Wonderful Circle of Mercy
This is one of those unbelievable moments that makes one stop and realize that sometimes things really come full circle. In fact, I have a picture of it: a young girl named Ria Millan handing a check to me as the representative of Adonai's Mercy House (AMH).
The way I see it, it wasn't just a donation; it was a miracle I personally experienced.
You see, Ria is special to me. I've known her since the day she was born. Her parents, Larry and Riza, have been my close friends since way before they even got married. I remember attending Ria's first birthday. I played with her when she was a toddler.
Years later, there was a heavy, scary silence when we found out she had leukemia. Her mother, Riza, later told me how rough the storm the Millan family had to endure. But they were close to God, who gave them toughness and courage.
Now, at 14, Ria isn't just a survivor—she's a light. For a school project, she was required to choose a problem that she could help solve. She did not look anywhere else and decided to go back to the path she had already walked. She chose to support the pediatric oncology ward at Mary Johnston Hospital, the very place where kids are now fighting the same battle she beat.
She organized little fundraisers with family and friends. In those events, Ria sang for everyone. Her voice has this incredible weight to it, probably because she knows exactly what it feels like to need a little music when things get dark.
When she dropped off the funds at AMH, I did not expect her to raise a surprisingly large amount. Needless to say, I was overjoyed and I could not thank Ria and her family and friends enough.
When I asked her if she had any message for the kids still going through chemo, these were her words: "Do not lose faith and hope, and continue to be brave, because whatever happens, God is with you."
Seeing Ria standing there, healthy and full of life, helping the next round of 'cancer warriors,' honestly brought tears to my eyes. It's such a beautiful reminder that our hardest times often grow into our most important work.
Looking at her, and thinking back on all those years with Larry and Riza, I'm just struck by how it all fits together. It really feels like fate has our lives intertwined, all held together by this one golden thread of mercy.
