Heartfelt Post by a Mom of a Toddler with Cancer Captivates the Internet

When their two-year-old daughter began having frequent breathing difficulties, Shelby and Jonathan thought it was asthma. However, a series of tests conducted a few days later confirmed the worst: Sophie was supposed to undergo an allergy test, but never got the chance, as one night she simply stopped breathing and was rushed to intensive care. "It's every parent's nightmare," Shelby recalls. "Shortly after we arrived at the hospital, doctors told us that Sophie has a rare cancer called lymphoma, and she would need to be hospitalized for an indefinite period to start chemotherapy."

The news struck like a bolt out of the blue, but Sophie's parents gathered all the strength they had ("and even those they didn't") to begin the fight for her life. "The chemotherapy affected many things. Suddenly, she couldn't walk, talk, or use her hands to eat," Shelby recounts. "Her tiny body was fighting without knowing why it had to battle at such a young age. I cry a lot, but alongside her, I must show strength. Not like the nurse who cares for her."

This nurse thought no one saw her when she entered the room quietly and did what I'll detail shortly. But Shelby certainly did see, and the post she's sharing now on the Facebook page set up for her daughter 'Brave Sophie' has received thousands of comments and shares.

"You're there, with us and with tens of thousands of patients who need just what you and only you can give"

"I see you," Shelby began writing. "I sit on this couch every day, and I see you even though you try your hardest not to show it. Especially not to us—my child and me. I see your face fall a little whenever you see Sophie crying. You try in so many ways to ease her fears and help her overcome them, and I see that. I hear you say 'I'm sorry' when you hurt her, far more times in one day than most people say 'thank you' in a day.

"I see all those colorful rubber bracelets you wear on your arms and stethoscope—dedicated to every child you've cared for and loved. I see how you gently stroke Sophie's little bald head and cover her with her blanket in the most tender way possible. I see you trying to hide the tears in your eyes whenever you have to give us bad news. I see your genuine concern when you hold babies and children in your arms when their mothers aren't with them in the hospital.

"You're there, with us and with tens of thousands of patients who need just what you and only you can give. No matter what's going on in your personal life, you always enter each room with a big smile and immense love for all the kids there. When you see Sophie, you come to check on her even though she's not your patient that day. You fight to ensure Sophie gets what every sick child needs in time, to feel better. And when you check on her often, you never forget to check on me—if I need anything, if I'm hungry or need someone to cover me so I can sleep and gather strength for the next day. You sit and listen to me for 10 minutes, even though your phone buzzes endlessly and your patient list is long and never-ending.

"I see you; we all see you. And we have no words or real way to fully express how much you're appreciated. How important and precious you are to our children, and just as importantly, to us. Our children won't receive what they need—without you. And mothers like me wouldn't feel sane or heard—without you... You save our babies, and we couldn't make it through this hard journey without you."