Two cancer-stricken sisters from Brighton Chapel, a Grace Brethren congregation in Howe, Indiana (Rustin Krapfl, Senior Pastor) are featured in today’s Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette newspaper. Here is an excerpt—to read the entire story click here.
In addition to everything else, both girls have also had to take steroids as part of their treatment and suffered through heavy mood swings because of it. Both say the steroids are worse than the chemo.
But the Howe community, especially the Smiths’ church, Brighton Chapel, and their schools, have been more than supportive.
Students and teachers at the girls’ schools shaved their heads in solidarity when they lost their hair; volunteers from church stayed with the girls so Vickie and Bret Smith could both keep working; and both donated meals and hosted fundraisers to pay for things insurance doesn’t, such as gas for the weekly trips to Lutheran Hospital.
“Our church has been like family,” Chyanna said. “There’s just so many people around supporting you.”
Vickie can hardly talk about what the support has meant.
“Anything I need, they’re there,” she said. “Anything. With no hesitation. I couldn’t have done this without that.”