Dayna Gives Another Kick to Cancer's Butt - Louisiana Trip, Part 2

There are so many emotions and memories tumbling around from the rest of our trip. I hope you can see what I saw. I’m trying not to write a novel, but share a tiny piece of the unspeakable joy.

Dear friends, I need to ask you to hear something before you go on, something that is really important. The same day as my last post, I had a conversation with Dayna’s mother Dori. She has poured out everything she has, and more. Dori told me that some friends have asked her why she doesn’t hate God for what is happening. But Dori looked at me, with this intense faith-light in her eyes, and she said that although she has been a believer her whole life, right now, in this messy, seemingly hopeless place, she has never loved Jesus more. She said, "We are not responsible for the outcome; we are responsible for the faith we exhibit on the journey." This is a powerful miracle in itself, another miracle that makes me thankful that I could go on this trip.

When I specifically asked her, Dori told me that funds for Dayna’s treatments are running low. I’m asking you to consider praying and helping Dayna with funds so that the tumor will keep shrinking. It has already shrunk 40%, something unheard of for Stage IV Glioblastoma Multiforme, and she is far beyond the 4-12 months the doctors gave her to live.

I sat down in the hotel lobby with rays of the best Louisiana sunshine ever streaking through on to me. Finally after a few hours of schoolwork, it was time to get ready! I opened the hotel room door and saw Dayna in a dress with her hair and makeup done. She was so tired, but was enduring the photographer’s requests for more smiles, relaxation of the stern Dayna eyebrows, and an open-mouthed laugh-smile (the completion of this feat thrilled the photographer to no end; apparently this request is not always met with such talent and enthusiasm). Then it was time to don another brilliant and colorful dress her mom had bought for her, with, of course, matching jewelry. It was fun to watch all the fuss being made over her; we all knew that Dayna must look beautiful and feel beautiful to her core. And she truly looked like a queen. 

We drove to The Healing Place church where the single moms’ group is located that Jennifer Maggio originally founded, starting out as a small group and growing to many, many single moms!! Upon opening the door, instantly my eyes began to leak (just allergies, of course). I was immediately enveloped into a giant, warm hug by someone kind who then handed me a card and money, thanking me for nominating Dayna.

 I don’t believe that anyone has it easy in this life on earth. I believe that married moms and single moms both have nearly-impossible mountains to climb; we both need God or we just won’t make it. But I do believe that ministry to single moms is overlooked in many faith-based communities, and the biggest tragedy of all is that their children are forgotten. (Just google children of single mother statistics; it’s not a bright outlook). This is what Satan wants.

 Here, through The Life of a Single Mom ministries, they are connected with solutions and resources for financial, parenting, and health problems, and then they are given a support group to help them go through that. Most of all they can learn about God, and begin to HOPE again.

Then the music began. I don’t remember what it was, I just remember feeling overwhelmed that so many seats were filled with single moms of every race, age, and background. I looked around and watched their hands lifted and their eyes shut tight, singing as loudly as possible to God, their friend, their helper, their Savior. Allergic reactions ensued and I found my face wet again.

Dori and I enjoying this sweet time

Finally it was time. Dori, Dayna, and I all held hands tightly, and laughed and wept as we heard these words while a slideshow from Dayna’s beautiful life with Maddie and her family was played.

“Before I speak a word let me hear Your voice

And in the midst of pain let me feel Your joy

I want to know you, I want to find you

In every season, in every moment..

I want to seek you first…”

(Lauren Daigle- First)

They couldn't have picked a better song to express Dayna's heart. When it was over Dayna went up and accepted her award. She makes fun of herself when she tells the story because she didn’t prepare at all; she said “We’ve got God, so we've got this single mom thing, you guys”, and somewhere in there she said loudly and proudly that she was going to kick cancer’s BUTT (A true Dayna statement if I’ve ever heard one, can you hear her voice?). Her face had been getting more radiant since we first left for LA, and it showed; she was there to give God's hope to every mom in the crowd. 

Beautiful, radiating Dayna

It is easy for me to watch my friend from the distance of six hours away, and feel thankful and happy that she is “doing so well” according to Facebook and a few texts I get from her. Dayna’s sickness is not like one of those movie-star cancer scenes. She is living, she is flourishing, she is kicking cancer’s butt in her own words. Here’s the thing, though (to borrow another one of her phrases): This is NOT normal. This is God. This is hope. This is Dayna living out the following verse:

“Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!” (Matt. 6:22-23, MSG)

Dayna has ripped off the blinds on her windows and allowed the Light of Jesus to keep her eyes wide open in wonder and belief. She is actively and bravely fighting, breathing, and seeing: she is seeing God move.  The reason she is able to keep walking is because she can receive naturopathic treatment along with the chemo and because she is surrounded by a kick-ass group of supporters, friends, and family. In order for her to keep receiving treatments that allow her to function, flourish, and be an incredible, patient, loving, understanding mother to Maddie, she needs us. She needs finances. I am hoping that these posts communicate God's truth, and a funny and marvelous adventure to the readers, but I am also shamelessly asking for donations for my friend. She never complains, but it is really hard to watch her experience the icky, debilitating, sad symptoms of chemo and cancer. Honestly, on this trip I promised God that I would do anything that I could do to help her. 

Find out how you can help Dayna and Maddie at Hope 4 Dayna.

Until next time, friends!