“Twins are just precious. And when they finally begin to understand what having a twin means, it melts your heart. I think Avery and Campbell were starting to realize how special it was to have that forever playmate,” says Jill Meacham Dale, pondering the adorable relationship between her six-year-old twins.
Avery is a gorgeous, gregarious little girl. With golden bangs gently sweeping her bright eyes, her long wavy hair seems to glisten, much like her personality. Avery’s closest confidant was her brother, Campbell, who shared the same expressive eyes and wide, happy smile as his twin sister. Though Campbell said he adored being a twin because he “loved having someone to play with,” Jill admits that Avery is the only one who truly understood Campbell. And more importantly, “for him, having Avery by his side was a life saver.”
Avery is a gorgeous, gregarious little girl. With golden bangs gently sweeping her bright eyes, her long wavy hair seems to glisten, much like her personality. Avery’s closest confidant was her brother, Campbell, who shared the same expressive eyes and wide, happy smile as his twin sister. Though Campbell said he adored being a twin because he “loved having someone to play with,” Jill admits that Avery is the only one who truly understood Campbell. And more importantly, “for him, having Avery by his side was a life saver.”
On a cold February day in 2014, life unexpectedly turned for the Dale family. “We really had not noticed any glaring signs that something was wrong, even the weekend before we entered the hospital. On Monday, February 10, Campbell went to school like normal, but was upset because he was having trouble going to the bathroom,” recalls Jill. Over the new few days, Campbell developed a slowly climbing fever, and his tiny stomach began to tighten and swell.
A CT scan revealed devastating news: Campbell had cancer. Surgeons rushed to remove a four-and-a-half inch mass from Campbell’s abdomen and after reviewing pathology reports, doctors diagnosed him with Stage IV Rhabdomyosarcoma, a very rare and aggressive form of cancer. Jill says, “Rhabdo is a fast-growing tumor. It responds well to chemotherapy, but at the same time, it tends to come back.”
Amidst the shock and confusion of the diagnosis, Jill and her husband, David, looked at each other and wondered, “How do we tell our children what is going on with Campbell?” Their golden-haired boy was barely four-years-old, and he and Avery were truly Jill and David’s “miracle babies.”
A CT scan revealed devastating news: Campbell had cancer. Surgeons rushed to remove a four-and-a-half inch mass from Campbell’s abdomen and after reviewing pathology reports, doctors diagnosed him with Stage IV Rhabdomyosarcoma, a very rare and aggressive form of cancer. Jill says, “Rhabdo is a fast-growing tumor. It responds well to chemotherapy, but at the same time, it tends to come back.”
Amidst the shock and confusion of the diagnosis, Jill and her husband, David, looked at each other and wondered, “How do we tell our children what is going on with Campbell?” Their golden-haired boy was barely four-years-old, and he and Avery were truly Jill and David’s “miracle babies.”
Jill says, “I remember sitting in the conference room with David on one side of the table, and a team of doctors on the other. When we received Campbell’s diagnosis, I told them, through tears, our twins’ story.” Jill suffered a miscarriage early in their marriage, and struggled to conceive. Convicted about her prayer life, she committed to praying for 28 days about a specific need. “I remember pleading and asking God to bless us with a child,” says Jill. A month later, she found out she was expecting two sweet blessings!
Jill’s pregnancy was considered high-risk, and her babies were born at 33 weeks. “They were both so tiny. Our miracle babies went to the NICU, needing oxygen and time to grow. But when we were able to bring them home, they thrived. God had answered our prayers and He continued to show His healing power in our lives. And in my mind, we had already faced our struggle.”
Jill’s pregnancy was considered high-risk, and her babies were born at 33 weeks. “They were both so tiny. Our miracle babies went to the NICU, needing oxygen and time to grow. But when we were able to bring them home, they thrived. God had answered our prayers and He continued to show His healing power in our lives. And in my mind, we had already faced our struggle.”
Cancer introduced a new battle, and Campbell was admitted to Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children in Jackson. It was a rough time for the twins. Jill says, “I remember sending Avery home with my parents and telling them they might have to sleep upstairs with her. She had never been without Campbell and he had never been without her.” Avery says, “I did not like that he had to spend the night at the hospital, because I didn’t get to see him a lot.”
Campbell finally returned home, a bit more fragile and with a tender scar. Avery, just one minute older than Campbell, immediately took on the role of caretaker. The protective four-year-old hauled her sleeping bag into Campbell’s room, and spent every night on the floor beneath him. Jill says, “When he came home, all was right in the world. Avery was so happy to have all four of us under the same roof again, and Campbell was always glad to come home with her waiting there for him.” Campbell even lovingly said his favorite thing about being home was “that I sleep in my bed and I can look down on the floor and Avery is sleeping right beside me.”
Campbell finally returned home, a bit more fragile and with a tender scar. Avery, just one minute older than Campbell, immediately took on the role of caretaker. The protective four-year-old hauled her sleeping bag into Campbell’s room, and spent every night on the floor beneath him. Jill says, “When he came home, all was right in the world. Avery was so happy to have all four of us under the same roof again, and Campbell was always glad to come home with her waiting there for him.” Campbell even lovingly said his favorite thing about being home was “that I sleep in my bed and I can look down on the floor and Avery is sleeping right beside me.”
Every night, Jill and David snuggled with Avery and Campbell and read a Bible Story. Jill says, “We love to read the Bible and talk about all of the different miracles God has performed.” Avery is enchanted with one particular story. The Book of Mark tells the story of a man who approaches Jesus, falls at his feet, and begs him to heal his dying daughter. Mark 5:41 says, “Taking her by the hand He said to her, ‘Tal’itha cu’mi;' which means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise.’ And immediately the girl got up and walked, and they were immediately overcome with amazement.” Jill marvels, “Avery would always say, ‘I hope God will heal Campbell just like He healed the little girl.’”
After 54 weeks of intense radiation and chemotherapy, it appeared Campbell’s cancer was in remission. However, his final scan showed a two-centimeter growth in the same vicinity as the original tumor. Jill says, “That was so hard for us when it came back. I had two weeks of nonstop crying, not understanding. I was hyperventilating. David and I worried so much about how we were going to tell him and explain it to him.” But Campbell’s trust in God blew them away. “He did say a few times, ‘I thought my boo-boo’s were gone!” We simply told him we would keep praying for God to make them go away. And that was it. He never asked again. Campbell did not question God like David and I had done.”
After 54 weeks of intense radiation and chemotherapy, it appeared Campbell’s cancer was in remission. However, his final scan showed a two-centimeter growth in the same vicinity as the original tumor. Jill says, “That was so hard for us when it came back. I had two weeks of nonstop crying, not understanding. I was hyperventilating. David and I worried so much about how we were going to tell him and explain it to him.” But Campbell’s trust in God blew them away. “He did say a few times, ‘I thought my boo-boo’s were gone!” We simply told him we would keep praying for God to make them go away. And that was it. He never asked again. Campbell did not question God like David and I had done.”
On a flight home from one of his last treatments, Campbell and Jill saw four glorious rainbows shining through the clouds. Jill says with awe, “From the beginning of creation, a rainbow has always been a sign of God's covenant with us. A covenant to never flood the world again, but also a covenant that HE will always take care of us, sustain us, provide for us, comfort us and love us in the midst of great storms. I love what God's rainbow represents. As I saw it out the plane window and watched Campbell point to it, I felt a peace like no other.”
Heaven gained a most beloved angel, just weeks shy of the twins’ sixth birthday. Jill’s faith shines through in her beautiful description of their tragic loss: “Our sweet Campbell finally caught his rainbow…he ran through Heaven’s gates into HIS Daddy’s arms and is sitting at the feet of Jesus. What a sight to behold! Praising Jesus that HE blessed me with the most precious blue-eyed, blond haired boy almost 6 years ago…the joy he has brought into our lives is unbelievable. Our hearts are breaking, but we are home rejoicing that he is healed and he is finally HOME!”
Thank you to Leigh and Ken Johnson with HiLeigh Kentagious for providing the hot air balloon and an afternoon of fun for the Dale family. Also, a special thank you to Adam + Alli Photography for capturing the beautiful family photographs.
Heaven gained a most beloved angel, just weeks shy of the twins’ sixth birthday. Jill’s faith shines through in her beautiful description of their tragic loss: “Our sweet Campbell finally caught his rainbow…he ran through Heaven’s gates into HIS Daddy’s arms and is sitting at the feet of Jesus. What a sight to behold! Praising Jesus that HE blessed me with the most precious blue-eyed, blond haired boy almost 6 years ago…the joy he has brought into our lives is unbelievable. Our hearts are breaking, but we are home rejoicing that he is healed and he is finally HOME!”
Thank you to Leigh and Ken Johnson with HiLeigh Kentagious for providing the hot air balloon and an afternoon of fun for the Dale family. Also, a special thank you to Adam + Alli Photography for capturing the beautiful family photographs.
{Blog by MItchell Walters}
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