Beth Laitkep—she’s a thirty-something, single mother with six kids. If you want to know what her life feels like, imagine you have no money, you’re late cooking supper, your house smells like baby poop…
And you have cancer.
Stephanie Culley, Beth’s high-school friend, took her to chemotherapy. The cancer spread to Beth’s brain. Doctors gave her a death-sentence.
Beth spiraled into an already deep depression. She worried about her kids, since they had nowhere to go. Without their mother, they would end up in the foster system, where they’d get split, relocated, traumatized. They’d be lucky if they even recognized their siblings after a few years.
When Beth died, her last words were, “Tell my babies I love them, and I love Stephanie, too.” But as it happens, Stephanie Culley was busy in the other room, signing ten pounds of paper.
Because adopting six kids comes along with a mountain of paperwork.
Tennessee nine-year-old, Tyler Fugget, has too much allowance money laying around—at least in his opinion. After all, he has the basics: food, shelter, parents, health-insurance, SpaghettiOs. What else is there?
So, Tyler got rid of his surplus money. He walked into the sheriff’s office, unannounced, with one hundred books to start a library for Montgomery County inmates.
“Maybe,” says Tyler. “They’ll read something that’ll make them wanna be better people.”
Let’s hope so, Tyler.
Allison Schablein has a kind of cancer so rare, doctors give her funny looks whenever she comes in to their offices. They’re supposed to know how to help her, but they don’t. So, they put her off.
For months.
Recently, Allison’s parents found a new doctor who likes a challenge. The doctor sifted through miles of red tape and bureaucracy, designing a drug specifically made for Allison—and only Allison. Two pills a day; for sixty days. The brain-scan came back clear.
Allison’s father said, “I stood up and screamed.”
I’ll bet he did more than that.
I’m not going to mince words, people are getting meaner, candidates greedier, and the average price of football tickets is absolutely ridiculous. I wish I could change the headlines, but I can’t even change my username and password without help.
I’m tired of blood, God help me, I am. I’m even more tired of reporters who make their livings from such things. But, by God, I’m not going down with this shipwreck.
I’m going to keep hoping. Nobody can stop me from doing that. I can believe in things worth believing in. Good things. Even though, to be quite honest, I don’t know what those things are.
But, one thing I do know,
Adopting six kids is one of them.
7 comments
Rich McAdams - August 29, 2016 12:38 pm
Great article, and you couldn’t be more right! There are still good people in the world doing good things to help their fellow human beings… but that doesn’t generate enough sensation, enough clicks. So instead we get stories about who the Kardashians are sleeping with, outrage about Kaepernick sitting, stories about shootings and drug deals, and on and on. I appreciate your story. Just recently found your blog. Love it. Keep up the great work!
Betty Qualls - August 30, 2016 4:44 am
Sean, you’re talking to my heart. The GOOD around us makes up for all the smoke and mirrors we witness everyday. Thank you for reminding me.
Clay - February 3, 2017 3:16 pm
Thanks again Sir.
Suzanne Wright - February 3, 2017 3:39 pm
Sean I do so admire how you think and your mindset! So pleased to read your article re. Those babies and Stephanie! Prayers up for her & them & their Mamma.
Am so happy ad refreshed that you haven’t used swearing or cussing. God bless you today☺.
Kristen Miller - February 3, 2017 5:12 pm
God bless you for sharing news worth sharing Sean!
Peggy Perry - February 4, 2017 12:40 pm
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8. A lot of people slide over that verse, thinking cynically that there are no pure in heart, but what it always meant to me was that if you are good, and look for the good in others, you will find it. I have never claimed to be a saint, but I can always see the Hand of God moving in this world, and despite the darkness, chaos, and all around bad attitudes of people all over the world, I can find stories of people shining their lights and chasing away the shadows. Good work, Sean, in getting the stories out. Keep it up.
Maxine cockerill - August 5, 2017 1:42 pm
I was just introduced to you Sean…… of the south. You are smile maker and heart lifter. Thank you from the bottom of mine.