(Written January 31, 2014)
It is amazing how God answers prayers and you can see the result. This last week we visited the Children’s Hospital one last time. I felt a little uneasiness, disappoint, or something when I heard. Originally we were going to go to the orphanage but ti was changed that day. Last time at the hospital I couldn’t speak or do anything for the little girl Norma except pray and sing, and could only color with Byron. I didn’t want to have the same experience, and I didn’t.
Norma was a little girl I mentioned before in a blog who was admitted to the Children’s hospital. I didn’t know what for, but all I knew was that she was coughing non-stop, coughing so hard she cried from it. She wouldn’t allow any of us to touch her and wouldn’t speak to any of us. Kim and I just sat beside her and prayed. We prayed for healing, peace, comfort, every blessing we could think of. The tears were breaking my heart. When we weren’t praying we took turns singing songs to her; lullabies, Disney songs, and worship songs. To me it seemed whenever we sang she coughed less, especially during the worship songs, but it could have been my imagination. I just prayed that the music would sooth and calm her.
The second time we went, I knew I wanted to go back to the females room right away. I don’t know why, especially since I couldn’t even interact with her last time, I just felt called to go there and didn’t even hesitate. When I arrived, I immediately looked for the little coughing girl with a mask but couldn’t find her. The place was also filled unlike last time. I searched around a bit when the Nurse who told me Norma’s name when I visited before came up to me and started waving me over to another bed repeating “Norma! Norma!”
The little girl she brought me too I couldn’t even recognize. She looked healthy and was lying in bed staring up at me, a little shy. Jacob was already sitting there. The mask was gone and there was only a cough here and there. I pulled out a small book Kim gave me and Norma taught me a few words in Spanish. I also drew some flowers for here and Jacob gave her a paper flower colored with my highlighters. Norma’s dad arrived and was helping her get dressed while we played catch with Jacob’s hacky sack. She was sitting up and fully engaging with us even if she was still shy.
Norma was admitted to the hospital with her siblings for malnutrition. Two of her siblings were already discharged and one was still healing in the nursery ward. Her other sibling died. Jen, Jacob, and I prayed for her and her father, that God would not allow this situation to happen again and that he be with them, protect them, and provide for them. My heart lifted when I heard she was being discharged while we were there. I got to hug and get a picture with her fully dressed and alert. I sang one last time to her before she left with her father.
It was a real blessing to see God heal her and take care of her. I ask you all to keep her family in your prayers.
