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ANGELS IN OUR MIDST

11 year old Jessica Potthoff has spent the last year in a long, painful journey; a battle for her life.
But when the days got darkest, she learned she had a host of guardian angels making the journey with her.

If I were your Guardian Angel.

I could be your best friend. I would care for you.

If I were your Guardian Angel.

I would whisper to you and say that you are not alone.

Your Guardian Angel will stay by your side always.


James Struck; St. Paul 3rd grader; "Leukillmea. I don't remember how to pronounce the name but she had it so she had to go to the hospital.

Grace Busch, Jessica's Guardian Angel; She has "leukeenea", uh, leukemia and we're trying to help her feel better.

Leukemia, it is a big word and big disease for third graders to get their arms around. But it was no stretch at all for these children to reach out to a stranger who needed them. Today, they are meeting Jessica Potthoff, in person, for the first time.

Hi, kids. Hello, Jessica.

Jessica; I wanted to meet them, talk to them, tell them what I had.
And have some fun with them.
They're really special to me, It's like, uh, they're my friends.

Julie Eggen, the social worker for Nemours Children's Clinic, facilitated the friendship between Jessica and the St. Paul third graders. They've been sending her special gifts, cards and letters. She has responded.

James; She sent us cards which are all back there in Jessica's corner.

Jessica's visit makes it personal.

Grace; Well, I didn't know she still didn't have her hair back.

Jessica Potthoff, Cancer Patient; I know, at first my hair was really, really straight and it was very beautiful, golden blonde before I got sick.

Her presence addresses emotions.

James; Worried that she may die because of all the, it's kind of young for her to be going through all of this.

Jessica; My parents and I were very scared.

Julie Eggen, Nemours Children's Clinic Social Worker; There was a time she was in the hospital for about a month...

While their cards, letters, and gifts had eased Jessica's isolation and fears, her guardian angels had also been sending something else all along...

Julie; A lot of the initial thing was, we're going to pray for her.

James; My dad calls it bedtime routine. So, when he comes into my room and we say prayers and I say, God bless blah, blah, blah. So, umh, and ...
I say a prayer for Jessica.

Julie; They did a really neat thing with balloons. They attached balloons to prayers and said, our prayers are reaching up for you.

....and I think that really made her feel hopeful.

Her visit is a lesson in prayers answered.

Grace, I felt amazed.

For Jessica, their prayers and their devoted friendship were nothing short of a miracle.

Jessica; I felt like I was given a gift, a gift of God.

Angels in our Midst is brought to you by Sacred Heart Children's Hospital.
Angels In Our Midst (St Paul's Elementary)

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