The Story of “Plant A Simple Seed”

God planted the seed for “Plantasimpleseed” before Amy’s battle began….

I am a mental health therapist.  One day a woman came to see me and asked, “Do you remember my daughter, "name", she came to see you a few years ago?”

“No” I replied, quite embarrassed, “I am sorry I don’t remember her name– can you tell me why she came to see me?”

“Yes she replied, she only came to see you one time” (and then she explained the circumstances that had brought her daughter to counseling.)

 “Oh yes, I remember her now, how is she?”

 “She is doing great!” the lady replied. “She is in college.  I don’t think you realize this but the day she came to see you she had planned to kill herself.  I don’t know what you said, but she said that after speaking to you she decided not to.  You saved her life.”

I hadn’t saved her life.  God had used me to “Plant His Simple Seed.” And this is how the idea for “Plant A Simple Seed” was born!

I explained my idea to Amy.  We agreed that it would be such a testimony to God if somehow we could anonymously plant simple seeds of kindness in His name.  We agreed that this could be a way to quietly evangelize.  We were SO excited!  We worked just about every evening on different ideas… I am sure that we drove her then fiancé, Don, crazy!

During this time, Amy started to “feel bad.”  She was often tired and had unexplained pain in her abdomen.  She started to miss work due to illness. In October during some testing, the doctors found some “precancerous cells.”  They didn’t seem too concerned, all of her other tests were normal.

In September of 2005, Don and Amy were married.  It was a beautiful wedding!   Amy was so happy.  She loved children and was ready to “start their family and have babies.”  We continued to work on our ideas for “Plant A Simple Seed.”

In December of 2005, Amy went into the hospital for “minor surgery”.  The doctors had seen some “spots” on a scan.  They said that worst case scenario, she may lose an ovary.  The hour and a half surgery lasted six hours.   The doctor’s removed a softball sized tumor located behind her uterus; the tumor had “octopused” to her bladder, lower intestine and peritoneal wall.    Amy awoke to a full hysterectomy.  Her battle against cancer had begun. Our “Plant A Simple Seed” idea was no longer our focus.  Amy’s health and treatments became the objective.

Through the gift of adoption, He miraculously sent Amy and Don a child.  On February 15, 2007, Catherine Jasmine Matalka was born.

Throughout her entire battle, which included multiple rounds of chemotherapy, radiation and numerous surgeries and other treatments, Amy’s faith in Jesus Christ never faltered.  She would always say, “If I am cured, I am a testimony to God’s strength and the devil has lost.  If I die, I still win because I am saved and will be in heaven.  I may have cancer, but the devil will never win!”

Through her battle with cancer, Amy was able to plant many, many seeds of hope and love in many people.  And, most importantly, she was able to evangelize about our Lord Jesus Christ. When asked about her illness, Amy never failed to mention the strength and hope that the Lord provided.  Amy is with Him now.  I know that she is happy.

It is my hope that through the resurrection of “Plant A Simple Seed” our dream can grow and through this website, Amy’s daughter Catherine can watch her mother’s legacy continue.                                             

I love and miss you Sweetness!

Queen

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