There are days when the radiation and chemotherapy wipe her out. Doctors tell her the treatments are working on the ovarian cancer that was diagnosed a few months ago. The day before her cancer operation, her husband collapsed. She thought it was a stroke; it turned out to be stage 4 glioblastoma multiformae, the cancer that killed Ted Kennedy.
Recounting her story with Tom Shea of The Republican in Springfield, MA, she talked of her twin daughters. Both live with cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. Life is filled with visits to the Shriners Hospital, doctors, and a variety of therapists.
AnnMarie and Tim Richard have burdens. They also have faith. Tim says, "We're praying for a miracle." AnnMarie agrees, saying "We believe miracles happen. What we aim for every day is to concentrate on what we can control - take care of our children, our treatment and our bills - and what we can't control we hand over to God."
A friend says AnnMarie is "probably the strongest woman I've ever known." Her cousin adds, "She has such great faith. And she really lives it every single day. She is such an inspiration. Ask anyone who knows her."
These are self-sufficient people who've been blindsided by disease, but they don't live in fear, self-pity or hopelessness.
Why not?
Partly because miracles do happen. But more importantly, they know this life - as cruel as it can be - doesn't last all that long and when it ends the future is bright. They have an eternity devoid of illness and free of pain ahead of them, and so do their faithful loved ones.
Some people see faith as a reed grasped in desperation (the allusion is to a drowning person grabbing flimsy reeds to save himself). If they opened their minds, they'd discover there are solid reasons for Christian faith and that once they accepted it a palpable change happens within them. This confirms the reality of Christ and provides the faith that carries Christians through adversity.
On the other hand, an unbeliever usually lives at the center of his own universe. Troubles are more important because, after all, they mess up his universe. He's only got one, and it ends when he dies.
What's a skeptic left with when he's faced with an ordeal like the Richard family? A self-reliant egotism that's fading into intolerable helplessness? A dawning realization that all the material things he struggled for are meaningless? The relentless, inescapable implosion of his universe? And then ... nothing?
Christianity shows us how to live a satisfying life that has eternal consequences. It puts our struggles in perspective and gives us supernatural strength and hope.
Just ask AnnMarie Richard.
Contributions may be sent to: The Richard Family Fund, c/o Monson Savings Bank, P.O. Box 188, Monson, MA 01057
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