This is a report for Mission 353 by Grace on Wings.
Departure: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Arrival: New York, New York
Date: August 1, 2015
Mission Report
I must confess for the first time I am really struggling with what to write for this mission report. My prayer is always that God will give me the words to write and that they would glorify Him first and foremost and also honor the family He has allowed us to serve.
So here it is….
June 24, 2015, 38 yr. old Desiree and her husband Cavim have just added baby #2 to their family of which they already have a 5 yr. old son. They are originally from New York City but their jobs have recently taken them to Sioux Falls, SD. Only 8 days after giving birth, Cavim has found Desiree in their home on the floor and unconscious. After being rushed to the hospital it has been determined that she has suffered a hemorrhagic stroke and is now in a vegetative state. Her outcome appears to be very grim.
Cavim is now left to oversee the care of his wife who can no longer communicate. He is also left to care for their 5 yr. old and an 8 day old newborn. All the while, doing this alone and in a place far away from their family and friends.
It’s not that they cannot do it, but God has gifted them in different ways. So many emotions come in to play in this situation: the joy of a newborn, fear of losing his wife, the sorrow of not only seeing her suffer but the children, worry, and uncertainty just to name a few. I think this is why the needs of this family have tugged so strongly on my heart strings. Praise God that our Lord and Savior knows our needs, hears our cries and goes before us. Nothing comes as a surprise to Him. I can guarantee that unlike us, He never once says, “I didn’t see that coming.” No, He goes before us to prepare our way in each and every situation that we face. He is already there.I cannot begin to imagine what this must be like for Desiree nor for her husband. These little ones need both their mommy and their daddy. Now, here she is no longer able to nurture and hold her newborn. Cavim now playing the role of single parent trying to be both mommy and daddy. Not to mention that caring for newborns does not come naturally for dads like it does for moms.
EXODUS 23:20 SEE, I AM SENDING AN ANGEL AHEAD OF YOU TO GUARD YOU ALONG THE WAY AND TO BRING YOU TO THE PLACE I HAVE PREPARED.
JOHN 10:4 WHEN HE HAS BROUGHT OUT ALL HIS OWN, HE GOES ON AHEAD OF THEM, AND HIS SHEEP FOLLOW HIM BECAUSE THEY KNOW HIS VOICE.
Cavim has called us to help transport Desiree back to New York where they can have the support that they desperately need from their family. We arrive at the hospital to pick her up and with the help of the staff we gently place her on our cot and get her connected to all of our monitors. I sent a text to Cavim to let him know we were on our way to the airport. He and the children would be flying commercial arriving ahead of us to be there in NYC when she arrives.
The trip back to the plane was fairly short and we quickly have her on board Nellie after praying for her and her family. Our flight would require a fuel stop due to the distance we had to travel so, I took advantage of this stop to once again notify her husband of our progress. Desiree tolerated the flight well as we monitored her closely and took every measure we could to make her as comfortable as possible.
Once on the ground in New Jersey we spent the next hour riding and caring for her in the ambulance as it made its way to our final destination in NYC. As I notified Cavim that we were finally there he informed me that he and the children were still in Sioux Falls as they had missed their flight. He asked me to call his aunt so she could meet us at the hospital which I did and reassured him that I would continue to pray for his family.
I have continued to pray for them daily and I ask that if they should cross your mind at any given time that you too would lift them up in prayer, laying this family at the feet of Jesus. Our God is a God of miracles and a miracle is what they need. My prayer has been that not only would He perform a miracle in healing Desiree and allowing her to raise her children but more importantly that this family would recognize that this miracle can only come from God Almighty and that they would give Him all the praise and glory. However if He chooses not to heal her that they would still call upon His name.
My apologies for taking so long with this report am still not sure I did it the justice it deserves. I do however have confidence that the Holy Spirit will intervene as you read it and speak to your heart and for that I am ever so grateful.
PSALM 17:6 I CALL ON YOU, MY GOD, FOR YOU WILL ANSWER ME, TURN YOUR EAR TO ME AND HEAR MY PRAYER
Thank you to Hal, Chet, Lisa and Chris for sharing this mission with me.
Many Blessings,
Shelli RN
.Jehovah Rapha; the Lord our Healer דזשעהאָוואַה ראַפא