Angela and I reflected a lot during our Puerto Vallarta retreat knowing there were unopened letters on Madi's PC, and to her mum as well. When we got home I found/printed the letters to mums and I and they were hard to read... hence waiting a month plus, I knew that'd be the case. Some pictures too and thank God, no twerking videos :-) Another gem I think Madison drafted but didn't post/send in blue ink, copy/pasted below. "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand. – Isaiah 41:10. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
She wrote "My hands are pried open to the dream I had for myself. What a beautiful promise that is. On December 9th (2016), I was re-diagnosed with cancer after they found metastatic disease that spread to the lining of my right lung. I know this may come to a shock. I’ve been hesitant to share for a multitude of reasons, but mostly because I wanted to keep some semblance of “hey, look! I’m normal too!” But I’m not, and if I’m honest, my life isn’t all avocados and sunshine either. I’ve been returned to a place I know well. I’m familiar with hospitals, side effects, and scars. This cancer was the monster looming under my bed and now we are face to face."
Madison added: "For anyone who has a loved one dealing with a hardship, you don’t need to know what to say, just show up. My hands are pried open to the plans I had for myself. I don’t always feel brave or positive. I didn’t want this to be my life at twenty-one, but this is where I am. Somehow there is beauty in being able to see the tension between life and death. The beauty of the light owes much of its existence to the darkness."