I’m still in shock and mind boggled by the recent arrest of
a friend. A friend?!? A woman that I
have kept contact with via text messaging and Facebook was arrested for faking
cancer…. I can’t begin to tell you the tears I’ve shed for her, the prayers I
have said for her. My family prayed for her daily. She led her thousands of
Facebook supporters to believe that she had less than 3 months to live. I
questioned her honesty years ago when she confided in me that she was an
alcoholic, and now a born again Christian- yet there would be frequent pictures
of her at bars. ...It didn’t add up for an alcoholic to be casually drinking.
But when a woman says she has stage 4 ovarian cancer you believe her. It just feels like the worst kind of
violation to be lied to in this way. To be misled and taken advantage of for so
long… The texts I have from her are so descriptive including forcing her
husband to go coffin shopping, being hospitalized for 9 days, having a shunt
put in her head from excessive brain swelling, vomiting to the point of nearly
tearing her esophagus. I mean I can go ON AND ON. There are no words for the shock. They say hindsight is
20/20, but I never saw THIS coming. Did I think she was milking her support
system? Yes. Did I think she was lying about having cancer? No! It became odd to me how often she would
desperately complain about money. But she seemed to be a good old, struggling
American with cancer. Turns out
she is just a struggling American… struggling with drug addiction? Maybe?
Mental health issues? Most definitely! The odd thing is, she started this *journey* over 2 years ago! I have
Facebook messages from her from a few months prior to her announcement where
she said her husband filed for divorce. I wonder if she initially started this
lie to keep her marriage in tact? But if that is the case- why drag thousands
of innocent people into the mix? Probably because it became a gold mine for her
to cash in on- at the hand of the well-intentioned givers. She asked to
clothing in certain sizes to dress her kids (4, plus a step child). Dozens of
people stepped up and donated hundreds of dollars worth of clothing items to
her kids…. Someone gave them a vehicle. Groceries were delivered 3 times a
week. A weekend getaway was pre-paid for her and her husband. Her own mother
sent her large family on a week long getaway. Build-a-bear workshop opened
after hours for them so each of her children could make a bear with her voice
inside. The zoo gave her a behind the scenes tour of the penguins (her
favorite). The list is 14 miles and 2 years long. So while we are all left
shaking our heads in disbelief. While she is behind bars, wearing an orange
jumpsuit- it seems there is little else to do. But that is very far from the
truth. This person, this lost soul needs more prayer now then she did when we
believed she was dying. I’m diligently praying for her. Because somewhere she
got off on the wrong path. She needs Jesus and she needs us to pray for her….
We need to continue with our good intentions by doing random acts of kindness.
Paying for the car behind you in he drive-thru. Holding the door open for
someone. Opening our eyes to those around us who are truly in need. Smiling at
everyone!! Someone told me today that I am a breath of fresh air in a negative
work environment. It made my day! Attitude is everything and we can walk around
being incredibly angry with this person- and everyone else who wrongs us. Or we
can be humble. Be blessed. I chose
the latter…. Will you join me?
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