But when Martha was eight, she started to feel sluggish. Her parents wondered about it, and tried to feed her extra spinach, but it never occurred to them to take her to a doctor. They felt reticent about exposing their difficulties to a complete stranger, and did not really believe he could help anyway. Their daughter was sick, and that was that. 

The parents were increasingly worried, but they tried to hide the problem. When children invited Martha over they made excuses, without admitting that she was too exhausted to come. 

 

Martha's grandparents began to ask poignant questions, but the parents were evasive and private about the problem. They felt isolated, and deeply ashamed that they were failing to care for their precious daughter.

 

Martha died of leukemia a week before her tenth birthday. She closed her blue eyes on a stormy winter night and never opened them again.

 

The condition she had was completely curable. 

 

Couples whose marriages are sick are often skittish about seeking help. A friend of ours did a study of why couples wait until the marriage is all but lifeless to finally go for counseling. The reasons they gave were vague.

 

If parents want to give the best to their child, including warm clothes and good health care, an intact family should be at the top of the list.

 

Many of the maladies that claim marriages are completely curable.