Hand of Hope

[This is an older post, but none the less, it is still encouraging... so I decided to re-post it on here]

HAND OF HOPE

I was working with a patient in clinical today, and the inspiration of this story has compelled me to share it.

Today, I met an 83 y/o woman whose optimism about her recovery permeated the hospital room. Her determination to overcome her mountainous illness was contagious. As the students and myself encouraged her to keep pushing toward her goal, she insisted, "I WILL get better and walk out of here." While I can't explain her condition to you, just know that her agility was remarkable progression for her age and condition.

As we marveled at her strong will and optimistic outlook, we asked her where her strength came from. She reached down into her purse and called us to huddle around her. She pulled out this tiny picture below and told us a story...

The picture is that of a 21-week-old unborn baby named Samuel Alexander Armas, who is being operated on by a surgeon named Joseph Bruner.

The baby was diagnosed with spina bifida and would not survive if removed from his mother's womb. Little Samuel's mother, Julie Armas, is an obstetrics nurse in Atlanta. She knew of Dr. Bruner's remarkable surgical procedure. Practicing at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, he performs these special operations while the baby is still in the womb.

During the procedure, the doctor removes the uterus via C-section and makes a small incision to operate on the baby. During the surgery on little Samuel, the little guy reached his tiny, but fully developed, hand through the incision and firmly grasped the surgeon's finger.

The photograph captures this amazing event with perfect clarity. The editors titled the picture, "Hand of Hope." The text explaining the picture begins:

"The tiny hand of 21-week-old fetus Samuel Alexander Armas emerges from the mother's uterus to grasp the finger of Dr. Joseph Bruner as if thanking the doctor for the gift of life."

As the patient showed us this picture, she said, "Looking at this tiny 21-week-old baby gives me the motivation to go on."

No matter what you are going through in life, whether it be a debilitating illness, a loss, or temporary hardship, let this story encourage you to press on no matter how difficult or impossible the situation may seem. All things are possible with Christ. Our creator put you here for a purpose (Jeremiah 29:11) and has a plan and purpose for you. He sees your every trial and is walking beside you AND when you can't walk... He is carrying you! He will always be your strength in times of weakness! 

Abide in Him, and He will carry you through the storm!

"But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!" 

- 2 Corinthians 12:9