Beauty from Ashes

"Mommy, let's get out the beads!"

The beads.  The bags and bags of beads.  Hundreds and hundreds (close to a thousand) beads.  Jenson loved getting them.  One bead for every poke, prick, transfusion, hospital stay, or any other painful procedure he had to face.

The "beads of courage" program (created for Oncology kids by a loving nurse) was definitely a bright spot for Jenson during a painful time.

white bead       = chemotherapy
blue bead         = clinic visit
red bead           = transfusions
black bead       = pokes, blood draws, injections
gray bead         = dressing changes
lime bead         = isolation/fever
glass selection = courage bead
ETC

The courage beads are rare .  Each one a unique, handcrafted, blown glass work of art.  Jenson got to personally select each courage bead.  Most Oncology kids only get one of two.  Jenson has over thirty.

A month before he passed away, we sat together on the living room couch with all the beads poured out around us.  Jenson picked his favorite beads, and we strung together a 24" strand with his name on it.  We hung it off the curtain rod in his room where it remains today. 

When he finished his strand, I asked him if he wanted to make another necklace.  "No, Sydney and mommy have these," he said handing me the three huge remaining bags. 

I put them in a closet not ready to deal with the reminder of what each bead represented.  They have been in that same spot for over a year.

Today out of the blue Sydney said, "Mommy, let's make necklaces with the beads from Jenson."  So we did.   And something special happened - from ashes came beauty.  A "courage bead" serves as the focal point in each necklace.  Beautiful reminders of Jenson's courage.   Reminders of how the simple things in life- like beads - can inspire you to face the day.

Here's a picture of our new creations.  I'm proudly wearing the white butterfly necklace as I write this post.   Beauty from ashes.