The one month old baby next to her weighs far more than her.
I met her just over a week ago at Tondo Medical Center.
Her name is, Ayesha.
This is Ayesha on the first day I met her
Christin said that when I met Ayesha, it seemed as if my world was transformed.
I spent most of my time with her that evening, which wasn't enought time. I could have spent hours with Ayesha.
I couldn't take my eyes off this beautiful baby, God's creation, who was dying of malnutrition.
As I held her, she writhed and wimpered in pain.
She had no strength to her, I could see every bone in her very fragile body.
A few of us prayed for her, and we left.
I left in solitude with silent tears streaming down my face. Knowing that this little girl was being set up for death. Yes, she was in the hospital. But she's been left there to die, for her family is unable to afford any of the prescriptions or treatments to aid in her recovery.
I posted the above picture of Ayesha on Facebook, and a few days later I had a message waiting from a friend in Bozeman. She said that she wanted to sponsor Ayesha's recovery.
I quickly told Pastor of my friend, and we went to visit Ayesha the next morning.
Visiting Ayesha 🙂
I met Ayesha's mother and father, and told them that we were there to help. I told them that a friend of mine is willing to help their daughter.
Ayesha's mom, Geraldine, told me that she had been in the chapel of the hospital for over a week begging God for help for her daughter. I assured her, that this was His answer to her prayer. I was overwhelmed that God was using me to answer the prayers and cries of this Filipino woman.
Ayesha and her mom, Geraldine
Ayesha and her father, Joey
We quickly got the needed prescriptions for Ayesha and discovered that the next step in her recovery would be a blood transfusion. A procedure that most likely costs thousands in the States, can be done for $40 in The Philippines.
After some tests and lab work, we got news the next day that the doctor's were ready for Ayesha to get the blood transfusion.
And that is when I broke.
It was at that realization, that I felt that the life of this little girl was in my hands.
I was terrified.
I was terrified, that if the transfusion did not go well, she would die.
As I cried talking to Pastor and his wife about what to do,
they encouraged me that this was the right step for her and that the procedure needed to happen as quickly as possible.
So only minutes later, we were heading to the hospital to pay for the transfusion.
Geraldine, Ayesha's mom had been waiting at the gate for us for 2 hours — fearing that we were not going to come back to help.
I assured her that we were committed to her daughter.
After reassurance from the doctor's,
we gave them the go ahead for the transfusion and left.
We left not knowing what could happen,
putting all fear into the very hands of God.
The next day, Christin made sure that I was able to get back to the hospital to visit her.
And as I walked in her room, she was smiling (the first smile I've seen on her face),
in weakness and pain — she gave us a grin.
The procedure went well, and she is doing much better than when I first met her.
I didn't go see her today, which is the first day in many —
but my prayer is that God is continuing to heal her little body.
God is changing my life through the story of Ayesha. I do not feel adequate to be His hands and feet to this little one, but He has asked me to. It has brought me to my knees in dependence on Him.
It has caused great brokenness as I am to weak to care for this girl on my own.
But the joy of seeing that first smile of hers, surpasses all brokenness and pain.
Every time I visit her, I still walk into her room with a weariness that she may not be there.
But she's been there every time.
God has her in the palm of His hands.
And, I?
Well, I will never be the same.
I have so much love for this little one,
that I will leave this country different from when I came.
I will be leaving a bit of my heart in this country,
and that part I am leaving is,
Ayesha.
Without the help of my friend from Bozeman, this story would not exist.
I am so thankful for her obedience to the Lord to save this little girl's life.
And though we may never know the end of this story,
we can always rest in whose this little girl is.
She is the Lord's.
Please keep Ayesha in your prayers!
