The Four Nguyens: An Angel Among Us

Pre-walk with Mom.

On this Spring Saturday morning, the Four Nguyens headed up to Duke to participate in the Angels Among Us walk. This annual event is hosted by the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University Medical Center and raises money to fund brain tumor research. Hundreds of thousands of people are affected by brain tumors every year, something I never paid much attention to, admittedly. Fighters, survivors, family and cherished loved ones, friends, plain old people...there were all kinds out there today, listening to amazing doctors and medical professionals, family members, fighters and survivors talk about brain tumors and the amazing research they have been able to do with the money that this walk has raised over the years. It couldn't have been a more beautiful morning to be outside, and the Carolina blue (not Duke blue!) skies did not disappoint. This year was our first year participating, but certainly not our last.

...and Daddy.

A little over a month ago, my very sweet friend, the preschool teacher Thomas is still in love with, the best pre-K teacher to ever walk the face of the earth, the lovely Miss Maribeth, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. In our eyes, she is like Superwoman. In her blood runs an amazing passion for teaching children -- it's part of who she is -- it's pre-programmed in her unique design. And more than that, her level of teacher superhero-ness is surpassed only by her love for the Lord.

In our eyes, she wears a cape, people, and it's emblazoned with a cross. She fights to make sure that her children know Him, that we all know Him, that we all know how much He loves us and how He gave His life for us. She unites four-year olds in a single bound five days a week, and she admits that she talks to Jesus in the shower ("Hey, God, it's me! Maribeth."). Of course, this makes the children laugh, but she reveals her real self and illustrates a profound point in doing this: God listens when we pray, no matter who we are, no matter how we do it, no matter what our faith background is.

He. Hears. Us. All.

To this day, the Second Little Nguyen still begins heartfelt prayers as Maribeth taught him to do, mostly when he doesn't think I'm listening, but when he's deep in a conversation with his Friend. He was a very, very, quiet child until Maribeth came along. In addition to the superhero cape, I think she also has a magic wand. She's ma-gic. She's blessed. She waved that wand and not only opened Thomas' eyes, but she helped him find his voice. And the right words began to come out. They still do.

Does she know that she teaches the parents, too? Even if you were a teacher before and think you know a thing or two, when your own child is the student you realize you still have so much to learn.

Today, we were out at Duke walking to support Maribeth, show her our love, and unite with others who are fighting this disease. She was there, too, with her family, sunkissed and beautiful, fresh back from a Caribbean vacation to Aruba. She was walking with new eyes this year, too, but I could still see her imaginary superhero cape. She has walked in Angels Among Us for several years, in memory of her sister-in-law, Carla, who passed away a few years back after a four-year battle with brain cancer. I wonder how many other people saw her cape? I wonder how many other people know her heart? She exudes joy. She oozes love. She is like one of the Gushers candies, the ones you can't get enough of.

These words have been resounding in my head lately, but once again I am reminded that this is the day the Lord has made. It was written all over this day, the first words in my head this morning when I woke up. God is calling, and my phone has been ringing off the hook lately.

There is nowhere else I would have rather been on this day. I was supposed to be here on this day. I was supposed to see this.

Listening to a survivor's story at the pre-walk gathering...

To say that my eyes were closed before Maribeth's diagnosis is an understatement. Until we have experienced certain things, we don't really understand them. But now my eyes are searching. That is a story to tell on another day, though. Something tells me that Maribeth will continue to work her magic as she fights this evil inside her. With her cape, her wand, and, now, the Harry Potter-esque scar buried deep beneath her golden blond hair, she touches everyone she meets in her special way. She leaves her imprint on everyone. Her eyes see that the Lord has put many faithful people in her path to help her in this journey, and she give thanks for this blessing. We'll say it's her gift. She sees the good even amidst the bad. She sees the blessing in everything...in everyone...that has been put in her way. Just add that to her list of superpowers: x-ray vision.

Most importantly, Maribeth makes us see it in ourselves. She helps us see the blessings we bring to each other, to our friendships, to our families, to our babies. She tells us that we have voices He needs to hear, that are worth being heard. Perhaps these are superpowers she has, but more than likely, if you really want to look with new eyes, you have to be willing to see it. She will tell you it is Him. It is His power, the Spirit of God working through her. Really, I think the magic is in believing that. It's called faith.