Mother Moved to Tears After Asking Her 4-Year-Old 'What Does Love Mean?'
Meet four-year-old Leah Carroll, a tiny girl fighting a big battle with unwavering strength.
Born with a rare blood disease, Leah has spent her entire life in and out of hospitals, has endured two bone marrow transplants, and continues to fight for her life.
Leah’s mother, Lindsay Carroll, says that despite her daughter’s complicated medical situation, Leah is a joy and inspiration to others.
The youngest of her siblings, Leah has a love for music and an infectious personality.
Leah’s family clings to their faith in God as they endure the never-ending fight with Leah’s severe congenital neutropenia.
“God is so good to us through it all and Leah is proof of his mercy and grace!” Carroll wrote on her daughter’s Facebook page, Prayers and Love for Leah.
Leah’s rare blood disease leaves her prone to severe infections. Leah is used to living life from her hospital bed, enduring treatments and therapy with the sass and feistiness of a four-year-old girl.
As Leah sat in her California hospital bed, Carroll decided to video her daughter answering a few questions. Leah’s answers are adorable, innocent, and profoundly wise.
“So, I saw a list of questions people are asking their children unprompted,” Carroll wrote on Facebook. “I recorded Leah’s answers and I’m so glad I did. The last answer took my breath away!”
Carroll began with some simple questions for Leah, such as her name, age, and favorite animal. They then moved on to discuss what Leah wanted to be when she grows up (a mermaid) and what Leah would be if the mermaid thing didn’t work out (a human mermaid).
As the video came to a close, Carroll asked Leah a final question. “What does love mean?” she asked.
Leah paused for a moment, thinking about her answer. “God,” she softly stated.
“What?” Carroll asked, just to be sure she heard correctly. “God,” Leah repeated, with a shy grin crossing her face.
Carroll’s voice filled with emotion as she tried to process her daughter’s wise words. “Why are you crying about that?” Leah asked her mother.
“You blew me away with that answer,” Carroll replied. Her daughter’s strong spirit yet again brought hope to her mother’s heart.
“I think any adult going through this wouldn’t have half the spirit she does,” Carroll told Inside Edition, “but that’s what so unique about her.”
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