Our Little Girl's Diagnosis

She has the disease
her grandmother was given.
Diagnosed just today,
the panic arrives, as home it is driven.
The sweet little girl
who does not deserve this
is the one who will suffer
in what feels like death's kiss.
With words of encouragement
from those who know best,
we still have trouble
gaining the night's rest.
We worry about finances
for the fleeting moment of superficiality
only until we push that aside
to focus on the core of the news that is our reality.
As her parents, we fret
for her well being days down the road
as we also begin to panic
for what tomorrow will bode.
We try to take the news initially
with a strong lip for our daughter's sake
only to have the water swell
in eyes that cannot refuse the tears' lake.
We, the parents, regroup together
as we try to think ahead
only until we try to talk of what was heard
for mere seconds before more tears are shed.
We let the waterworks flow
from eyes that are seconds shy of dry
to allow the nightmares to escape
in favor of moments to look to the sky.
Our prayers begin early,
as they are sure to continue often,
to a God who has a plan
that is sure to contain hearts to soften.
Our little girl, ever the wise one,
she reminds us that it will all be okay
as her mother and I look into each other's eyes
to realize the girl is right as we just pray.
A diagnosis not at all what we wanted
to hear on what was a beautiful day,
we cope and react as responsibly
as we can in light of the news thrown our way.
We know no matter what,
as the smartest little girl reminded us,
we will have One to hear our prayers
and will have each other to lean on even as we fuss.
We must keep that optimism alive
as we deal with realism in the meantime
knowing all the while that we will make it through
together to a place down the road so perfectly sublime.