Praying for Miracles

"You can think you have a mature faith, but trails test the strength of your faith in a way the good times in your life cannot. At those times, you either run to God or you run away from God."

(A quote Cliff sent along this week by Chris Spielman, former NFL player and current sports analyst)

While Cliff and Danielle are 400+ miles away, it seems I have learned more about them in the last two months than while they were less than 10 miles away for the last several years.

It has been such a blessing to see friends leaving comments here through the blog, or to hear the stories of how their church family has gone above and beyond what one might expect to love and support them in tangible, emotional and financial ways. It's been moving to see current friends and family, but even more interesting to hear from past friends and family who have come alongside them in one way or another to encourage and support them.

I must say, it's hard to admit that there could be any good in this whole situation, but if there were one thing that would be it-- that this incredibly hard challenge has shown that people (friends, family and even strangers) are capable of incredible good.

Speaking of past friends and family, I'm not sure if any of you saw this, but one of Dani's former suite mates from college posted this comment at the end of one of the blog posts last week:

"I want to remind you of something you said to me once in that small living room area in our dorm. You asked me what my favorite flower was and I think I said a rose. I wasn't sure. I asked you what yours was, and you said, "A dandelion. Because even through pavement an concrete it still come up, it still blooms." Ever since then, I have never seen that flower as a weed or an annoyance like others tend to...I see you and your strength." 

Lets continue to love and support them in all of the ways that we can...Cliff sounded tired when I talked to him last night...He said they tallied spending the last 44 nights in hospital rooms. I could hear "tired" in his voice.

Cordelia's sodium levels dropped to a dangerously low point over the weekend and last night that had to give her a very concentrated sodium mixture that can be harsh on the veins-- last time they did this Cordelia was incredibly upset (Cliff said more so than anything else they've needed to do to her) and they actually stopped the process partway through (though after she had gotten enough to bring her levels up). Her belly was also tapped late last week and she will most likely be tapped again before the end of this week. While this has become somewhat "common" procedure, the process always introduces a chance to introduce infection...please pray for protection over her.

Cliff has told me several times that the doctor's have called this a "tricky case" more than once...She is so small and her liver is so badly damaged that the challenges are incredibly intricate and complicated. For all of those reasons she needs a new liver and very, VERY soon.

That said, a surgery date has been set for either August 14th or 16th (to be confirmed this week). This means that if a liver does not become available by that date that Dani will have part of her liver surgically removed to use for Cordelia.

While it is "good" that they even have this option, it is not an ideal situation for many reasons.  It would mean that after surgery Dani will be recovering and unable to be with Cliff in the waiting room and in the weeks that follow Cliff will be in a position to have to run back and forth between two hospital floors to see Dani and Cordelia...Sigh.

Let's lift them up in prayer over the next couple of weeks...let's pray for a miracle!!! Please send this link to everyone you know and ask them to join us in prayer this week...prayers that a liver would become available for Cordelia. 


If you're not used to praying, here's a short prayer to get you started...


Dear Heavenly Father, We pray right now that You would bring a liver to Cordelia this week. We believe that miracles DO still happen. We pray that Your hand would show up powerfully in this situation and that You would go before Cordelia in surgery, be with her in surgery and be protecting her and healing her body afterwards. Be with Cliff and Dani this week as well as this has been a long road that has not offered much rest...Be their rest and their strength this week.                                   In Your Name We Pray, Amen.