Published: March 22, 2008 10:19 am            

A gift of hope this Easter

Last December I wrote a special Christmas column about a friend who had been suffering from brain cancer.

Just before Christmas, DonEtta Cothren was told by her doctor that any sign of the tumor in her brain had vanished. It was a joyous time for everyone, especially for her family.

Sadly, a few weeks after the New Year the tumor came back and this time it returned with a vengeance.

Last weekend DonEtta breathed her final breath on earth and went on to be with the Lord.

DonEtta was the kind of girl parents wished their son would bring home for dinner.

She was strong in character, loved life and had a sweetness about her that drew her close to anyone who spent the time to get to know her.

In fact, she was much stronger than anyone knew. When she was first diagnosed with the rare form of brain cancer she was given six months to live.

She fought the tumor for 18 months.

I've often used a quote from an old preacher when it comes to mourning the loss of a loved one or friend. That quote is:

"The only comfort comes in thinking about how nice it was to know them, and how nice it was to brush against goodness for a season."

It wasn't just nice to know her, it was a blessing.

She taught us about courage in her battle with cancer and she abounded with goodness all during her life, especially during the days before she died.

She told her cousin Gina Mann that she wouldn't have traded the past 18-months for anything in the world.

This came from a young 25-year old girl who went through the pain and suffering of a brain tumor. A tumor that weakened her speech, her motor skills and forced her to go through horrible chemo treatments.

Yet, when she looked back on the past 18-months of her battle with cancer, she was only thankful to God for allowing her to spend that time with family and friends.

A couple of days before she died, the tumor was taking its toll on her ability to move and talk.

Her father, Donnie, was helping her move around in her hospital room and she was trying to tell him something. She finally said, “Phone.”

Taking his cell phone in her hands, she struggled to type a text message on the phone.

She typed “T-H-A-M...” and then realized her spelling error and backed the cursor up one letter and changed the “M” to a “N.”

Donnie looked at her and asked, “Are you trying to tell me 'Thank You.'”

She nodded her head “yes.”

Last December God gave the Cothren family the greatest Christmas gift ever - the gift of hope.

The possibility the tumor would come back was high. But for a few weeks there was the glorious hope that a miracle had taken place.

Now those who see the glass half-empty would say it was a false hope. I disagree.

Just as He gave us hope at Christmas, God gives us hope in her death.

As we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ this Easter weekend we have the hope and promise that one day we will be reunited with loved ones and friends who have gone before us.

The fact DonEtta died just before Easter isn't lost on those of us who knew her and loved her.

For as God gave us a wonderful Christmas gift last December, He decided it was time to give Himself a gift for Easter by reaching down with His loving hands and arms and cradling DonEtta over the river of death to be with Him for eternity.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.