This month the son of one of our neighbors in need celebrated his birthday.  Such times should be full of joy and happiness, but things were not going well for this family.  Heidi has been battling cancer.  She is preparing to have 2 weeks of radiation treatment soon during which time she and her kids will be separated.  Heidi not only has cancer, but has spent her life facing the challenges of autism, both for herself and her son and daughter.

Heidi, a Christian, attends a local church and her spiritual family has been supportive, but she was hesitant to come to them with this financial crisis.  Bills were coming due and steady jobs are difficult to maintain with what Heidi is up against.  How would the bills be paid? How could she celebrate her son turning 13 with so much going on?  Providence Hospital, where she receives care, referred her to Love INC.  God used both a partner church and a very talented volunteer to show Heidi that His family goes beyond the walls of her own church.

One of our partner churches came through with the funds for the outstanding monetary need.  But what of celebrating the life of a boy about to become a teenager?  When Andrea answered her phone earlier this month, she was excited to learn that her gifts and abilities would meet a special need.  "I do cakes for friends and family and want to honor God with my business.  I don't have much money to give, but I can do a cake."  What made this opportunity even more significant to Andrea was that her own mom has cancer too. She can relate to the struggle Heidi and her family is going through. 

As Andrea talked to Heidi, she realized she was up for a challenge.  She had decorated many cakes, but Steffen knew just what he wanted and Andrea had never done anything like it before.  A big fan of the game Kingdom Hearts, Steffen wanted a picture of it on his cake.  Andrea was "game" for what is called edible images, but she was not sure how to do it.  She did some investigating and learned a thing or two.  When she delivered the cake the night before the party, it was just what the birthday boy wanted.  When Steffen opened the door and saw the cake, he began to jump up and down. Then the five foot, ten inch tall soon-to-be-teenager gave the not even five foot tall little baker a big hug of gratitude.  God took a willing heart, talented hands, and the gifts of a church body to bring joy and blessing to a family in need. 

Obviously, their struggle is not over yet.  Continue to pray for Heidi as she fights this disease and goes through her final round of radiation beginning this Wednesday.  Pray for Steffen and his sister, Allana, as they face separation from Mom during treatment this week and all the fear and worry that come with her being sick.