"He's Been Here All the Time"

                          

I've been trying for some time to get this picture scanned, resized and framed so I could share it with you.

I only knew Angie for about a year, but my heart was touched the first time I saw her.  She looked very much like one of the moms we were involved with in Mexico.  Her brother shared her incredible story with us.  She had become terribly ill and they found out she needed a liver transplant.  She was at UCLA, her health dwindling to nothing as members of the family and church prayed in earnest for her to receive the liver and get a second chance at life.  The miracle happened at the last possible moment and Angie's life began anew.  She was able to go home to her two children; a sister named Lupe that she had been caring for since their parents died and her daughter Kayla. 

Week after week, Angie was faithful to bring her children to church.  Our relationship grew and we grew to love not only Angie and her brother, but the girls as well.  I gave her my phone number and asked for hers so we could stay in touch during the week.  I also told her to call on me for anything she needed.

Angie had it pretty rough.  She got better for a while, then seemed to be relapsing somehow.  She was losing weight and she missed church a few times.  After I talked with her brother, I learned she was having trouble with the new liver.  My prayers went out to her and to the girls.  She moved into a condominium with the girls and got them started in school.  She worked very hard to keep things going.  She had to go into the hospital a couple of times.

In January, Angie called me and said she needed to go to the hospital again.  She asked if Rob and I would take care of the girls.  Without hesitation, we said yes.  She had hoped to be in the hospital just a few days, but after just 4 days, she needed to be transferred to UCLA again.  When we spoke on thephone, she said to me, "Please take good care of my girls . . ."  We never spoke again.  Upon transfer, she was placed on life support.

Family and friends went to visit her.  She couldn't speak, but could write a simple note.  A call went out for another liver and a kidney to save her life once again.  She slipped further and further away.  While she could still communicate, her brother asked her what she was feeling.  She wrote, "Peace"

He asked, "What is God telling you?"

                     "He's been here all the time."