Prayers for Ella

I've been holding off writing this post. I don't get real personal on here that often and well, by writing it where all of you can see it makes it really real. I feel lead to share this chapter in our lives here on my blog because I know that although we may not have met face to face, shared a lunch date or even a telephone chat...you, my bloggy friends have huge hearts that care and love!

In June, while Hannah was sick, our 6 yr. old daughter, Ella came to me complaining that her foot was hurting. I thought one of her brothers might have stepped on it or maybe she stumbled over something, so I said a lil' prayer, "Dear Jesus, Please heal Ella's hurt foot! Amen!", then kissed it and sent her off to play.

A couple of days later, she came back to me and said, "Mommy, my foot is hurting again and my hand is too!" This time, I thought she might be a bit jealous of the extra attention that Hannah had been receiving, I quickly repeated what had helped previously...a prayer and a kiss!

Three days passed, and one evening she sat in the floor and started crying...this time her foot, her hand and her ribs (all on the left side) were hurting and she was obviously in pain. I held her, rubbed her foot and prayed. When my husband, Eric got home I told him about the last several days and that now she was crying with pain.  He said it was most likely growing pains, told me he had experienced some intense ones as a child and reminded me that she had gotten taller this year.

A few days later...same thing happened. Being the Worry Mommy that I WAS ( I am really trying to pray against the spirit of fear and worry...it's NOT a good thing)...I immediately started thinking the worst. Eric begged me not to think the worst and to give it to God. On July 4th, we went to our favorite book store...I noticed that each time Ella would bend over to get a book she would softly & quietly say "Ow-wie!". Within 20 minutes, she was crying and saying that her back and head hurt.  We immediately, called and made an appointment for the next morning.

To make a longer story a little shorter...after several trips to the Children's Clinic and quite a few trips to the ER we had no answers other than the doctors here thought it might be Lyme Disease or most likely something Rheumatic. We saw a specialist on July 27th.  We right away knew God had his hands on this situation...for as soon as he walked through the door, Ella threw her hands in the air and with great excitement squealed "You're Chinese!!!"  I was instantly embarrassed and remained that way the whole 2 seconds it took him to throw his hands in the air and with equal enthusiasm squeal..."I AM CHINESE!".  Ella was on Cloud 9 from that moment on.  There is nothing she would like better, than to be Chinese. She asked me years ago if she was really from China...I played along and said, 'Oh Yes you are"...she now thinks she was adopted from China, that she looks "just like" any Asian child she sees and that she can speak Chinese (which mainly consists of words and phrases she picks up from Kai-Lan, mixed with many unrecognizable words).  Yes, we tried several months ago to tell her she isn't Chinese...uh well, let's just say we won't try that again for awhile.  Ok, so back to the doctor visit...He was super nice and very sweet to Ella. We really could not have asked for a better doctor, but what we were told completely came from out of left field to hit us right in the heart. Dr, Ben informed us that after studying her blood tests and doing the physical exam, etc etc...he didn't think it was Rheumatic, he didn't feel it was Arthritic (I was starting to zone out here, because I was really thinking he was about to tell us it was only growing pains as Eric had suggested a couple weeks before) however he believed we were dealing with a malignancy on, in or around the bone or a tumor. I really didn't hear much after that...my mind was racing, I couldn't believe what I thought he had just said. The devil instantly tried to make me believe the worst...I resisted and told myself I had misunderstood what he said so I began listening again. He was telling us (uhhh, Eric) that he would schedule a full bone scan and quickly see what we are dealing with. As we escorted us out the door, I stopped him and said, "I have a question...by malignancy and tumor, are you talking about cancer?"  He said, "Yes, Cancer."  I said, "Ok." then walked down the hall to leave.

I can't say I have not had moments were I have been petrified, moments that the what ifs have nearly driven me crazy, but I can say that each and every time I have felt this way...I ask God to hold us, to protect Ella's body from any attack the devil has formed against her, I ask Him to protect my mind, to take away the worry, fear and doubt, to protect my family from what satan is trying to do and most of all HEAL my Baby Girl!

Tomorrow, we will travel to Lexington to have Ella's much awaited bone scan...Eric, the other kids, our family, our friends and me are all believing that God has already healed Ella's little 35 pound body and that the scan will show NO CANCER in Jesus' Mighty Name. I wanted to ask each of you to agree in prayer with us!  Thank You in advance for caring enough to keep Ella in your prayers! I know without a doubt that prayer is powerful! Thank You for yours!!

I count it a blessing to have each of you to request prayer from!

Love, Hugs & Blessings-
LORi