It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness so says an ancient proverb.

Weary, angry, sad, you name it, I wouldn’t have had the stamina to light any candle this morning.  I’m not there yet.  But, I wouldn’t have had the energy to curse, either.

So how touched I was when representatives of the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Delaware today lit candles for my family in the form of a giant, mylar monkey balloon and a circle of new friends.  This organization has become my goal today — to learn more about these kind people.

Just before lunchtime, I looked outside of our doorway to see a massive amount of balloons floating by.  Two people came to my door and asked if we’d like a monkey, Superman or Sponge Bob.  As soon as we saw it, Nate and I knew we had to have that monkey.  After handing me the balloon, they told me to have a good day and off they went.  Who were they?

That monkey immediately brought Nate and I some happiness.  How we laughed and started saying “ooh ooh.”

A few minutes later, our unit’s social worker invited me to a lunch with other parents of children with cancer.  The meal also was sponsored by the Candlelighters.  Getting out of our room for an hour to talk to peers is a power of its own.

The pair with the balloons came so quickly I didn’t have a chance to meet them — or thank them.  But I now know that the  Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Delaware is run by volunteers and comprised of local parents of children with cancer.  They have walked in my shoes.  The organization’s mission is to educate, support, serve and advocate for children with cancer, their families, survivors of childhood cancer and the professionals who care for them.

Nationally, parents created the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation (now known as the American Childhood Cancer Organization) at a time when they were encouraged not to talk about their child’s cancer.  Per Wikipedia, the organization’s original name was derived from the proverb, “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”

Today in Delaware, mission accomplished for the Candlelighters.