A few days before the 4th of July, Ana Carolina called saddened that she had not been able to get the time off from work to come home. Along with a video of fireworks seen from her work, she sent David a beautiful email, which she titled “Keep it Real”. Each word she wrote touched David immensely. We missed her so much. She wanted to finish school so she stayed in Miami working and studying.
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As David became more cognitively aware - he would respond to situations and stimuli around him almost immediately. Watching TV, he would make us laugh, as he gestured me to call the 1-800 number every time a great offer would pop up on TV – even for a funeral home. His heart would always go out for the advertisements regarding donating for the children’s hospital or animal SPCA and always wanted to donate. I had to remind him of repeated commercials.
He would giggle when - as he turned his attention to ask me to call the 1-800 - I already had the phone on my ear pretending to call the number. David sorted out his preferences of the music he wanted to listen to, the books he wanted to read and programs he favored watching. He would show disapproval to programs with a negative or violent undertone and preferred to watch movies with a positive or motivational message.
David’s first appointment with Ortho Dr. Langford went very well. He was very happy to see the progress and mentioned that the right ankle was almost at target and that there was no infection. That evening Angel from his place of work in Miami, Segafredo called. His message was uplifting and brought tears of joy to all of us. He told David that he was happy to know that he was getting better and stronger. That knowing that David had his family helping him every minute of the day filled his heart with joy. He continued saying that God had a purpose, that David was in God’s hands and that a lot of beautiful things were in store for David.
We tasted and saw the goodness of our Lord at adoration in the Sts. Peter & Paul chapel one evening. As I was getting ready to ask Jesus for David’s ability to speak again - as I did many times before - I felt a deep peace knowing that God was the One running the schedule. The fact that David was not able to walk yet was a blessing because of his perception of his surroundings and his physical abilities. I recalled the Lord’s message back in the nursing home in Jeremiah 29:11 “ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Regardless of our expectations, David was moving forward and the fruits told Who was blessing us.
 | David’s friend, John T. came to visit him on Friday with cousin Hector Luis. John T. got him 80 balloons and a special “peacock” birthday cake to celebrate. They both showered David with fun gifts and we sang happy birthday. |
Eddy came by surprise on Saturday and planned to stay until Thursday to celebrate David’s birthday. Eddy and I stayed up until 5:00 a.m. talking about how we were all going thru our own process accepting all this new reality. He also talked about David’s promise on always taking care of each other and that family always came first. He wished to be close to David but understood he had to stay in Miami – finish college and discern what his future hold. I hoped at that instance to have all my children in Orlando.
Eddy coordinated David’s 29th surprise birthday party. I was a bit apprehensive about having so many people come. Ana Carolina told me to enjoy it. Fernando said that David would enjoy it as well. I made the famous chicken and rice with red beans. Friends started showing up about 5:30 PM. Good old friend Mike S., Collins, Kris, Jeanette, Steven, Chris S., Tony, Irene, Blake, Randall, Justin and cousin Michael started the celebration. We sang, laughed, reminisced and celebrated David’s life together. Irene wrapped up the party with beautiful real fireworks. There are certain phenomenons that can't be described. I reflected how in the midst of our suffering, God was speaking to others. Eddy, Fernando and Ana Carolina were right, David’s birthday party was great and we all enjoyed it.
As I would say goodnight to David, he would begin praying the rosary at night in his room. My mother’s friends Jack and Vi sent David a beautiful card of a perpetual mass in Rome said for David for the rest of his life. Kimberly called thrilled about a relic of Mother Teresa of Calcutta (now Saint Teresa) that was given to her by a religious nun from the Sisters of Charity order to give to David after relating David’s accident at a prayer group in Trinidad. Betty T. called while having lunch with John and kept on saying that David looked better than before and that God had a bigger call for him. Fernando filled us with the retreat’s message of hope that weekend after attending the “Hearts on Fire retreat” in Tampa.
| Prayers and messages of love continued to sustain us every day. It’s about Faith, Hope and Trust. A few days later David showed me that he could make the sign of the cross correctly. He would show me the goose bumps in his arms to remind me it was 3:00 pm - the Divine Mercy hour and we would pray the Chaplet. |  |
During this time, I was drawn to pray for the family tree and bought a book on healing from Father Yozefu Ssemakula who visited our parish during this time. I learned we had the choice to be opened to receive the graces, which God had in store for us and ask for them because God would not impose them on us.
I contemplated that if the heart is filled with fear, anxiety and doubt there is no place to care for others in need because the focus turns inward to the personal issues and problems, which in turn overwhelms and paralyzes. It is in trusting and accepting God’s Mercy and guidance that I could accomplish all things and remain in peace. Every day we continued to realize how much more there is to faith and also recognized that it is better to practice our faith with the little we know about God than to walk in arrogance claiming we know all about God. Faith gives you hope and hope heals.
We looked forward to Dr. Langford’s appointment. David’s feet looked amazing and we couldn’t wait to see him stand up and put weight on them. The doctor was pleased to see David’s progress and the order was given to remove the frames. Surgery was scheduled for September 17th.
David’s new wheelchair arrived right before his birthday. It was light to carry and measured to fit him. For the next few weeks we had family and friends visit us. David would play games on the IPad with Gaby especially "Flow". Uncle Joselo and Tia Mireya, Kimberly, Cristina and Michael, Kris O and Joy. Manny, Catherine and the kids came to visit David and we had a great time. Ana Carolina came with them and stayed until Sunday. Two weeks later, on Saturday Carlos, Marcia, Michael, Christina, Josh and Crimson, Jennifer and husband Lee came to visit while Kimberly, Karina and Eddy were home. What a blessing it is to have all of them in our lives.
At physical therapy, therapist Leonard recommended a standing frame for the home and was approved. It would assist David with bearing weight on his feet and work on his posture. David indicated that sign language was no longer an interest. He wanted to speak and write so we shopped for several workbooks and searched for speech exercises online. We started a new schedule so he could practice to write, speak and read. He seemed to be in a new phase. His body awareness was more accentuated. Now he would gesture when he was ready to go to bed if he was tired and when he wanted to listen to music or go online to his accounts especially Facebook.
One evening in prayer, my attention was drawn to the scripture reading of the wedding in Cana where Jesus turned water into wine (John 2:1-11). I kept repeating in my heart “you have kept the good wine until now" from verse 10. In silence I knew the Lord was keeping the best for last. David’s progress was already a miracle and our trust in God kept growing.
Saturday afternoon as we watched a TV program were a lady explained her out-of-body experience after a car accident - David got very emotional and extended his legs. When I asked him if he had the experience he nodded his head with a yes and cried. David knew what this lady was talking about. I could see it in his eyes. At confession later on, Father Fidel officiated the sacrament of anointing of the sick for David and Father Derk blessed a Faith-Hope-Love ring we had gotten him. We Skyped with Ana Carolina who was at Sandwich King at the “parrillada” and had Gustavo speak to David, which made him very happy.
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The night before the surgery we read the scripture were it reminded us how much God loves us. “26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Mathew 6:26). The surgery was again a success and now David was on the road to recovery to begin standing up on his feet.
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Brandon “Ice Man” came to visit and told us all about his journey on the trail, which sounded to have been very fruitful. With a joy that can only sprout from deep in the soul, he shared the many encounters he had with God. He mentioned that as he was on the top of a mountain looking at the magnificence of all creation his heart kept wondering how could anyone doubt God’s existence.
Brandon at the top of the mountain.
EM Carl K. Eucharistic Minister Carl K from Sts. Peter & Paul had been visiting David at home, sharing the scriptures and giving him communion since he was home bound for 16 weeks. We looked forward to his visits and thanked God for him every week. Because David’s frames were removed we would be able to go to mass on Sundays so Carl didn’t have to come by anymore. He became a special friend in the Lord. A few weeks later, we cooked a very special Spanish meal for him and along with cousin Carmen, who was visiting from Puerto Rico and her daughter Pili had a great time together. We appreciated more than ever the ministries, which the church provides to reach out to those in need. It is God’s way of taking care of us – through those who are open to respond to His call to help others.
There is a purpose for our existence in this place and in this precise time. We can stop running in circles and discover the joy of learning what it all entails. When we love one another in the process of living, we get closer to the One who gives Hope. How much must Jesus suffer when He is ignored or He is unknown especially because then He can’t fill us with joy and strength during our moments of turmoil or give us his love to share with others. Our response makes this world a better place. We have to ask Jesus what we need to do so that He can work through us. We can’t do it without Him and He won’t do it without us.
(John 2:10; Mathew 6:26)
(John 2:10; Mathew 6:26)