Allie and I, along with many other family members and friends, have been walking alongside my niece Eliana during the past two years as my brother Kyle and his wife Chioma have faced an intense and ongoing battle with breast cancer. What began as a season of uncertainty has become a daily rhythm of leaning on the Lord and leaning on one another.
Because of the constant and exhausting demands of treatment, Kyle and Chioma have not been able to fully care for Eliana’s everyday needs on their own. Allie and I currently spend one full day each week caring for her, and in May, through the incredible generosity of family and friends, we were able to hire a nanny to help provide care during the remaining four weekdays. This has been such an answer to prayer.
Eliana, now a joyful three-year-old, has been thriving in this environment of love and stability. Having consistent caregivers has allowed her to feel secure, while also enabling her to spend more meaningful time with her parents when they have the strength and energy to be together. Kyle and Chioma have often shared how deeply grateful they are for this help, calling it one of the greatest blessings during these difficult days.
For all of us, supporting Eliana has been both a challenge and a gift. It has reminded us of the importance of community, the power of prayer, and the beauty of coming together in love to meet one another’s needs.