The Birthday Bag

For the past 6 years we have been walking the streets of downtown Eastside Vancouver bringing God’s love (agape) to the women who work as prostitutes there. Most of these women, if not all, are drug addicted. In the last month we have formed Day Teams to serve these women. Today’s Team took the rickety elevator to the fourth (Praise God for elevators!) floor Hotel room to deliver a ‘Birthday Bag’ to Jane. We knocked on her door and leaned close to hear the tiny, “Who’s there?” After we identified ourselves, Jane opened the door and supported herself weakly against the wall. She was pale, though not thin (which tells us she’s not smoking “crack” cocaine). Dark shadows circled her eyes and she apologized for her sparse eyelashes and brows explaining that she’s on chemotherapy for lung cancer. She is scheduled next week for surgery to remove the tumour. We told her she only had to call us and we would visit her in hospital and help in any way. We hugged her and she didn’t want to let go. We gave her the beautiful Birthday Bag, all new items donated by people who share in celebrating the day she was born 26 years ago. As we sang Happy Birthday, the tears welled up in her eyes and she hugged her gift to her chest. When we finished she said, “You know last year when you brought my Birthday Bag, remember, I had just come through surgery for cancer then too. Thank you all for making my day special!”

As we walked from the dingy hotel into the sunlight I felt strongly the loneliness of a young woman celebrating her 26th Birthday with only “strangers” to take notice, in a dark, dismal, roach infested 10’ x 10’ room and struggling with the nausea and effects of cancer and it’s treatment. I wonder as she goes through the inevitable sickness and fatigue how she will possibly have the energy to even reach out for help when she needs it. How will she find it within herself to seek a better life in the near future? And I turn my face to the sky and I know that that is why we are here today.