|
|
|
All 8-year-old Lucy Herod really wanted for Christmas was a Password Journal, a slushy maker and a remote control helicopter.
On Christmas Eve, she received honorary ownership of a 20-year-old horse named Chester and a brand-new Toshiba laptop that will allow to “visit” Chester any time she wants through webcam access to his stables.
“We have a surprise” were the only clue words that Lucy’s parents provided Lucy and her younger brother and sister in the hours leading up to their Christmas on the Square.
–––
Lucy Herod looks like any other girl her age. She has a healthy weight and height. She wore a purple stocking cap and black snow boots on Friday afternoon. Her cheeks include a dusting of freckles, and she has long dark hair.
In many ways, says her mother, Nicole, Lucy is a typical young girl. She enjoys Junie B. Jones books and watches “iCarly” and “SpongeBob SquarePants” on Nickelodeon. Christian recording artist Toby Mac is Lucy’s favorite musician.
“She’s a girly girl to some degree but more of tomboy in some things,” Nicole says.
But in other respects, Lucy’s life isn’t normal. She lacks a stable immune system. A cold or a fever would send the little girl to the hospital. She isn’t attending school in a regular classroom right now, and she cannot go with her mother to the grocery store.
Her body cannot handle the stress of allergens associated with new animals. Lucy’s family includes a 9-year-old golden retriever, Harley, that is allowed to stay because her body previously built immunity to him. No plants or dirt exist in the Herod’s Independence household.
Lucy is unable to wear shoes with laces. A blister on her foot sent Lucy to the hospital for three days, and doctors performed a biopsy to rule out a staph infection.
“That was the end of tennis shoes for her,” Nicole says, adding that Lucy now wears Crocs or suede-looking boots so her shoes avoid close contact with her skin.
If she bumped her head or scraped her knee, Lucy’s body could experience life-threatening complications. So, she mostly stays in the house until she goes to Children’s Mercy Hospital for treatment.
“Anything is a risk for her,” Nicole says. “Normal life is still normal to some degree, but we have to go the extra mile. Normal things that happen to kids are not normal to her – they are very threatening.”
All 8-year-old Lucy Herod really wanted for Christmas was a Password Journal, a slushy maker and a remote control helicopter.
On Christmas Eve, she received honorary ownership of a 20-year-old horse named Chester and a brand-new Toshiba laptop that will allow to “visit” Chester any time she wants through webcam access to his stables.
“We have a surprise” were the only clue words that Lucy’s parents provided Lucy and her younger brother and sister in the hours leading up to their Christmas on the Square.
–––
Lucy Herod looks like any other girl her age. She has a healthy weight and height. She wore a purple stocking cap and black snow boots on Friday afternoon. Her cheeks include a dusting of freckles, and she has long dark hair.
In many ways, says her mother, Nicole, Lucy is a typical young girl. She enjoys Junie B. Jones books and watches “iCarly” and “SpongeBob SquarePants” on Nickelodeon. Christian recording artist Toby Mac is Lucy’s favorite musician.
“She’s a girly girl to some degree but more of tomboy in some things,” Nicole says.
But in other respects, Lucy’s life isn’t normal. She lacks a stable immune system. A cold or a fever would send the little girl to the hospital. She isn’t attending school in a regular classroom right now, and she cannot go with her mother to the grocery store.
Her body cannot handle the stress of allergens associated with new animals. Lucy’s family includes a 9-year-old golden retriever, Harley, that is allowed to stay because her body previously built immunity to him. No plants or dirt exist in the Herod’s Independence household.
Lucy is unable to wear shoes with laces. A blister on her foot sent Lucy to the hospital for three days, and doctors performed a biopsy to rule out a staph infection.
“That was the end of tennis shoes for her,” Nicole says, adding that Lucy now wears Crocs or suede-looking boots so her shoes avoid close contact with her skin.
If she bumped her head or scraped her knee, Lucy’s body could experience life-threatening complications. So, she mostly stays in the house until she goes to Children’s Mercy Hospital for treatment.
“Anything is a risk for her,” Nicole says. “Normal life is still normal to some degree, but we have to go the extra mile. Normal things that happen to kids are not normal to her – they are very threatening.”
The normalcy changed on Feb. 6. Lucy received a diagnosis of aplastic anemia, a rare blood disorder in which the body stops producing enough new blood cells.
In the weeks leading up to her diagnosis, Lucy had several bouts of strep throat “and just couldn’t seem to kick it,” Nicole says, even with antibiotic treatments. She went home from school with a high fever on Feb. 6.
The Herods’ family doctor noticed abnormal bruising, Nicole says, and immediately knew who to call in the oncology unit at Children’s Mercy Hospital.
She hasn’t been able to attend school in a classroom setting ever since. Instead, someone facilitates a tutor program for Lucy, a third grader, in her home.
“Normal life for her ended then,” Nicole says.
–––
“Merry Christmas,” a woman in a long black coat clutching last-minute shopping bags says to a pacing man in front of the Historic Courthouse.
“Merry Christmas to you,” replies the man, who is wearing a Santa Claus cap bearing the words “The Elves.”
It’s 3:45 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and the man has another 15 minutes before he makes an 8-year-old girl’s dream come true. He is keeping watch for her and her family, even though he’ll never divulge his name or his identity to them.
“I’m just one of many elves,” the man says.
In its 20th year, the Elves of Christmas Present is an Olathe, Kan.-based association of anonymous benefactors. The group aims to make each gift special to the area’s ill children and their families.
Children with terminal illnesses often have a social worker, so it was the Herods’ oncologist’s social worker who informed them about Elves of Christmas Present.
“The important thing is the child’s Christmas,” says the Chief Elf in a telephone interview. “I keep envisioning Lucy when she’s in the hospital, and she’s able to flip open her Netbook and see her horse. That, to me, is gratifying.”
At 3:50 p.m., the elf in the cap spots the horse and a carriage near the intersection of Maple Avenue and Main Street. He waves across the blurry haze of sleet and rain.
–––
If you asked Lucy about her illness, she would reply that she is healed.
According to Nicole, Lucy believes in the power of God to heal and believes she will get a miracle. The Herod family is very religious, Nicole says, and attends the Independence First Assembly of God.
If Lucy wants something, she prays and asks God to make her better – and that is what she lives on, Nicole says.
“She doesn’t see it as a sad thing. She doesn’t have self-pity,” Nicole says. “She’s incredible. She’s truly amazing to me. She doesn’t believe she’s going to die.”
It is Lucy’s favorite Bible verse: 1 Peter 2:24.
“‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’”
“Well, it says you were healed. What does that mean?” Lucy asked her mother.
Nicole explained the verse.
“OK, then I’m healed,” Lucy replied. “I was healed before I was ever born.”
“She’s a very old soul at 8 years old, but there’s no doubt in her. None,” Nicole says.
–––
“Hi, Ryann! Hi, Charlie!” Lucy called ahead to her 7-year-old sister and her 3-year-old brother.
“Hi, Lucy!” Ryann yelled back from the carriage with her brother and mother, being pulled with a separate set of horses. Close by, Lucy clutched the reins of 20-year-old Chester the horse, with her father, Andy, close at her side.
“I love horsies!” Lucy exclaimed repeatedly during the 10-minute ride.
“Lucy, I think you’re just the right size for ‘ol Chester,” replied his owner, who also is a member of the Elves of Christmas Present.
Lucy loves coloring pictures of horses and looking at them. She wants the everyday responsibility of taking care of one, her mother says. She’s asked over and over again, “Can we get a horse?” and her parents said no since they live in the city.
She loves all animals, Nicole says, but something has always drawn Lucy especially closer to horses.
“She sees something in animals that is almost human, and she has a really soft side for horses,” Nicole says. “She would probably just stand and talk to one. It’s something that’s all hers – I don’t know what it is.”
During a Make-A-Wish Foundation trip September in Orlando, Fla., Lucy got to ride a horse, “and that was the highlight of her trip,” Nicole says.
Just 12 hours before her family left for Orlando, though, Lucy had stayed at Children’s Mercy Hospital.
Treatments for aplastic anemia often include medication, blood transfusions or a bone marrow transplant. Lucy has received two non-responsive rounds of chemotherapy, Nicole says.
She receives red cells every two weeks and once-a-week platelet transfusions. Those simply keep a bruise or a cut from becoming life-threatening.
Utilizing national and international registries, doctors and the Herod family have searched for a bone marrow match since Lucy’s diagnosis nearly 11 months ago. Her siblings aren’t matches, Nicole says, which is rare.
No strong match exists for Lucy at this time that would take the risk out of performing the transplant. Still, Nicole remains optimistic and encourages people to visit www.marrow.org to find a bone marrow drive or to have a test kit sent to their home.
–––
A tall man wearing a long tan coat and using a walking cane waits as Lucy and her family finish their ride across the Square. He has a closely trimmed silver beard and glasses – but no public name.
Just call him Chief Elf.
Chief Elf presents Lucy with honorary ownership of Chester and a brand-new Toshiba laptop. Lucy may “visit” Chester any time she wishes with her laptop.
Ryann and Charlie aren’t forgotten, either. They receive a new bicycle and a train set, among other presents. Lucy proudly hugs her new stuffed horse on a small stick.
“Honestly, that is the most overwhelming gift, that they don’t know us, and they are willing to do that for my daughter,” Nicole says. “I don’t know how I even express that kind of kindness.”
Even as Christmas Day has passed, miracles still take place for the Herod family. Lucy has been fever-free for three weeks, which is a significant step.
“Every time she wakes up in the morning without a fever is a miracle,” Nicole says. “We’ve learned to appreciate the little miracles and to wait for the big ones.”
