2010: CHALLENGE 3: When Your Children Are Sick...

Experts say that the worst emotional pain is the illness and death of a child.

• Yesterday, more children were found dead in the rubble of the horrific earthquake in Haiti. The pain is uncomprehendable!


• Yesterday my friend, Andrea's next door neighbors lost their 21 year old daughter to a five year battle with cancer.


• Yesterday, our daughter Jessica spent her over 5,000th day suffering from severe migraines


• Yesterday, my friend Lauren turned 4 years old!


• Yesterday, Lauren's daddy posted on Facebook, "Tim's world was changed forever four years ago today."



• Today, my friend Sonya posted on Facebook some food for thought, "God doesn't give you the people you want; He gives you the people you NEED... to help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be."

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In 1985, I was part of the faith journey involved with a heart transplant. My brother-in-law, who had been strong and healthy, had a virus attack his heart. Transplantation was new. The choice was clear. Heart transplant or death. He prayed. We prayed. We all prayed for wisdom, asking God that His will be done!

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My Uncle John would hear the same words. Choices! Prayer! Both men went through much to receive their new hearts. Someone had to die so another could live! Now, 24 years later, my "brother-in-love" lives a transformed life. He thrives. My uncle has since passed on.

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In December of 2008, when Steve's niece Vanessa informed us that a family from their church in Virginia would be coming to CHOP (Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia) to wait for a heart for their almost 3 year old daughter... well... I knew God was calling me to be there for them. For me, it was a rich journey of faith to become friends with Tim and Cristi Schwamb and their children. After a very difficult 3 and 1/2 years of life, Lauren received her heart transplant in July!

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Yesterday, Lauren turned 4 years old at home! She is doing well. Her body is accepting it's new heart! Life... healing... transformation are apparent! Her energy levels and lifestyle have been transformed! We praise You God for Your grace and mercy in this life changing situation for Lauren! GIGATTAATTGIG!

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Transplant? v., -plant·ed, -plant·ing, -plants

• To uproot and replant a living thing. (A new heart was uprooted and replanted in Lauren).


• To transfer from one place or residence to another; resettle or relocate. (A living and active heart has relocated to a new residence inside Lauren).


• In Medicine: To transfer (tissue or an organ) from one body or body part to another. (A new organ, a living and active heart, has been given from one to another)

Transform? v., -formed, -form·ing, -forms

• To change markedly the appearance or form (Much of Lauren's old heart was not working; in my brother-in-law's case, they said his old heart literally fell apart when they took it out of his body).


• To change the nature, function, or condition of; convert. (The nature of a new heart leads to a huge improvement in the quality of life... As the body begins to accept the new heart, the person eventually feels that conversion from death to life).


• In Mathematics: To subject to a transformation.


• In Electricity: To subject to the action of a transformer.


• In Genetics. To subject (a cell) to transformation..

As Lauren's family learned more about what must be done to save Lauren, we can learn much from their diligence, steadfastness, perseverance, endurance, and trust over the last 4 years. They wanted their daughter to live a full life! They prayed for wisdom, decision making, the right doctors... They immersed themselves in understanding how to help their daughter to live. They did not spend time focusing on their difficult circumstances, but kept their eyes on Jesus.

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Each of us has a time to die and a time to live. A young child died that night in July so that Lauren might live... and living she is!!! It's a spiritual concept we each need to wrap our arms around: Heart Transplant or Death! Which do you choose? I choose Heart Transplant with ongoing Transformation!!!

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Some of you have kept up with Lauren's story through my blogs. Those of you who are new can click Lauren's parents picture over on the right sidebar to access their blogs or you can click here and go to my post about the day of the heart transplant and the days that followed.

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It was during their time of "waiting on the Lord" for Lauren that Tim and Christi joined the Facebook group GIGATTAATTGIG. What a legacy of love and faith that they have given to so many of us. Thank you! And, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAUREN! May God bless you with many more!