A Plea For Your Prayers

As time FLIES by (Yes, we are MORE than half way to Christmas!!), we celebrated yet another holiday. I love that we have these holidays to serve as reminders of significant events. I observed so many people visiting our town this past weekend and saw families gather together to barbeque and eat copious amounts of food, play in the park, ride bikes, take carriage rides, and on and on. It was a beautiful weekend, the weather was perfect and there was laughter and joy felt throughout the valley.

I was getting ready to attend one of these family barbeques when I received a text from a good friend of mine. She said "Have you heard?" I answered with a hesitant "no" wondering what she was talking about. She then sent me a dreaded, heartbreaking text informing me that a sweet young family in our ward (congregation) was at a family pool party and that their precious 2 year old boy had drowned. I was shocked...I went numb. As I proceeded to ask for more information, she told me that his father immediately began CPR and when the paramedics arrived, they found a pulse. He was life-flighted to Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake (God bless PCMC) and was on life-support.

My heart ached for this sweet family who was facing the most horrific pain and agony I could ever imagine. The prognosis was not good. EMT's on scene were skeptical at best. I went to the family party, we all were saddened, but we ended up having a great evening, yet in the recesses of our minds and hearts was this tragic moment and we were all somber.

On the first Sunday of each month, in our church we have what we call "Fast and Testimony" meeting. We are asked to fast just once a month (preferrably for a 24 hour period), donate the money we would have spent on those meals to help those in need and use it as an opportunity to become closer to our Heavenly Father. When we fast, we are to do so with a purpose...it's usually personal, but we had been asked to fast for this young child and his family beginning Saturday night. Sunday was our fast and testimony meeting where anyone in the ward can get up and share their testimony of their beliefs. It's a beautiful meeting and this past Sunday was no exception.

The man conducting the meeting got up and shared with us a few texts that he had received at the onset of the meeting. He explained that he normally does not text during Sacrament Meeting, but this was an exception. He read a text from a young man in our ward who was not at church at that moment because he was down in SLC at the hospital with this family supporting them. This man was sending updates on this little boy's condition and had just sent one stating that he had begun to breathe on his own, was off life support, was coughing, awake and becoming alert! It was truly miraculous and he wept as he read the text...so did everyone else.

When he sat down, several of our young women (ages 12-18) got up and tearfully shared their testimony of the power of fasting and prayer as well as their feelings of love and genuine concern for this family. The mother is one of their leaders and they love and respect her so much. They each told of how they were fasting and asked their Heavenly Father to bless this family with love, comfort, support and understanding. But what touched me the most was that each of these young ladies asked that "His will be done"...knowing that His will might be to take this sweet little soul back to His presence...

As of right now, I don't know any more than this: This little boy is conscious. He is breathing on his own. He is responding and he is alive! I don't know of any long term effects or if there is any brain damage. I don't know if he will make it or not. I do know that angels are watching over him and I know that there is a group of teenage girls who are praying and have fasted over a holiday that normally includes obscene amounts of their favorite foods. They have selflessly given of their hearts to a little boy who needs many prayers and a family who is hurting. I love these young women. I am honored to be in their presence and to know them. I am proud of them and I look to their example of righteousness as a beacon to the world. Teenagers often get a bad rap, but these teenagers are strong and they are valiant and I am honored to know them.

I will keep you posted with updates of this sweet wee one. I love all of my blogging friends and I know that your prayers are powerful. I know that EVERY prayer is answered in the Lord's way. Thank you in advance for keeping him in your prayers...his name is Jake.