Hope after Heartbreak
Each time a newborn child is placed in a parent’s arms, the possibilities for how this new life will impact the world are endless. I remember that feeling. Days, weeks and even months are spent thinking about what he will look like, what interests she will accrue, and how their footprint will make the world a better place. Far too often, however, those paths are upturned. Unforeseen trauma, challenging medical diagnoses, or cruel loss can change the trajectory of a family’s journey in an instant. Many of you understand such painful detours. Here’s a story about one family, and how they found a way for good to rise in the midst of devastating loss.
Sam and Andrea Borchers welcomed their first child, Kim with all the jubilation you could imagine. Dreams took shape in the form of this little girl. They went on to have three more; a son, another daughter, and the youngest, a little girl named Ellen. As they navigated their busy lives with overflowing laundry baskets, fingerpaints and crazy bath routines, their 6 year old Kim began to exhibit neurological symptoms which lead to a heartbreaking diagnosis. Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD). This is an inherited, progressive disease affecting a child’s nerve function. At the time, there was little treatment and no cure. In other words, it was terminal. After subsequent testing of their other 3 children, Ellen, too, was diagnosed with MDL. Tragically, sweet Ellen passed at the age of almost 3.
The temptation to coil inward after such heartbreaking loss must have been great, yet the Borchers had other children that forced them to keep moving onward. Kim especially, needed increasing care and the gift of their belief she might overcome. Their mission was to try to save her. Anguish propelled them onward.
Following Ellen’s death, the Borchers’ friends and family suggested the idea of a memorial event in Ellen’s honor whose purpose was to raise money for MLD research in hopes that someday there could be a cure to save others afflicted with this cruel childhood onset disease; not to mention their Kim was fighting in a battle for her life. And so began the Ellen Borchers Memorial Volleyball Tournament.
Hosted by the University of Dayton, for the next 10 years, volunteers from all over the Dayton community showed up in support. The UD Women’s Volleyball players became the referees. Wanna-be volleyball champions put on their bravado. A multitude of people showed up. Additional donations and volunteers pulled together a collective effort to raise just under $100,000 for MDL medical research over this period of time.
Kim died in 2003 just shy of her 18th birthday.
The Borchers family pressed on despite a familiar grief that must have felt exponential. They persisted, determined to help eradicate the disease that brought their family so much pain. There was more volleyball to play, after all.
Recently, in Italy, researchers published a study correlating the use of gene therapy with those afflicted with MLD. The results have been more than encouraging. There is now effective gene therapy treatment for those children afflicted with MLD. No longer is this diagnosis a death sentence. In the Borcher’s world, this is really good news.
The reason Sam reached out to me was not to dwell on his family’s heartache, but to express gratitude to all those here in our local community that showed up for his family over and over again. Who knew hitting a ball over a net could change the world?
“We are ecstatic,” Sam wrote. “We want everyone in the Dayton community that played any part in the volleyball tournament to know that they helped to cure this fatal childhood disease.”
I’d say that’s a bit of good rising for the week, don’t you think? What was once a barren land of grief has grown such hope for other families impacted by MLD. Good job Dayton community. I’ll end with Sam’s simple message, “THANK YOU.”
I’d love to share your stories of good rising. Email me. Romeranne319@gmail.com.