In our journey of asking, seeking, and knocking for Anna’s
full healing we have come to the doorway of stem cells.
Right after Simon’s birth we heard about other children with
Anna’s injury benefitting from umbilical cord stem cells. We were discouraged to
find the limitations the United States has placed on this treatment. In our
research, we found only three universities doing clinical research on stem
cells for children with cerebral palsy. Their qualifications were too rigid for
Anna to be their lab rat.
We prayed (and pray) that God would graciously close doors
for us if it isn’t His best for Anna. When it comes to stem cells the results
vary. Some kids experience no change, some can walk and none are fully healed. Most
parents state improvement in muscle tone, core strengthening, and vision. All
of which would benefit Anna. It’s the abundant testimony of other special needs
families that has led us to keep on asking God for this treatment. Anna has
been accepted by two of most well reputed, established umbilical cord stem cell
providers in the world.
“Where God guides, He
provides.” About a week after learning that we were not qualified for any US
stem cell research, we found the big price tag for umbilical stem cell
injections in other countries. Our insurance will not pay because its
considered alternative. We prayed, brought this to you guys to pray over, we started
a GoFundMe account and looked to fundraising. We were desperate, I was ready to
slam this door shut. We drug our knuckles to do fundraising on top of serving
Anna and Simon daily. My attitude tanked, “stem cells a privilege for the rich.”
The fundraising did bare some fruit, but
it was too little a bite out of the funds needed.
The greatest warning sign was
that my heart was telling me that we were doing these things on our own strength.
Rather than being led by the Spirit who always supplies the strength for His
will done His way. We relented, and found a whole new dependence on God as our
needs persisted and our resources did not increase. We looked at the door not
knowing if we would ever walk through it.
But God has mercy, He still provides. Surrender is what came
next as we waited and wondered how? We prayed with increasing expectancy, “Lord
use stem cells, make a way for us to get them. If it pleases You.” Once
surrendered, we remembered His faithfulness to us during Anna’s birth and how
He dispatched a supernatural amount of monetary gifts through the Church and
our family. We were discharged debt free and had enough to pay for the move
back to Colorado. Wow!
While the fundraising brainstorming was still churning, and
the stem cell price tag was tempting to discourage us, God moved. My brother
Will shows up one day and says “have you looked into the value of your condo?”
By God’s grace, the market value of my condo in Denver had tripled the purchase
price. Whoa… Lord.
My Condo has been under contract for a month and Lord willing
we will close this coming Tuesday. Last week we applied for passports. Once the
sale is complete we will buy tickets and make arrangements for stem cells and
the crucial follow-through with three weeks of intensive therapy. At last the
door seems open.
The key to this door of healing is this: If God chose to use a poultice of pressed figs
to heal Hezekiah, or mud to give sight to a blind man, or a bronze snake to
cure Israel, then certainly it is possible that He use umbilical cord stem
cells from Panamanian women who just gave birth to bring healing to Anna. Let
it be known that all credit, honor, and glory for any betterment that Anna may
or may not have is the Lords. Our hope for healing is in Christ and not
receiving stem cells.
Please Pray:
-That we keep our eyes on Jesus
-For the sale of the condo to be blessed.
-For us to receive the passports soon.
-that we would not be stressed or make Anna feel stressed
regarding the planning of the trip
-that Anna could receive millions of umbilical cord stem cells
and that they would populate intentionally, miraculously in the areas of injury
bringing healing.
