by Kelsey Williams

“One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives.”  We all have friends, may they be the best friend, the not-so-close friend or the ones we just know from passing in the hallway. Whatever their label or rank may be, there’s always that one special friend in your life, the one that you choose to know everything about you, which we may refer to as our “sister.” Whether you and your “sister”, have only known each other for a few years or like my case, been best friends since K5, you realize that you truly have become like sisters, because that’s how you treat each other. I would like to introduce you to my “sister”, Hannah Goldsby, who truly is an amazing girl, with an amazing spirit and story.

     During the summer of 2011, with me at fifteen and Hannah two weeks from her fifteenth birthday, we were getting ready for one of our annual beach trips. Like anyone else would be, we were excited to go to the beach, and even more excited to go with each other. However, days before we were set to leave, my excitement was turned into confusion and worry as I got a text message explaining that Hannah was in the hospital receiving blood. None of it made sense to me at the time, why would my friend need to be getting blood? We were supposed to leave in less than a week, she can still go, right? After several tests all of those questions were answered when I was told her diagnosis; Pediatric GIST.

     Pediatric Gastrointestinal Stoma Tumors (GIST) is considered to be a very rare stomach cancer. The rarity made sense, because none of us had ever heard of it before. With Hannah’s diagnosis we were all in shock. We didn’t know what we were dealing with or what to do to help Hannah. With her condition, it requires a lot time traveling back and forth to the doctors in Birmingham, lots of tests, and sometimes hospital visits for units of blood, which means Hannah misses school and has her normal routine interrupted. With all this happening you would expect a person to be down in the dumps and not happy with life, but Hannah is truly one of the happiest and most upbeat people you could ever meet. You would never know she had such a serious condition by her attitude and the way she handles herself. Hannah and I love hanging out together and doing normal things that teenagers do.  We have even found ways to make nights at the hospital fun. She has truly become an inspiration to everyone who knows her.  You will never see a smile leave her face. She isn’t letting anything slow her down and that is a true blessing.

      Her immediate family, school family and friends have all been very supportive, and we try to help in anyway possible.  Several fundraisers to help with medical expenses have been done, and TEAM HANNAH bracelets and t-shirts have been sold.  Our plan, as her family, is to continue to help and support Hannah in any way that we can.  If you would like to help the Goldsby family, who truly has become like family to me, you can make a donation at any Compass bank to the Hannah/Vicki Goldsby fund, and help make a difference in Hannah’s life.   If you would like to learn more about Pediatric GIST, you can visit www.pediatricgist.org, or to learn more about Hannah there is a “Pray for Hannah Goldsby,” facebook page, where you can send encouraging comments and get updates about Hannah’s condition. 

     “The LORD your God is with you. He is mighty enough to save you. He will take delight in you. The quietness of his love will calm you down. He will sing with joy because of you.” Zephaniah 3:17.