A Child Dies from Cancer
Deborah Elizabeth Shepherd, 1974-1983. A Remembrance, by
"her family."
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Dad and Mom were the products of the turbulent sixties. They met each other in Fresno, Califoirnia, after Dad's hospitalization for drug use and emotional overload. Turning to God and faith, they found security in a tight-knit sect of Christian believers, who encouraged strict loyalty, trust in God's healing power, and suspicion of "worldly" outsiders. The family grew till there were finally eleven children in all born to Mom and Dad. All the children were born at home, without doctors or drugs. The family ultimately moved to rural northern California, where the church had now headquartered. The kids attended home schools, studied the Bible, and the family relied on the "prayer closet" as its channel of deliverance from evil of all kind.
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In 1982, Debbie developed a tumor on her side. It was treated by the pastor with prayer and intercession. When Debbie's condition continued to worsen, Dad and Mom were faced with a dilemma. Following the vehement urging of Dad's brother Al, who was aloof from the church and critical of its separatist tendencies, they took Debbie to the child welfare authorities. They explained that they knew she was dying, but because they belonged to a church that chose to trust in God and in the power of prayer, rather than doctors, they felt stymied. They asked about their legal options. The authorities explained their office would be compelled to intervene for Debbie's sake. A hearing was held in short order, and medical intervention was initiated. The doctors said Debbie had a Wilms' Tumor. Over the next year they did all they could to save Debbie. But on November 5, 1983, the cancer claimed her.
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Debbie was a beautiful, intelligent and precocious child. She loved poetry and art, horses and music. We were, as a family, stunned. This was not supposed to happen, we thought. For many months we were in something like shock. Were we falling apart or drawing together? We had quit going to church, had begun to question the very foundations of our faith. What good was all our "godly" zeal and intensity? It was hard to comprehend that "outsiders" and unbelievers, Samaritans, "lukewarm" believers and "worldly" doctors could have been right, while our own righteous zeal had stood in the way of help. We found ourselves throwing out a lot of rules and enthusiasm, and turning to a much more basic and ordinary outlook. We came to see that God was bigger than the narrow and exclusive sect we had formerly felt certain He had annointed as His special and select ones. When we were hurting and desperate, people of all kinds were trying to help, and it meant so much to us.
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We learned other things, too. Like how important it is to be gentle, to "try a little kindness," as Joey Bishop used to say. That God can meet you in many forms, and that he can use MANY agents and channels for his blessing. No longer are we impressed with the logic of distrusting all doctors and all government. Indeed, even if there is truth in the scriptures which say we must not trust in man, we know God does use human intermediaries. God does use science for good. He does use doctors for good. He does use government for good. And he will even use your neighbors, too.
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This insight was Debbie's gift to us.
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Thank you, Debbie. We love you.
Wilm's Tumour resources
Poems to honor Debbie
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