Faith

In 2013, Shannon and Christy Ginn traveled with their family to China to meet their family’s newest addition. Faith was in an orphanage there and the Ginns were eager to bring her back to Pell City and welcome her into their family officially.

Since then, the now 6-year old has settled into her life consisting of two loving parents, three older siblings, and a welcoming community.

But on May 15, 2015, Faith became sick. She stayed home from school and spent the day resting. Upon waking from a nap, her parents noticed an alarming change in their daughter and feared she had suffered a stroke. They immediately rushed her to the hospital, where they learned she had a brain tumor that was bleeding.

Faith’s short life had not been an easy one. She had suffered a brain injury at birth and because of that, had severe brain damage. The orphanage had not spent time working with her to help her develop motor skills, so she spent her days confined to a bed without much hope.

Little did she know, with her new family would come even more hope than anyone could have foreseen.

The type of tumor Faith has is called a Pilomyxoid Astrocytoma. Once they diagnosed her, she stayed in the hospital for nine days recovering.

Following her surgery, Faith is currently undergoing weekly chemotherapy treatments. She has chemo on Wednesdays.

Throughout the months of treatment, the outpouring of support from the Ginns’ neighbors and friends has been overwhelming for the couple.

“Every week when we spend the day at the hospital for her chemo, we come home to dinner completely prepared and waiting for us,” Shannon said. “It’s been amazing the ways people have helped us, tangibly and intangibly. When she was going through surgery, people did our yard work, made us meals and constantly let us know we were in their thoughts and prayers.”

Shannon’s colleagues and students at Jefferson State Community College held a “Hope for Faith” rally to show their support for Faith and our family during her initial hospitalization. Also, one of the departments gifted Faith with approximately 20 hats on her birthday because her hair had started to come out from the chemo.

In addition to the St. Clair County support, the J.O.Y. Quilters of Jacksonville handcrafted a quilt for Faith. She uses it every week during her chemo treatments.

Faith’s classmates have been finding ways to support their friend, as well. Students at Coosa Valley Elementary School are running a lemonade stand and donating all proceeds to Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a national organization dedicated to finding a cure for brain cancer.

“Since her diagnosis, the other kids have been so willing to help fundraise for cancer because it is now a personal cause for them,” Shannon said.

Shannon and Christy have created a Facebook page for those wanting to keep up with Faith during her treatments. The page is called Hope for Faith and can be found at facebook.com/wehavehopeforFaith.