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I can’t remember a time I didn’t know Peter and Cheryl Ferrill. Neighbours for years–it seems like yesterday that their daughters Brittany and Holly would come into my yard and I would watch them play with my sons. If we could only remain so young and innocent– but life goes on. Through the years the girls have grown up, gotten married, and had children. You never ever want anything to happen to the people you know and love. But, everything in life is completely accidental and random– and sometimes bad things happen to very good people.

In July, Holly and Mike’s daughter Rachel, who is barely 4, got diagnosed with ALL leukaemia (Acute_lymphoblastic_leukaemia) which is cancer of the white blood cells. It is one thing to be an adult and hear this diagnosis– but imagine if you are the parents of a young child getting this news. The world is so unpredictable and things happen quickly, unexpectedly, and all of a sudden you are not in control of our own existence– or your childs.

Since the diagnosis Rachel has been at CHEO with her family by her side. She has already had surgery for the bone marrow and chemo. Rachel has a long road to recovery and is already been such a strong tough child. Maybe even more than you or I might be.

I saw Cheryl a few weeks ago and I just wanted to scream–

Why your granddaughter?

Why Holly and Mike’s child?

The trouble with life is there are no answers– and don’t even attempt to look for them because there are none. Seeing our children in pain is the last thing we want to witness-because whatever pain they feel– well, we feel it at least twice– and we wish it was our own.

So what can I do to help? What can you do to help? Well, we shouldn’t be content to wait and see– all of us need the determination to make the right things happen for this family. People coming together as a community of neighbours is a great start– and if we don’t step up to help, then who will.

No one can fight alone–or should they. Please support the events for our little 4 year-old hero called Rachel who lives in this community and might even be your neighbour. Remember that all of us were born with the ability to change someone’s life–let’s not waste it.