the surgery she can expect more tumors in the future. More surgery, more radiation, more chemotherapy, until they find a tumor which is in an inoperable location.

Sometimes I’m a little melodramatic. Making mole hills into mountains. Situations like this remind me how vital it is to keep myself and my own worries in perspective. And if I can try to brighten the perspective of Haley and her family as they endure this ordeal.

“There is One who is dwelling above the circle of the earth, the dwellers in which are as grasshoppers.”—Isaiah 40:22.