On this mountain he will swallow up
the shroud that is over all the peoples,
the woven covering that is over all the nations;
he will swallow up death permanently.
The sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from every face,
and remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth.
Indeed, the Lord has announced it! (Isa. 25:7-8)
Isaiah’s words are a good reminder and great encouragement when you are spending most of your time at a hospital. In hospitals, you can’t help noticing the many ways in which sin and death terrorize and bully people. As awful as death is, it would be a lot easier if that was the only consequence of sin’s curse we were dealing with. Sadly, death is only a small part of it.
Ela’s room is on floor 6, the cardiac floor. This is 1 of 8 floors filled with young sufferers, sufferers whose ages range from newborn to teens. Some of them have been there for months. Some, have multiple serious issues. I know of at least 1 who has no heart! Yeah…you read that right…NO HEART. This baby is hooked to two machines that keep him alive (and growing well, believe it or not) as he waits for a heart transplant himself.
Some…are not going to make it.
And so we remember Isaiah’s words: “He will swallow up death permanently. The sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from every face.” We await your return Lord.
Ela’s day is a bit tricky to describe. She is doing well but today helped me realize that maybe we’re expecting too much of her too fast. I am guessing that the excitement of being able to walk again and moving to the CCU got her through yesterday with flying colors. Today though, she was struggling to stay awake.
Her morning started out with the trauma of getting a needle into her arm. We hate it but she will have to get a stick every morning for the next week or two until the doctors are happy with the rejection number her labs are showing. We walked around the halls a bit with PT and did some other stuff but by the time we were back in the room Ela was ready for a nap. She could hardly keep her eyes open and it was only 10:45 am or so. So we gave her an early nap.
Our girl woke up, had a little bit of lunch with speech therapy, went to art class, had to carry her back to the room (because she was too tired), about fell asleep until we had a visit from music therapy, and then she took another nap. Ela was wore out.
We took it easy for the rest of the afternoon. We went on a very short walk, had a bit of a sponge bath, and got ready for bed around 8 or so. Again, doing well but she’s definitely needing to slow down. With all the excitement of the last couple of days you forget that her body is still healing and is probably in need of a lot of rest.
Thank you again for your incredible support. It warms our hearts to read through the many comments on Facebook and COTA, knowing that there is a lot of people out there who love Ela and who love us.
Please tell her we love her. Big hugs for all. You are all warriors.
Look forward to these updates every night. Thx again for taking time to do this!! Poor girl im sure her body needs lots of rest. Shes been thru so much. Im so happy to see both parents are able to be with her right now and the 3 of you supporting each other. Oh my goodness on your hospital patients info. So sad, esp no heart. My goodness never heard of it. Love yall
Thanks for your update. Great Scripture. Continuing to pray for sweet Ela and your family.
Malachi 4:2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Praying this for Ela today! – Carrie from Risen Hope Church
We can image how difficult this is, we are in awe of what God is doing. Pausing in Prayer during the day for your family.
PS 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield ; my heart ❤️ trusts in Him. .
(Lord, we are trusting in you for extra strength for Ela; although we also realize she needs lots of rest for such a big change to her body.) Prayers and blessings to the family.
PS 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield ; my heart ❤️ trusts in Him. .
(Lord, we are trusting in you for extra strength for Ela; although we also realize she needs lots of rest for such a big change to her body.)
PS 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield ; my heart ❤️ trusts in Him. .
(Lord, we are trusting in you for extra strength for Ela)
The journey has been long but we know that you and Leslee know that God is with Ela every step of the day. Praying for renewed strength from above for you two. And, of course, praying for sweet Ela and God’s continued healing of her new heart as it adapts. Sending much needed love and hugs.
Thank you so much for these updates. We pray for Ela every morning. I, myself, hate getting stuck with a needle so I will pray specifically for less pain in that area. I know you and Leslee will stay strong in the Lord and am so glad you can be together ❤️
Precious Gabriela. We are praying she gets the rest she needs, along with rest for you all, Miguel and Leslee, and for complete healing of her little body. We do love your updates and Bible verses/lessons. Thank you. Love you all!
Your life has been and probably will continue to be for a time like a roller coaster ride. Highs and lows. Slowing heading to the top and then falling farther than you could imagine. You’re all great Christian examples and I’m sure the conductor has plans for when the ride is done. What a testimony you will have
Poor baby! What a day. Love the mask, Dad. I’m sure there’s a story.
I’ve been praying for the requests sent last time and it sounds like sleep has returned. I’m praying she’ll have a blessed night of sleep. The many hurting people are such a sadness and may the love of God bring some measure of hope and comfort to their hearts and minds.
Isaiah 25 has confronted me three times today!! I guess I needed some hope pumped into my heart, too.
Absolutely love all of you. Praise and prayers.
Praying for Ela and for mom and dad.