Sunday, May 10, 2009

Every Child is a Miracle


Pablo Casals was a Spanish cellist who once said:

“The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him.”



When you work daily with children who are so very sick, who are often abandoned when they are at their most weak and fragile, I think there is a tendency for your heart to want to take two steps back, because it wonders how much sadness it can take when it comes to the the lives of children. But then the photos and their file arrive, and the child becomes REAL, and you realize yet again that another tiny life is struggling and fighting to hold on, sadly without a parent to sit and hold them close. Your heart opens back up again to worry, to care, to pray for a miracle so that this child can be healed and someday know what it feels like to be truly loved.

Today we got an update on Max, a 4 month old little boy born with cleft lip and palate who has never been able to gain weight. He arrived at our Anhui Cleft Healing Home a few weeks ago weighing just 6 pounds. He quickly took a turn for the worse, and now is in the ICU with multiple infections and difficulty breathing. All of us who saw his photos today were struck by how tiny and vulnerable he looked in the big hospital bed.

Max IS a miracle, and as Mr. Casals once said, there will never be another child exactly like him. We are asking for prayers for Max, and a supporter who might want to help cover his ICU costs. EVERY CHILD COUNTS, and even though the odds are not in his favor at this moment, we have to keep believing in him because he is fighting so hard to survive.

18 comments:

  1. Absolutely praying for precious little Max

    ReplyDelete
  2. My son is a cleft child, and also from Anhui. We are keeping Max in prayer.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I was born with this also and my life is so worth living my prayers are with Max and if he needs a home let me know

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm lifting him up in prayer. God Bless You Little Max! I am praying for a miracle.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Max is in our thoughts. Hope all goes well!!!!
    Regards
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sending prayers to our Father for sweet, little Max. :o)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Praying and grateful for LWB saving the life of one of our miracles.

    ReplyDelete
  8. We will certainly keep him in our prayers!!
    We also keep all those who do such an amazing labor of love caring for all these children in our prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Prayers for him and all who love and care for him.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Praying for little Max and the people who love and care for him now and in the future.

    ReplyDelete
  11. My children and I held hands this morning and sent sweet thoughts to little Max ... we are thinking of you sweet boy!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I will definitely pray for this sweet little Max.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Max, you are in our hearts and prayers. You ARE a miracle!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Praying for him! he is such a tiny thing

    ReplyDelete
  15. One of our staff in China went to visit Max in the hospital and sent the following update:

    "Actually I touched him today and prayed for his recovery in my heart. His arms were so soft and floppy, no sign of strength ... "

    Thank you all for praying. He is still struggling.

    ReplyDelete
  16. As a Mother of four children, 2 from So. Korea and 2 from China, three having clefts, I am sitting here weeping and wishing Max was in my arms as he is now in my heart!
    PRAYING! PRAYIING! PRAYING!

    ReplyDelete
  17. How much money are you talking that you need for Max for ICU? Our son form China also had a cleft lip and palate

    ReplyDelete