HER SONG
Rayko Batista
28
My sister had leukemia when I was 22 . Her name is Raisa Batista . At the time , Capital Records and Atlantic were considering signing my band . We were on tour most of the time , but I dropped everything to take care of my sister . I believe in family first , always . I also believe that bigger opportunities are around the corner . I love my sister more than any success I can have . We found out after I got back from tour . I took my sister to the beach for a picnic one day . As we walked off the sand , she stopped walking . She said she couldn ' t move . I put her over my shoulder , and carried her like a cross to my car . She looked horrible . My family took her to the hospital , and they gave us the news the following morning . She had leukemia . I ' d never been tested so much in my life , but to whom much is given , much is tested . I ’ d been in a coma before , and was in a wheel chair and all that , but it was easier to deal with because I had control . With my sister , I was mad at everybody . I felt hopeless . I sat with a native tribe and took peyote for a prayer healing a couple days after finding out . I wanted to talk to God . I was mad at him . After taking the native medicine , I resisted for hours . I was yelling and possessed by my anger until I finally let go . I looked up at the stars and said , " Thy will be done , God . If it is part of your plan to take my sister from me , only you know why . Like I respected you for bringing her into my life when I was baby , I will respect your decision to take her from me . I just pray for clarity .” I sat by the fire the entire night without a word or thought , and discovered God ’ s silence . A little while later , I was in practice with my band sitting behind a piano . My manager stood behind me coaching me , but I was numb and in shock . I hadn ’ t told anyone what was going on . Then I wrote her a song .
I believe in friends , For you , you know I ' ll fight until the end , And everything I feel will never end .
I believe in you , You know I never tell you , But it ' s true , And everything I do , I do for you .
Maybe one day when the world disappears , We will meet again just right here , Just promise me that you won ' t be , Consumed by your fears , ‘ Cause I will protect you .
That night , I finally had my first real cry since finding out she was sick . I had to talk to her . I sped over to the hospital and rushed into her room crying my heart out . She was crying too . All I could do was tell her how much I loved her . I told her no one else deserved my time but her , and that God gave her an older brother for protection . I told her she was perfect , and that this was just a test . I told her she was stronger than the sickness . The next morning , after I spoke with her and prayed for her and hugged her like my life depended on it , they let her walk out of the hospital . I learned a lot of the power of Love through that experience . Pure love can move mountains , and compassion stems from the understanding of suffering . Compassion cannot exist without suffering . It is a love that comes from the understanding of those battling the hardships of life . Those who have lost a loved one to cancer have an angel watching over them . But those currently facing the battle have an angel who is living – someone to share love , compassion , and understanding with . My sister is my inspiration to go forward . She is my angel .