The Power of Sisterly Love

First of all I want to tell you how great it is to be back. Over the last few weeks, I have been battling some sort of virus–not the West Nile Virus, but something that left me feeling awful. I felt so bad that one Sunday my husband and I did not go to church, instead we spent Sunday at All Saints Hospital in Fort Worth. I am now feeling so much better–my doctor says it has run its course.  I am so grateful to God and the prayers of my church, Carter Metropolitan Christian Methodist Episcopal and my family. I know “thisis(my)yourbestyear“. So let’s get started.

Sisterly love is something that I have enjoyed for all but six years of my life. I am six years older than my sister Carol, who I will forever call my baby sister. There seemed to always be a bond with us from the moment I laid eyes on her. You have to remember I didn’t see her until she came home from the hospital. She immediately became my baby sister. Wherever I went, whoever I talked with, we talked about “my baby sister”.

It did not matter that we were so different. It did not matter that we liked different clothes, colors, foods even movies. We were sisters and we had a bond that could not and would not be broken. We would always be there for each other.

I was 19 and she was 13 when our father had his homecoming. I remember telling mama as she made out her will that I should be the one to take care of my baby sister if something should happen to her. Never mind that we had an older brother. Needless to say, mama didn’t agree.

We’ve always been there for each other. She would come to see me while I was in college at East Texas State University (Texas A&M Commerce), and years later, I would go to see her at the same university. We both became members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority even though our mother was a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and all of our relatives were members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. I can remember my aunt trying to get us to pledge something else, but as sisters, we were to stay together.

When I think back of our mother going to be with our father, and waiting at the airport for my baby sister to come home, and how we knew that our bond would become even closer. We could see our parents in each other’s faces.

I’ve gone through a few medical procedures, but nothing like my baby sister has had to endure. As we listened to the doctor tell her she had breast cancer and explain what her options were we held hands.  We decided I would be the one to tell our brother of the news. At that moment I could not give my baby sister anything but prayer, and pray I did. I called on the saints at my job, at my church, my sorority and my friends. I would have done anything to help my baby sister, and I know that my prayers did help. We had been taught, and believe that our faith will get us through anything.

Today, my baby sister is a globe hopping sistah. She always has her bags packed, and ready to go at a minutes notice.

When I heard that Robin Roberts sister, Sally Ann Roberts would be her donor I knew how she felt. As a big sister, you will do anything for your baby sister. 

There is a wonderful article in More Magazine where Sally Ann talks about her sister Robin and her struggle with her health. It shows so much “sisterly love”. There is nothing like it.

http://www.more.com/robin-roberts-cancer-bone-marrow-transplant 

God Bless you Robin.  You, Sally Ann Sally and all of your family are in our prayers–we know they work. We look forward to seeing you talking to us each morning on Good Morning America.  All who are going through something remember “thisisyourbestyear”.