In His Hands...

I'm sitting in a wheelchair outside a hospital room... typing this blog!  Can't say I ever imagined such a thing... but here I am!  And incredibly grateful for the last minute opportunity to do so!  My home phone rang at 4PM this afternoon, and as has become my habit these past few weeks... I sprung to my feet to answer!  It might be the University of Florida/ Shands calling to reschedule Rachel's surgery for an earlier date.  Finally, today,... the phone call was actually them!  A last minute opening in Dr Bleiweis' schedule means open heart surgery TOMORROW morning!  I'd have loved to have been a fly on the wall this afternoon as I tried to pack for a "journey" that could last one week.... or drag into a month!  How in the world do you prepare for that???  Oh well... I did the best I could and a few hours later, Doug, Rachel, and I were on our way to Gainesville!  


Our incredible translators from the Chinese Church here in Gainesville were here to explain tomorrow's events to Rachel and to walk her through getting her IV line in place. They were wonderful!  Rachel ~ even more wonderful!  Handled the whole thing like a champ!  I think she's ready to face the giants of tomorrow!  I feel certain that Jesus will take this journey with her, don't you?  Just before saying goodbye to our translators/ brother and sister in Christ, we asked if they would pray with Rachel.  They, of course, agreed and invited Rachel to begin... These were the sweet words that formed our precious Rachel's first prayer...(at least the words that I could understand!)...  "Daddy, Mommy, Rachel's heart,  Russ' Happy Birthday,  Kate and Ellie, .... Jesus,  Amen!  The tenderness of a child's prayer~ spoken in some pseudo-language, somewhere between Chinese and English.  I praise God that He knows her heart and heard every word of it perfectly!  I'm pretty certain that nothing can warm your heart quite like the prayer of a sweet child... so I've attempted to attach her prayer in the car as we pulled into the hospital tonight....(key word would be tonight... meaning it is DARK!-  But it's the prayer spoken that will melt your heart!)


If that's not enough to make your heart happy, I'm not sure much would!  Here's a few sweet pictures of the beginning of our journey to Rachel's new heart... (well~ sadly it is 2:40 and I can't seem to find the photos I wanted to share with you!  I guess you'll have to hold your breath for tomorrow when I can think a little clearer!)  ~ It appears that moment might be now--- 7 hours later!  Here's a few photos of our brave girl...






We covet your prayers for Rachel tomorrow morning (Oct 18) beginning at 7 AM and then for most of the remainder of the day!  Her heart and lungs still need a miracle and we are trusting God for just THAT!  :-)  He is able!... And in His goodness and immeasurable grace we find rest!


I'll post soon with wonderful updates as they become available throughout the day!  The marathon begins!  On your mark... Get set... GO!!!!







11 comments:

  1. Just read this and will be praying for her today!

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  2. Praying God gives her precious heart the same success He did to our princess just one year ago. There is no surgery too complicated for His hands. Cling to Him and His strength throughout the day and in the difficult days ahead. I clung to this scripture to get me through and pray it encourages you also.

    “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” Luke 8:50

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  4. 7:35 a.m.--just bumped into your blog from the yahoo group. A "stranger" here to you and your family, yet not a "stranger" to God and His awesome Power!!! I will be praying for you and your family as you walk this tightrope today. The timing is perfect, there are no surprises for God and I'm convinced He WILL do Immeasurably MORE...Cling to Him today!

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  5. Read this at 658am my time. I'm lifting your family up today. Will pray without ceasing....your beautiful Rachel will be healed! Cant wait to see her play dressup with pink lips (: hang in there Mama.

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  6. Holding you all up in prayer...Hold on to your faith...He will pull you through! Pray w/o ceasing.

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  7. Hi Lori! Saw your post this a.m. at 8:30 - praying for everyone - Rachel, you, Doug, your family, the surgeons... God knows what each of you needs and He will provide! I am especially praying that He will be with Rachel in such a way that she KNOWS His presence was and will be with her - always.

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  8. I could jsut cry with joy. God is holding this sweet precious child of His while guiding the Dr to fix her heart.

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  9. Precious in His sight, Rachel is, and I am holding her in my heart right now as I pray for her little heart to be healed through surgery. In tears over her prayer because of how sweet it is and the Lord heard every single word. Thanking Jesus for this little blessing named Rachel!

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