The mother of an Alabama teen who passed away this weekend after a year-long bout with cancer received comfort on Sunday in the unlikely form of a ladybug.
Sid Ortis was diagnosed with bone cancer last year, a rare development for such a young man. He was 15 at the time. Sid’s courage and good humor throughout his battle captured the hearts of well-wishers around the world. An avid LSU fan, he even struck up a friendship with Tigers coach Les Miles, who prayed with him earlier this year, saying “Life is not how long you live, but how well you live it.” When Sid came home on hospice two weeks ago, Miles called him again, telling him “When you get to Heaven, save a spot for me.”
On Sunday, Sid’s mother, Lynn, shared a “sign” she received at Birmingham’s Church of the Highlands.
“A couple of weeks ago Sid and I were laying around and I asked him a question,” she recalled in a Facebook post. “I first told him I did not pretend to know how things worked, but if he went to Heaven would he ask God if he could give me a sign to know that he was happy, good and loving life. Sid was random and said, ‘Ok, when you see a ladybug that will be my sign.’
“Well, today at church we heard there were annoying bugs crawling across the projector. Lots of friends saw it, and then Sid’s friend saw this post from a production team member who does not know Sid or his sign.”
In an Instagram post, the video production team member bemoaned the “army of rabid lady bugs hanging out on the projector glass.”
“It is not ladybug season!!!” Sid’s mom exclaimed. “Thank you, God for this gift. My heart is lighter tonight!! Jesus rocks and Sid is rocking with Him!!!!”
The post, which can be viewed below, has been spreading quickly on social media.
A couple of weeks ago Sid and I were laying around and I asked him a question. I first told him I did not pretend to…
Posted by Lynn Allen Ortis on Sunday, November 1, 2015
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.