Roofing Specialist, Patriot Roofing
Lee Ann Larkan is a fixer. Family and friends call on her when something needs to happen or everyone else has run out of ideas. Underneath the problem-solving is something deeper, though — caregiving. Her instinct is almost always to ask, “How do we make this better?” Life, however, has taught her that not everything can be fixed.
“Sometimes love can’t fix what’s happening,” Larkan said. “It can only refuse to leave.”
Larkan has battled cancer twice, first nearly a decade ago and again recently. Through those battles, one of the constants has been her husband, David, who she described as her best friend, confidant and defender.
During her most recent chemotherapy treatment, Larkan noticed a woman sitting alone who was clearly in pain. Larkan walked over, asked if she was OK and then asked if she could pray with her.
“Tears began streaming down her face, and she said yes,” Larkan said. Larkan placed her hands on the woman and prayed for healing, relief, courage and strength.
“We live in such a hurried world that it’s easy to walk past someone who’s hurting,” Larkan said. “If I’ve made one person feel seen, loved or a little more hopeful, that’s a good day.”
Serious illness also changed the way Larkan approaches her health. She now focuses on caring for her body, mind and spirit through whole foods, exercise, time outdoors and even cold plunging.
“My goal isn’t to look 30 at 60,” she said. “My goal is to be excited about the future and enjoy whatever God has for me when I get there.”
While attending Unlimited Church in Maumelle, Larkan was introduced to the worship music of Charity Gayle, whose songs became especially meaningful during her most recent cancer battle. Larkan later got to meet Gayle and learned she had experienced non-Hodgkins lymphoma herself. The two have since stayed in touch.
“Her music gave me something to look forward to during one of the hardest seasons of my life and reminded me that whatever happens in this life, our story doesn’t end here,” Larkan said. “One day, I believe I’ll hear the endless praise she sings about not from a concert seat but in the presence of the one we’re all singing to.”
