"Avery is an old soul in a ten-year-old's body, she's mature, she has been brave through this whole thing. She said to me, 'Mom, it's okay that I have this, God is going to use this. I haven't seen you read your Bible this much before --- so if my story will help somebody know Jesus then it's okay.'”
Avery has completed three treatments thus far. Mom says, "I think we have been blessed. She has the normal side effects of numbness in legs and fingers but she has kept her appetite. She did lose her hair." "She cried for about 20 seconds, she really hopes it comes back red. She handled it better than me. Her head gets cold so she wears scarfs, do rags, or hats. My dad (Harold Beard), shaved his head. Avery didn't want me to shave mine because she said my head is too big (LOL)."
Crissie shares that she feels God has laid a path for her family. She had planned on attending school so she took a weekend position with work but she now sees it as God's will to place her where he has so that she can take care of Avery.
Avery misses school. She sets her watch to work on the same things her classmates are working on. Pumpkin Center Intermediate is in the process of setting up a virtual classroom so that Avery can see the kids in class.
Crissie's message is, "Listen to your motherly instincts. One thing I have learned is, life is too short. I look back at things that bothered me before, and now, they mean nothing. Enjoy your life, enjoy your kids."
Crissie and Avery have found friendships with another mother and daughter (Deana Herndon and Paige Beam). Paige is also a ten-year-old, tough red head who is fighting the same battle as Avery. (Paige was diagnosed, in December 2016.)
Crissie said, "We are not the only ones whose kids have been diagnosed with cancer but until you are in that seat, nothing can prepare you. Meeting a person who you can actually talk to or text has been wonderful support. You have a team (an army), we have our family but they hurt like we do. Although I am not a pediatric nurse, it's still hard to take off that nurse hat and be the mom. I have taken care of patients with cancer but to have someone you can ask how did you handle this or that, helps a lot. Deana has been a lifesaver."
Deana said, "Meeting Crissie and Avery has been awesome. Any support is great but with the bond of fighting the same illness, it not only gives us common ground, it helps Paige to help Avery which gives me comfort and us moms have someone who understands firsthand what we are going through. We all will be forever friends."
Crissie said, "I want to thank everybody. You expect your family and friends to reach out but there has been college kids, from Belmont Abbey, who have sent money (they are broke, I feel like I should be sending them money). The support from all these teenagers - the lacrosse team, soccer team, softball team (they even come visit), our family and friends, my CHS-Lincoln family, the strangers for all the gift cards, gas cards, all the people praying for Avery. She has prayers coming up from everywhere."
You can keep up with Avery's story by following AveryStrong on Facebook.
Donations can be made to a GoFundMe account for Avery by CLICKING HERE.
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