I have never understood the suffering of children. They arrive in this world wide-eyed and innocent, their ambitions are so simple, to play and learn and grow. The cold harsh world – the one with teeth – is not even glint in their eye.
So when I hear stories about young, perfectly healthy children getting sick…very sick, it upsets me. Because it’s unfair, for the child, the family. A world of joy and discovery is suddenly replaced with despair.
Family members of the suddenly-sick sometimes describe the phenomenon as “coming to the edge of all light.” Suddenly you are forced to step into the complete unknown, into the darkness, and hope there is something solid to stand on.