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DIOCESE OF OR NDO Vol. 81, No. 14
Editor's note: Some last names have been omitted to protect the privacy of minors.
GLENDA MEEKINS
of the Florida Catholic staff
ST. CLOUD "Today is not a great day for Megan," said Megan's mother, Kristie, in an interview with the Florida Catholic May 27, 2020. "She's not feeling well and her counts are low, but I always tell her, Remember, we are given strength by the Lord and also given strength by our friends surrounding us who are praying for us, so we're going to get through this moment.'" Kristie is a former administra- tive assistant at St. Thomas Aqui- nas Catholic School in St. Cloud. When her youngest daughter, Me- gan, was diagnosed with Hodg- kin's Lymphoma in early April, Kristie learned how tight the bonds to her old job still were - bonds strengthened by a faith she has always modeled. The hashtag she created for her daughter, #Me- ganStrong, would soon ignite the support of her Aquinas family. Little more than a week after learning she had cancer, 16-year- old Megan needed surgery to de- termine what type. Kristie recalled how Megan was "just amazing" after surgery. I thought, the strength of this child, coming out of surgery, knowing you are being diagnosed with some type of cancer- She had so much strength and such a will," Kristie said, still astonished. She is a strong-willed girl. I think she gets her resiliency from being a military child and having to move and deal with many different pos- sibilities." That's when Kristie came up with the hashtag #MeganStrong and posted it along with a photo. Among her Aquinas friends who saw the post was Stacey Miller, di- rector of technology. Kristie's posts with #MeganStrong inspired him to ask Aquinas families for prayers and support. Having gone through losing a brother to leukemia, I know what it feels like for a family facing this battle," he said. "It's a roller coaster of emotions and sometimes you feel alone. When we were going through that, Mrs. Kristie was there for us, encouraging us to stay strong and continue praying for God's intervention. When I found out about what was going on with Megan, I knew I had to help in some way; to show her we are all here, praying for her." He included Megan and her family in his weekly prayer inten- tion video, encouraging students and families to share their sup- port by posting pictures with the hashtag. It kind of just took off from there," Miller said. "We had dozens of families show their support by sharing inspiring images of hope and faith. I know every Catholic school will say this, but we are a very close community here at STA. When one of our own is in need, we make it a priority to help." Kristie was flooded with uplift- ing messages. When I see they have tagged me, it puts a smile on my face. My daughter, Nicole, and my hus- band, Brian, smile as well know- ing we've made that connection," Kristie said. "It's inspiring to see #MeganStrong - we have you in prayer. You can beat this! You're in our thoughts and prayers. The kids at St. Thomas are overwhelming. I still know some of those kids be- cause they were there when I was there. I do believe with everybody supporting us in prayer. It has helped us and guided us," she con- tinued. "For all of us, it's still hav- ing faith that God brought me to this point. He'll see me through." Megan said the messages make a difference. "I feel so loved and cared for by so many that I hope there are others experiencing that same support. My mom always re- minds me of this verse, 'For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.'"(Mt 18:20) Megan and her faith have a strong devotion to God and their faith. Although the Air Force fam- ily moved often, Kristie always managed to work in the Church, at base chapels or offices. That con- tinuity spurred a growing faith. When her husband retired and the family moved to Florida, Kris- tie sought employment with the Church and landed at St. Thomas Aquinas in 2015. School staff and new friends there supported her until Brian was able to join Kristie and the girls. When he accepted a job in Utah, a year and a half later, Aquinas was there once again and never really let go. Marjorie Smith, a front office co-worker, quickly became friends with Kristie and remained in touch after Kristie's family moved in 2017. Kristie is definitely a person who is full of grace, wisdom and understanding and one of the strongest people I know," Smith said. "Kristie is the type of per- son who wants to build up those around her to become better ver- sions of themselves. She is always a pillar of strength for others, espe- cially in time of need. She is a per- son who people speak of because
Students to rally behind sick 'sister'
of the positive light she brings with her - she will always make an im- pact on the lives of people she en- counters." Megan is the proverbial apple that did not fall far from the tree. She is probably one of the most kind-hearted souls you would ever meet," said her mother, proudly. She will put somebody else's needs before her own - Any way she can build somebody up, she will." Kristie noted Megan's diagnosis was difficult, not just because of the illness itself, or that it occurred in the middle of a pandemic, but because Megan is not used to thinking of herself. It's been a whirlwind for her," Kristie said. "At the end of the day, she's still most worried if she's go- ing to burden us - Even when we're faced with cancer, she's still willing to smile and spread that joy and make somebody else's day a little bit better." Kristie remembered the day Megan's hair began to fall out. The teen was understandably devas- tated. But the next morning Megan woke up and said, "We're shaving this off." For a lot of girls that would have probably been the most dreadful situation in her life. But she took it and she owned it," Kristie recalled. She actually got dressed up in a black pantsuit and high heels and was just strutting her stuff. She said, 'Now look at me.' I didn't know what to say. Once again she had more strength than I think I could ever bare. I think she's a positive role model for a lot of kids." Megan gives God the credit. "I have the courage to face each day by knowing that through my trials and tribulations, God is walking beside me," Megan said, confident- ly. It is the same belief that bolsters her to explain her faith to her many friends in the Latter Days Saints community in which she lives in Salt Lake City. She is unabashedly Catholic and eagerly points others to her source of strength, even on a bad day. For others who are suffering, whether with cancer, or during this pandemic for numerous rea- sons, Megan encourages them. Stay hopeful and trust in your faith. Take time to speak to God and ask for guidance, knowing He will never abandon you. Each day you wake up, start it new and ready to conquer the world-even if you fall a few times, dust yourself off and keep going."
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Megan on her second round of chemotherapy at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City. When her hair began to fall out, she shaved her head, dressed up in heels, "and owned it," said mom, Kristie. (COURTESY)
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