FACING NEW REALITIES

I have recently returned from a visit to the States, which was a wonderful time of rest and catching up with family and friends. However, this vacation was bookended by two tragic events in Santa Maria. I have blogged a little about these events on my Facebook page. The day before I left for the States, I received a call that one of my afternoon therapy students, Griselda, had passed away due to kidney failure. The week I returned, I called the father of a 9 month old baby with cerebral palsy I had recently evaluated. He said the baby was gravely ill. The next day, I heard that he had passed away. Working in the States, I had never dealt with the death of any student. Now, within a month’s time, I was dealing with 2 children’s deaths. This was a new reality I didn’t want to face. In a country where good healthcare is not available for the poor and superstitious beliefs about health run rampant, the

reality of children dying would become a new reality for me. So, what is my reaction as a Christian to this new reality? First and foremost, I seek to comfort and encourage the families who are grieving. I use it as an opportunity to share God’s love and tell them that God cares and grieves with them. I visited with both of these families, brought them pictures of their children that I had, and prayed with them. Second, I think we can encourage the parents when possible to seek medical help instead of going to a village healer or just ignoring the child’s illness. Finally, I have learned to leave it in the hands of the great Healer and pray that he watch over these children and bring healing whether in life or death. It is not a fun or easy reality to face but one that calls me to seek God’s will and His answers instead of my own. Please pray for these two families especially as they deal with the loss of their children.Below are pictures of the 2 children we recently lost, Pablo and Griselda.