Today’s Post is written by 14 year old Rebecca Carnes. Rebecca is an amazing young lady born with Spina Bifida and at the beginning of this year was also diagnosed with leukemia. That’s right, one little girl facing two huge giants. Here is her story of survival…
Hello, my name is Rebecca (Becca) Carnes. I am 14 years old. I am Survivor like many of you of life and its journey. I survive with God as my guide. My story starts before I was born. My mom knew when she was 16 weeks pregnant that I was going to be born with Spina Bifida. She decided to not abort me. Over 50% of mothers faced with this news abort and this makes me a survivor for the first time. I am thankful that she decided my life had value and that is because she knows God.
Then, I survived again when I was born and after 5hrs of birth survived my first 8 hour surgery to close my spine. Spina Bifida is a kind of spinal cord injury. I am survivor with God. I survived again at 6 days old when I had my second surgery to place a shunt in my brain to drain the fluid off, which I still have to this day. God has been with me every step that I take. 
The doctors said that I wouldn’t walk and at 18 months I walked with a walker. By two, I walked on my own with the help of leg braces. And today I still walk with leg braces but get around just fine! I have been very sick at times and have had over 60 surgeries. I have had brain surgery, several back surgeries, leg surgeries, gut surgeries, and bladder surgeries to name a few. I have survived them with God. God placed me on people’s hearts and when we didn’t think I was going to make it God always showed up. God has blessed us financially, with a car, and the cards that I receive knowing someone is praying for me.
On Feb. 3, 2010, I am surviving those dreaded words of Cancer. I was diagnosis with a rare leukemia call Acute promyelocytic leukemia, which is a subtype of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. If you have seen the movie or read the book, “My Sister’s Keeper” that is the kind of cancer that I have. I am surviving. I am not telling you my journey has been easy because it hasn’t. I have almost died. I have been sicker than you can imagine. God has been with me every step of the way. I see him perform miracles in my life. Philippians 4:13 reminds us that ” I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.”
Having the pleasure of knowing Rebecca and her family I can tell you they are an amazing testimony of strength in hard times. I specifically remember her mother’s post on their CarringBridge site in March shortly after Becca had started chemo. Becca was extremely sick and we didn’t know if she would fight through it. Her mother posted this:
I know that everyone feels helpless in regards to how to help us, but we also have that feeling of helplessness, especially as we see her suffer day in and day out. We cherish the small moments where she is smiling and giving everyone a hard time. We cherish your prayers despite as many maybe feeling that God is not listening. I hold fast to scriptures that tell me that God is there despite whether we “feel” him. I know that He hears everyone’s prayers, but God has a reason and that is to bring Him glory. I hope that if anything that this is drawing everyone closer to God. I know that I am holding on to the hem of His garment. God Bless
Matthew West song “survivor” was dedicated to her at his concert in Augusta, GA. This verse in particular reminds me so much of Becca…
For the cancer that stole all your hair
For the smile like you just don’t care
For your hope in a midnight prayer
You’re a survivor!
She is an amazing girl and teaches me so much just by being herself. You can find more about Becca at her CarringBridge site and Jay’s Hope has 2011 calendars on sale to benefit children’s cancer. Becca is in the calendar!
