This story is unfolding into the past and the future. Watch for regular installments.

IN THE BEGINNING
 
By Rhiannon Hanson

Becoming a Guardian of Future Generations was not my intention 9 months ago.  Nine months ago my only intentions were to try to keep my family from financial ruin, raise my beloved grandchild, try to be a good witness for God, and perhaps, just PERHAPS, survive cancer. 

Then I got the call from my daughter to come get Miss Pickles (the beloved grandchild, age 3). 

With only enough faith to allow a glimmer of hope I went to meet a lawyer.  She had consented to help me draw up guardianship papers so that I could get medical care for Miss Pickles.  I don't remember much about that first meeting, only that I was humiliated to be a supplicant and I didn't have enough money for the gas to get home-12 miles.  I also remember that the lawyer was kind and did not wrinkle her nose over my work attire, worn jeans and a faded tee shirt.  She had a beautiful home, a soothing manner, and we never discussed at that time her life's work, her blood's calling.  We were too busy with documents, instructions, and my sad story.
 
On my way out, documents in hand, I was ready to cry.  There was no hope unless I could drive 500 miles round trip to get Miss Pickles.  I didn't have the $2.09 to get 12 miles!  As I walked out the door she very gently handed me some folded money for my trip.  In less than 30 minutes this woman had saved my family.  Quite literally as it turned out.
 
When I got Miss Pickles to my home at 4:30 a.m. we knew she was sick.  When I got her to the Dr. that afternoon we found out that she had histoplasmosis.  I was told that without immediate treatment she would have been dead in less than a week.  Still I knew nothing of Guardians of Future Generations.
 
HISTORY RAISES ITS UGLY HEAD

Within a week we were told that my cancer had returned.  My husband was now faced with my death, and upon my death he would have no legal leg to stand on regarding Miss Pickles.  She is not related to him by blood, but by the heart.  All seemed lost EXCEPT- I kept dreaming I wasn't sick.  I didn't FEEL sick, but I took the chemo.  The day after the chemo, the lawyer called.  She had baked a Holiday bread and wanted my family to have some.
 
My husband, stepson, and I went to her home to pick it up.  The men went with me because they wanted to meet this woman who had brought Miss Pickles home.  My husband carried Miss Pickles to the door-his eyes suspiciously bright.  I carried a bottle of wine.  It had been all I could afford for a gift.  It was a pleasant meeting.  I liked her and her husband.  My family left with a beautiful Holiday bread, a baby doll, and an advocate.  Carolyn.  Still I knew nothing of Guardians of Future Generations.
 
FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THIS STORY SEE THE CHAPTERS LISTED BELOW