Dear Friends and Family -- December 3, 1999

 
[Some information on the following message:
December 2, 1999, was RACHEL SOWERS DAY at Rachel's school, Assumption Grade School. Many of the students wore hats or caps that day... just as Rachel wore a hat over her nearly bald head.

Rachel was allowed to come to school for a couple hours that day. She spent the first hour in her 2nd grade classroom. They gave her gifts and the class presented her with a video showing her a day at school.

Rachel was very shy at first. She was afraid that the students would stare at her and talk among themselves about how she looked. There was no staring and the only talking was with her. The open friendliness and acceptance of these children was a breath of fresh air for this seven year old child. Such a seemingly small gift... but what healing power.

During the time at school Rachel had to keep her mask on over her face and nose. I asked that the class keep a safe distance away from her which they did.... and then the lights went out for the video. Rachel sat in a desk with other students circled around her about three to four feet away from her. The lights went out and the video began playing... and slowly but surely the scooting began. Little by little the kids were moving in the dark toward Rachel with their desks. The teacher, Miss T----, leaned over and asked me if this was ok. I made a quick decision... "Yes, let them."

By the time the video was over they had her surrounded... a solid mass of desks pressed up against Rachel's desk. I knew under the mask she was smiling. I later decscribed this to a friend as a beautiful, living vision of a "Holy Communion"... a bonding of love among children with one who had felt separated from them. We all learned a lot in that classroom that morning.]

Dear Assumption friends....

I had a friend in college who had the follwoing saying up on his wall:
"Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind." --Albert Einstein


The medical folks at Children's Mercy Hospital can work wonders through medical science. We are forever amazed at what is done to treat leukemia and other diseases. But the actions of Assumption Church/School and St David's Church and by others who turn to God in prayer or through deeds of love towards others work wonders that are as important as those done by doctors and scientists.

Yesterday Rachel came to Assumption School for almost two hours. She was scared and worried. She came away with a morale boost that will stay with her for a long time. I could tell because yesterday she didn't want to leave and this morning she asked if she could go back to school. Thank you.

We would especially like to thank Miss T----, and every second grader in her class. No wonder Rachel has always enjoyed going to Assumption School.... anybody would if they were in a great class like yours. Thank you for the gifts, the video and for being good friends to Rachel. A special thanks for the tutu. We hear that it took quite an effort to get one. I wish you could have all seen Rachel's eyes when she opened that box. She's been dancing around the living room since.

I'm sure the older classes were wondering just what the stuffed toy rabbit with the high squeaky voice was all about! Her name is Cindy. Rachel can get very frightened, shy and pretty quiet in the hospital. Cindy however is loud, friendly and outgoing... and brazen! We've been told that sometimes when a child is going through some real tough times she will use a puppet or toy to express feelings that she can't get up the guts to do herself.... so we put up with Cindy!! Although I confess that sometimes at home Cindy disappears for a while or gets tossed across the room. Somehow she gets through it ok though.

Once again... thanks for taking time out of your day to let Rachel come in and say hello. We wish you all the best Christmas ever and continue to pray for all of you just as you have prayed for us.

Bill and Diana

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