Within a few weeks my faith was both challenged and renewed.
Three times I was in the room when I thought she was for sure leaving us.
I have never experienced a fear as cold as those nights in the hospital.
Watching my mother watch her mother slowly giving up and yet fighting to stay in this world
is something I don't wish upon anyone. It's truly heartbreaking.
On the second night of my grandma being sick,
we began praying a novena - the rosary for 9 days.
On the 9th day it is said that your prayers are answered and a miracle will happen.
On the 7th day, they said there was nothing else that could be done.
One kidney completely gave up and the other only worked 1 percent.
The liquid in her lungs was accumulating, making it harder to breathe, and her heart was weak.
The warmth in her eyes was gone.
We needed to be ready for what would come next they said.
It was only a matter of days.
It was only a matter of days.
Those words stung. What seemed to be far down in life was now right before us.
But...
There's science and there's God.
So...
There's science and there's God.
So...
My aunt, she took out her rosary beads,
lit her candle and we all knew what that meant.
It was time to pray.
On the 8th day, we were still waiting. Grandma was not doing well. As we waited, somewhere along our conversations we realized that the next day was the 9th day of the novena. We all smiled and patiently waited some more.
And as if on cue, the morning of the 9th day, we got the news we needed.
The news we had been praying for - a true miracle.
Her kidney started working again. The liquid in her lungs was lower.
Her blood pressure was stable.
She was able to have a conversation with all of us once again.
Mi abuelita was back.
Not 100 percent, but she was back.
The doctors were speechless. And we were full of joy.
Full of gratitude. Full of faith.
"Science only goes so far, and then comes God (1)."
She would only be with us twelve more days, but that did not take away from the miracle for she did not leave us on an ordinary day. No, she fought hard to make it to the feast of her beloved Virgen de Guadalupe. On 12/12/12 at 12:12p.m. in Room 12, my grandmother took her last breath.
It broke our hearts and her absence will always hurt, but knowing she went on her favorite day of the year is a true gift from God. A reminder that He does the impossible. That when the going gets rough we are not alone. Where hopes ends, faith begins.
She would only be with us twelve more days, but that did not take away from the miracle for she did not leave us on an ordinary day. No, she fought hard to make it to the feast of her beloved Virgen de Guadalupe. On 12/12/12 at 12:12p.m. in Room 12, my grandmother took her last breath.
It broke our hearts and her absence will always hurt, but knowing she went on her favorite day of the year is a true gift from God. A reminder that He does the impossible. That when the going gets rough we are not alone. Where hopes ends, faith begins.
Prayer is a powerful thing.
So much love for my family.
They have showed me what true love and faith looks like.
And even more love for my grandma today, always and forever.
She is our reason to smile, our miracle.
Descanse en paz abuelita chula!
<3
They have showed me what true love and faith looks like.
And even more love for my grandma today, always and forever.
She is our reason to smile, our miracle.
Descanse en paz abuelita chula!
<3
Citations: Quote taken from The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. Picture was taken from google.
