The Story Behind Peto
Birthed from Tragedy
The room was filled with bright rays of light as the sun started to set. Sadness dared to enter the room, but was met with a peace that only God could give. There he was, not moving, and with a teardrop resting on his cheek. On October 19, 2017, Calvin James Hall Jr. my little brother, who I called Peto, took his last breath. In the midst of so much grief, hope took over my heart and mind.
The Bible says, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 NIV. I did not know what was next, but I did know hope was the key to getting me through grief. I realize now, grief is not just crying and feeling sad. It can also be desiring more of your loved one's story to be written. So I decided to write, but first, I cried.
I cried. I cried some more. And guess what? I kept crying. My brother's story inspired me to not give up. He faced death with tears in his eyes, but also a fight in his heart. His fight helped him do impossible things like joining a dance team, making music, traveling the world, and having two radiant kids. To some, these things are simple. His particular battle with Sickle Cell Anemia was hard, but he took it in stride.
Peto the Boy with the C-Shaped Blood started off as a note document in my phone and a water color drawing I did in my living room. I felt good about it, but it was not doing anything just sitting on the shelf, so I challenged myself. If only one person bought the book or was inspired by his story, it mattered.
So here we are, facing fears and uncertainties with joy, laughter, and again hope. Peto's journey through life can be mirrored to our own. We may not have to battle a life-long illness. We all have different forms of weaknesses that can produce strength. Strength does not mean it will be easy or you will be successful. But it means that you had the courage to get up and do it.
So I leave you with our motto, Even though Peto's blood cells were shaped like a C, it was his heart that changed the world. :)