Miracles
Late this weekend, some sad stuff went down.
A family we went to college with was involved in a life-taking accident. Tragically, Sara, who was just 35 and pregnant, was killed when a car struck her vehicle.
As Sara left this world, her baby, Miranda, was delivered into it about 45 minutes after the accident.
Miranda was born without a heartbeat, but miraculously, doctors were able to restart her heart and put her on a ventilator.
Because Chad is a tech guy for the school district where I work and Chad’s mom, Kathy, works in my building, this event has set a heavy tone for our week. She is currently in extremely critical condition.
Yet in all of this sadness, one thing that has touched me–beyond the family’s own strength and faith–is the outpouring of visible support pouring out both in real life and over the internet.
This afternoon, I was leaving a comment on our college friend Aaron–Chad’s brother’s–facebook page and couldn’t help feeling a little bit moved in seeing hundreds of comments pouring out from so many alumni who attended college with us.
Almost every single comment included the phrase “We are praying for you.”
As word has spread, over 10,000 people have joined this Facebook page to pray for Miranda and leave notes of support for the family.
This of course does not reverse anyone’s loss, and words or Facebook comments can sometimes feel trite in the face of such tragedy. But still somewhere in this sadness, the faith and love voiced online serve as a beautiful and powerful visual reminder that we don’t have to live alone in this world.
Thank God, in these moments, for the grace of community.
Please join us in praying for Miranda and her family today. She is in desperate need of a miracle this evening.
***
You can check this post for updates on the baby’s condition as they come in. (Update #1: If there is no change, life support will be disconnected Tuesday evening.) (Update #2: Little Miranda has gone on to be with her Mommy and her Creator. Please pray for the family in the days to come. The visitation is Friday afternoon and the funeral will be Saturday.)
Wired Whimsy February 8, 2011 (5:00 pm)
How unbelievably tragic. Will be praying for Miranda and her daddy.
Julie M. February 8, 2011 (5:08 pm)
Oh, how very sad…I’m praying!!!
Kimberly Dick February 8, 2011 (5:21 pm)
It is so amazing how God is working through this little girl…. thousands and thousands of people join together to offer prayer on her behalf. Who knows how many this teeny girl will lead to the Lord. And her father Chad’s blog entries are an amazing testimony to his faith. It’s as inspirational as it is heartbreaking – one thing is for certain, God will protect the Cole family one way or another.
mechelle February 8, 2011 (6:24 pm)
This is so,so sad.
I seem to be at a lack of the right thing to say,like I think Kimberly’s post put so well.
I will also be praying for Miranda and Chad.
It is hard to watch thise kinds of things happen to ones so small.But I can tell you,from my own experiences,that God is there with you in a very different way when things like this happen.
And it is suprising,wonderful,amazing,and more than helpful when you get it.
But you only get it that way when something really big happens,AS it happens.
Not before you need it.But during.That is the key.
People often misquote that God won’t give you more than you can handle.
Those are not comforting words at all,in most situations.
God will be with you THROUGH whatever happens in your life.
Even when life is going so wrong or not how you expected it to.
I surely hope for Miranda to pull through.
I also hope for Chad much comfort from God at this terrible time in his life.So opposite of what his expectations were at this time.
It is always hard to know of lifes harsher realities for those on the outside of it too.
Our comforts come more from joining together,with others to pray and try to make sense of these kinds of things.As best you can.