Brooke's Story

In 2004, after a call to missions and a confirming trip to Honduras, our family journeyed to New Orleans from Texas to be trained and equipped for ministry. Within eight days of arriving in New Orleans, our youngest daughter, Brooke, was diagnosed with leukemia. After two years of fighting courageously through intense chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant at Texas Children's Hospital, we had to say good- bye to our five year old little girl on September 29, 2006. Birthed through much hardship and suffering, but also great love, we founded B.I.G. Love Cancer Care Services in February of 2007.

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Until we see Brooke again one day, our family is determined to love like she loved us. Although she taught us many things throughout her two years of treatment like how to trust, believe, persevere, and have faith, she also taught us how deep and high and wide love can really be. She had a special love for all her people, and she never ceased in expressing it. Even during her last days in the intensive care unit at Arkansas Children's Hospital, she still managed to love BIG all her people. She sent out hundreds of kisses and gave the I Love You sign to everyone in the room. She told us repeatedly, "I love you up to the sky." Brooke's Incredible Gift (B.I.G.) is Love.

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Brooke not only loved all her people, but she cared deeply about the cancer kids around her. She taught us how to see beyond our own pain and our own needs to recognize the needs of others. One day at the cancer clinic, after Brooke had endured numerous needle pokes to start an IV to give her transfusions of platelets and red blood cells, her love and lessons became ever so real. At this point, she was dying. She had two months to live on this side of heaven. In the bed right beside us, a young cancer patient was having a terrible time. He was wrestling with the nurses, screaming and crying. His mother was doing all she could and his little sister, who was Brooke's age, was hysterical. She was crying and running and begging her mom and all the nurses to let her go to the toy closet and pick a surprise. The nurses gently explained to the little girl, "We are so sorry, but the toys are for the patients." She screamed even louder. I did not realize that Brooke had been listening or paying attention to this family's ordeal. Next thing I know, Brooke was pushing her nurse call button and when her nurse appeared, Brooke said, "Would it be okay if that little girl went to the toy closet today instead of me?" The nurse could not believe her ears. She asked, "Are you sure Brooke? You won't get a toy today?" Brooke nodded her head yes. My husband and I began to weep. Realizing again, the importance of servanthood and love taught to us by our baby girl. The nurse took the little girl by the hand and led her to the toy closet. Her tears stopped and the room became calmer, quieter. The cancer mom next to us smiled ever so big at Brooke and Brooke smiled right back – confident with her decision and comforted by love.

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Many times at the hospital during the early morning hours, Brooke would hear children crying next to us. She would wake us immediately with an urgency to pray for the hurting child and family. She wanted to take food and toys and treats to the families in the hospital with us. So we did. BIG Love Cancer Care was birthed in the heart of a five year old little girl – who through her devoted love for God and others showed us the way. A way that we are forever committed to...a ministry that was born through hardship and suffering...and a service and deep love that God continually calls us to.

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It is our desire to honor Brooke by serving and extending big love to other cancer kids and their families in hopes of easing the childhood cancer journey. From our initial start in 2007 with our Holiday Gift Basket program, the scope and success of B.I.G. Love Cancer Care has exceeded our expectations! Our hopes continue to remain steadfast, to always work diligently and tirelessly to help ease the childhood cancer journey.