A Very Special Lady

Last week I was just coming in from getting off work when My phone Rang. It was my mother. She began talking to me in one of those ways that lets you know she has something to tell you but is not ready to tell you yet kinda ways. After a moment of small talk she broke the news that Kendal Thomas had Lymphoma. She was having some back and leg problems that the doctors finally diagnosed as cancer. BAMMM. This can't be, only a month or two ago Kendal was finishing up her freshman year of softball at AUM. ( Most of you know what school that is but I cant bring myself to write it). She is in perfect health, there is no possible way that could be true I thought. I immediately called Darryl and he confirmed it. My heart has hurt for them from that very minute on. I wanted to take a few moments and tell you about this one very special little lady and her family.

I first got to really know Kendal when she was 12 years old. She and my Katie were on Darryl's softball team. Buggs thought that was awesome because she could never hit Kendal when she pitched and they had always been on opposite teams. When Kendal was born God reached down and put a thunderbolt on her shoulder and she became a VERY good softball pitcher and player. With that being said, All of the credit should not be put on her ability. You see, that year I got to see how very hard she worked at being such a good player. She would work daily to make perfect the skills God had blessed her with. That season Darryl's team won the championship in large part because of Kendal and her presence on the mound.

Many people have physical abilities but not the mental abilities to use them. That was never a problem for 48 (Kendal). It seemed to me that the tougher things got in game situations, The better she would perform. She never got riled. She never gave up. When things got tough on her, she always seemed to be at her best. With all this being said, the thing that I admired most about her is that she has always been a shy, sweet, innocent person.

One day when She was a freshman at Gardendale High School, she was having some problems with adjusting to playing on the varsity softball team. I saw her in the parking lot and she told me that she didn't know if she could pitch anymore. Her reason to me was that she was letting her teammates down when they lost. It wasn't the pressure, or not being good enough, it was that she was concerned for her team. I knew then that 48 was a very special individual and told her that on the spot. If I recall correctly she only lost 3 times as 14 year old playing against 18 year olds.

The abilities and fortitude that I have mentioned above are the reasons I know that Kendal will beat this cancer. Her faith is being tested like Rick Burgess said in the previous blog and there is no doubt in my mind that she will past this test. She has a wonderful family giving her uncondition love and care. She has this whole community pulling for her and praying for her. She also has all the qualities that I mentioned above that she will use to put this in her past. God gave her many abilities and to those that have much, much is expected. She will come through this with flying colors because like I said before, Kendal Thomas is SPECIAL.

kthom48.blogspot.com.

Mike "Buckett" Burkett