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Arlene Sheppard was a
missionary kid. She was born in Vancouver, and raised in Mexico.
At age 14, she contracted leukemia. After two intensive
bouts with the disease, Arlene passed away in 2003, at age 20. She left a
legacy, in the form of a book.
The title, A Princess Meets
Her Prince Charming, refers to one of the
highlights of her life: meeting Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace,
through the Make A Wish Foundation.
There is much more to the book, however, as it takes
the reader through Arlene’s battles with terminal illness, and
demonstrates the importance of faith in her life.
Following is the book’s epilogue, with a final
comment from her parents, David and Rowene.
THE LORD has brought me to new things in the last
couple of years.
For over two and a half years, now, I have been
finished with all chemotherapy treatments! During this time, I also
completed the two-year vigilance period, and now have a clean bill of
health.
My hair has grown back, too – it is now below my
shoulders in length, and curly! I graduated from high school over a year
ago, with honours, and have been continuing my studies in music as well as
teaching music classes.
God has provided me with a good job that has allowed me
to save up for the future. I received a full scholarship to Christ For the
Nations, Dallas, Texas, to further my education.
Just the right time
I have a boyfriend now! Benjamin is the best that there
ever could be! The Lord brought us together at just the right time in my
life. He’s my first (and only) boyfriend, and I am so grateful to the
Lord for him.
He tells me that I’m beautiful, and always
whispers to me that he loves me. He makes me laugh and spoils me so –
but most importantly, he also yearns to serve God with all of his heart,
soul and mind.
The great ‘adventures’ that I’ve been
through continue to precede me in touching many lives.
In September 2001, I went on a missionary trip to Cuba,
visiting different villages and cities, sharing what God has done in my
life, and praying for the sick.
People here, in Puebla, Mexico, call me up every now
and then to pray for some loved one with cancer – or to go and
visit them.
Because of what I’ve endured, I am able to go and
do this with an understanding heart and the power of [Christ’s]
healing hand, knowing that my God heals the sick and broken-hearted.
God has opened doors of ministry wherever we go –
in Canada, and in the U.S.A. as well. I pray that my life and testimony
will continue to be used as long as I live.
God is so good to me . . . Praise the Lord for
[the] years that he’s given to me! It is only by him that I am here,
and by him I’ll remain on this earth until he calls me home:
“Daughter, it is time.”
Until that time comes, I will serve God with all my
being and continue to grow in him. Praise God . . .
Final entry: April 24, 2003
With plans of going to Christ For the Nations in a few
months, and getting married a few years down the road, I find myself
struggling.
I began to have migraine headaches a few months back,
which then was followed with extreme pain in my wrists and elbows,
sometimes even in my knees. In my heart I know that I am healed, but my
mind can play dirty tricks sometimes, that cause uneasiness.
I had this nosebleed a few weeks back, that led us take
a blood test – as I had grown quite weak and anemic. The blood test
was very unnerving, when it showed that five percent of my blood had
blastos or leukemia cells in it. The bone marrow test showed 98 percent of
leukemia.
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Fears from the past
Here I was home free from cancer for three years,
only to be bombarded with fears from the past. My heart cries out to
God, my Saviour: “Oh, Lord why again?”
I know that through the depths of despair, he hears my
cry. I know that I’m not going to die; but yet, to pass through all
the pain of the past again, seems impossible.
To know what it is like makes the situation completely
different. I know what the chemo can do to my body; I know what it’s
like to lose my hair; I know what it’s like to have a puffy face, to
have a port put under your skin
I know the nauseas and headaches and heartaches it can
all cause . . . so, why again? I believe that my God is going to give me a
miracle instantaneously this time. He hasn’t yet, but I know that he
will.
God has a purpose
The past seems useless – having passed through
three years of chemo, only to be granted three more years of health; but
yet, I know that God has a purpose through all of this. I just want to get
down to the light of hope at the end of the dark tunnel soon –
oh! so soon.
Three days ago, I was hospitalized to receive red blood
cells, and then to have a surgery to put a new port in, followed by chemo
in my spine and by IV. Big day!
My friends and my boyfriend went to keep me company and
help the time pass faster. That was a huge help. Now, I’ve been
recuperating, suffering from a very sore chest and throat from the surgery,
as well as nausea sometimes.
On Monday, I’m scheduled to start up chemo every
day for the next two weeks. Right now, I am to reach remission. I look at
all these grim circumstances with dread; but I know that my God’s
grace will be sufficient for me, his strength is made perfect in my
weakness.
Concluding note from Arlene’s parents:
Several months passed before we had the strength to
look for her book manuscript, and we found the epilogue she had written as
you’ve just read it.
God’s grace was sufficient for Arlene, as well as for the rest of her
family and friends. Between 2 and 3 pm, June 25, 2003, heaven’s gates
opened – and Arlene was welcomed into the loving arms of her Lord and
Saviour.
She, her family and hundreds of other friends prayed
and believed for a miracle; but our idea of a miracle never happened.
Instead, God, knowing the true desires of her heart, in his sovereignty
chose to take her to himself. As it says in Psalm 139:16, All of the days
ordained for her were written in his book.
Arlene is now where we all desire to be someday, and
has joined the ‘faithful cloud of witnesses’ up above
– cheering us on, as we finish the race God has called us to. We
miss her intensely, but know that her life will live on through her book
– and through the many lives impacted by her short one.
We trust that Arlene’s words have given you a
greater compassion for the sick and suffering and their families. May they
also give hope to those of you whose prayers were not answered in the way
you expected, and your loved ones went home early.
Those who put their trust in the Lord Jesus can never
lose. Whether we live a long or short time on this earth, we will all be
together for eternity with the Lord.
Arlene’s book is available at 604.942.0385 or
online at: arlenesheppard.com.
February 2009
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