There is no containing Ela’s excitement! Miguel and Josiah are coming to help us pack today and tomorrow (Friday) we will make our way back home! Her medical team is pleased to be sending her on her way. There is an understanding that we all hold a low threshold for anything that might arise that may constitute a trip back up here. But, for now, we are embracing and enjoying this moment—these days—as many as we can get at home, together!
The song, “The Goodness of God,” is such a significant and meaningful song to our family. We embraced the reminders of God’s goodness in this song when we were told Ela’s diagnosis 5 years ago. We cried through the song when the pain was too deep to sing it. We taught the song to our kids so that they would remember this truth about God. This song has remained a constant in our family through the years—before, during, and after transplant.
It seems only fitting that this is the song we chose to work on with our wonderful music therapist during our hospital stay. Below you will find a raw, but genuine recording of this comforting song. In the beginning, you will hear Ela’s HLHS heart, her pre-transplant heartbeat. Dad is playing the guitar. Mom and Ela are singing with the addition of Josiah also joining in the first chorus. You will hear real-life hospital noises and beeps that we chose to leave in as a reminder of where we were in the journey during the various bed-side recording sessions. There will be times Ela’s voice sounds weaker than others…also reminding us of her physical transplant journey. The ending of the song speaks volumes of God’s goodness as you will hear Ela’s new heart-beat, her “gift-of-life donor heart” close the song out along with special messages from family.
May we always remember God’s goodness. Even in the pain, the despair, the heart-ache, He is still good. It may not feel or seem like it some days. But thankfully our good God has given us hope. He gave that HOPE to us as a baby in a manger who grew up, went to a cross, and victoriously conquered sin and death so that we can know the HOPE (Jesus Christ) here on earth now and worship Him forevermore in Heaven where there is no sadness, pain, and death. He made a way, the only way, out of the darkness of this life. What a good God! All because of the good, living God we can face tomorrow. Do you have this HOPE this Christmas? I pray you do.
Merry Christmas to you all!
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”
Psalm 100:1-5
Oh my, what a precious recording of the great truths of this song. Rejoicing with you and continuing to pray.
Praise God for Ela’s new heart and all of you praising God for His goodness. Merry Christmas indeed!
God is truly great, and His goodness is great. So glad you are going home for Christmas. Continued blessings.
Praise the Lord! God bless you and your family with a wonderful Christmas and Year of 2025!
That was so powerful!! I have always loved that song. Hearing that precious little voice with that strong heartbeat behind it just sent me!! Thank you for sharing and we will keep praying God’s goodness over your lives.
Praise God for His goodness and His mercy. This was so beautiful and so touching. Continuing prayers for all of you. Merry Christmas and Praise God
Praise God for His goodness and His mercy. This was so beautiful and so touching. Continuing prayers for all of you. Merry Christmas and Praise God
If ever there was a time when our God’s faithfulness and goodness were on display for all to see, this is it. This is it. Thank You, Sir. You are amazing. Thank You for allowing us to worship You with the Yustiz family!
Praise God. He is GOOD. Thanks so much for sharing this journey and that sweet song. Have a blessed Christmas at home!
Aw this made my christmas too! I too love that song and now i love it even more. What a sweet voice she has! I forgot how beautiful u sing too leslee. I miss hearing you! Thx for sharing. Praying yall have the best family christmas together at last💕💕🙏🙏
My glory and gracious God, we cannot thank you enough for you goodness!!
You are our miracle worker , our great physician!!
Thank you so very much for the gift sweet Ela!! I have fell in love with her thru her ruff journey!! Thank you for the medical team that has gotten her where she is today! I pray and lift Ela and her dear family up to you Father, I pray they have a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s and that this trip home is permanent and that Ela shines and heals completely so so the only visits that are made are routine Dr visits!!
We love you Lord and your mercy never fails us!! Listening to our precious angel and her momma singing is the best Christmas present ever!! That beating heart is the goodness of you!! We love you and praise your glorious name!!🙌
(Wow this is so beautiful!!)
Merry Christmas Sweet Ela and family!!
Thank you so much for that beautiful presentation of the glorious truth of God’s goodness!!! Thank you for singing through your pain and for the incredible truths you have sown in the soil of your children’s hearts. Those truths will be hidden in their hearts forever!! Welcome home!!! May these next days be filled with moments of joy and singing, rest and quiet meditation. Have the most blessed Christmas you’ve ever had!!! ❤️❤️❤️💝💝💝
That precious song was part of our 5th grade devotions at JCA this morning. My students have prayed for Ela everyday. One student, “God answered our prayers, Ela is going home for Christmas! And we all said “Praise to our God!”
WOW!!! Thank you Jesus!
Thank you for that song with the before and after heartbeats. WOW!!!
Absolutely amazing!!!! We love you all!! Happy New year!!