#prayfordaisy

i know of a strong, brave, little girl.  her name is Daisy Love Merrick.  she’s precious.  here’s her story from prayfordaisy.com

“Daisy Love was born to a family who adored her. She grew up in the beautiful beach city of Carpinteria and from her earliest days she loved Jesus. Her life was filled with laughter and wacky costumes, play dates with friends and constant discovery. When asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, Daisy would say, “I’m leaning toward astronaut, but maybe warrior for the Lord!” In September of 2009, during her first month of kindergarten, Daisy fell down on the playground. For an active, bouncy 5 year-old, the fall wasn’t unusual… but Daisy’s response was. Instead of resuming play, she sat limply and told the school staff: “I need to go the hospital.” When her parents arrived at the school, they agreed, and rushed her to a hospital in Santa Barbara to check for possible internal injuries. The doctors delivered news far worse than any playground accident:

Daisy has cancer.

Their world spun. In that moment, everything about her picture perfect life changed. Daisy underwent a lengthy surgery to remove her Wilms tumor, which was the size of a Nerf football and took up most of her abdominal cavity. Following the surgery, she was left with only one kidney. She underwent difficult treatments of chemotherapy and radiation. She lost her beautiful, golden hair, her eyelashes and eyebrows, and much of her energy. For many months, she was unable to leave the hospital or her house. Through the months of pain and suffering, her family and church prayed for a miracle: that God would heal their beloved Daisy Love. Jesus heard their prayers, and answered. Daisy survived her first battle with cancer. After the treatment was completed and her first scan came back clean, Daisy celebrated! She and her family visited Hawaii, swam with sea turtles, ate shaved ice on the beach, surfed in the ocean, and enjoyed a beautiful month of health. Until Daisy began to complain of a stomachache that became unbearably painful. For the second time, she was rushed to the hospital, and for a second time, the devastating words were spoken: Daisy has cancer. Again.

Their world turned upside down. This time, the tumor was the size of a grapefruit, and it took two difficult and dangerous surgeries to remove it. Daisy started a second, stronger course of chemotherapy. The beautiful peach fuzz that covered her head again fell out, and there was a much smaller chance that she would survive the recurring Wilms tumor. One day, as she received her daily shot, she wept, “I hate cancer.” Everyone who knew her agreed, and around the world, friends and family sought God for healing for Daisy. One day, her parents found her spinning the globe and kissing it, to “thank all the people who are praying for me.” Once again, God heard and answered prayer, and Daisy Love was healed of cancer. Daisy and her family realized that every day of their lives were in the hands of God. During her treatment, Daisy told her parents: “People are only one times important and God is like a thousand million billion googolplex important.” The fragility of Daisy’s life and health has kept them constantly looking to Jesus for strength and grace, and He has been their only hope. After her second battle with cancer, the family counted each day as a gift. Daisy began taking horseback riding lessons, dancing jazz and ballet, and enjoying friends without fear of germs. She played with her brother, Isaiah, fell asleep with her dog, Sugar, kissed her mom and dad and sang songs to her Savior. For 12 months, she lived, laughed, and played like any normal 7 year-old, and her beautiful golden hair grew and curled to her shoulders. Hope was restored and all things seemed new. Until the day that Daisy went in for a routine scan, and the dreaded words were spoken for a third time: Daisy has cancer yet again. Their world went dark.

On April 11, 2012, Daisy’s third recurring Wilms tumor was removed from her abdomen. The tumor was only the size of a golf ball, but the operation required that her spleen be removed as well. She survived the surgery and now faces more chemotherapy, more difficult procedures, and more excruciating treatments. Daisy and her family are trusting Jesus. But they are also in a battle for Daisy’s life. The next steps include chemotherapy and a possible stem cell transplant. Her parents are pursuing both traditional and progressive cancer treatments in America and Israel. The estimated cost not covered by insurance will total close to half a million dollars. Would you join us in praying that Jesus, the only Healer, would again heal her body? And, in Daisy’s words, pray for her as she “kicks cancer into the trash can.” Prayer updates will be posted often here at PrayForDaisy.com. Britt and Kate believe that Jesus works miracles, and also want to provide the very best medical care and support for Daisy. Because not all treatment costs will be covered by insurance, a trust fund has been established where you and your family can lovingly give toward the cost of Daisy’s care here on the Give page or to The Daisy Merrick Trust at your local Chase Bank branch. After discovering that her cancer had returned, Daisy sang a song that she wrote on her way to the doctors offices, “God the Healer, can you heal me? God, the Healer, yes You can!” She and her family continue to put all their hope in Jesus.”

“The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.” -Nahum 1:7

My husband and I are hosting a small fundraiser to support Daisy and her family.  It’s simple.  You email a photo or video to daisy@tap.fantapper.com and we’ll donate $1 until we reach 1,000 submissions.

Maybe others will jump in to up the ante.  Regardless, it’s an easy, non-obtrusive way to cheer up Daisy and help with the exorbitant bills the family has racked up.

See all submissions at taps.la/daisy

#prayfordaisy

Thanks.