Hemi-mom
Those who sing pray twice
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2000
- Messages
- 1,080
I have a prayer request...these two emails (one from Friday and one from yesterday) explain it.
FROM FRIDAY, MAY 30th:
Thank you for your prayers for Neo. Neo is our family’s “adopted/supported” daughter from South Africa . We have been her sole financial supporters for nearly two years since I met her in the summer of 2006 and spent three weeks with her. After that first year of exploring adoption options, we were only able to become supporters, although our hope has always been that God would make a way for her to be adopted at some point in time. We were hoping to visit her as a family next year.
Neo is a paraplegic and unfortunately, like so many other children in our world, she has limited access to health care and diagnostic testing. With no real legal rights it has been impossible to get her the help she really needs. While we are still trying to make contact with people who might have more information to give, our missionary friends in Johannesburg have managed to find out that Neo is terminally ill due to a tumor in her abdomen pressing on vital organs. This is heart-wrenching news for us and makes the fears we have had, in not being able to get Neo better medical care sooner, a tragic reality.
We are trusting in the sovereignty of our God to whom we give all that we have and all are, asking Him to hold and love Neo in her time of suffering as He always has. She is surrounded by Christians who love her dearly and we may be able to arrange a visit. Please pray for us as we seek ways to help her. Many of you have prayed for Neo from a distance and I count it all joy to have had that opportunity and to tell others who would never have known about her if the Lord hadn’t filled me with such an awesome love. I would ask that you pray for her now especially in her pain. I am so grateful for the prayers that are touching this little girl so far away.
Neo is due to celebrate her 6th birthday on July 26th.
Much thanks, grace and peace,
~Jill
FROM MONDAY JUNE 2nd:
I have some more info after speaking with the orphanage directly…please understand that communication is very difficult. To answer one question…I have been turned down as far as any option to bring her to the US for treatment.
It seems that Neo has a condition where tumors grow in her body and can be treated medically and shrunk, but not cured. They have reappeared after she has had surgeries. We can’t be sure how accurate any diagnosis is but have been assured that a certified pediatrician sees her weekly and that a nurse monitors her closely daily at the home (more one-on-one than would even occur in a hospital there). The workers are concerned with managing her pain and keeping her comfortable. It is felt that she is too weak for further surgeries and that tumors would likely come back anyway.
A picture that we received, taken May 24th, shows obviously that she is very ill (compared to the one I sent to you), and it was heartbreaking to see. But I was told today that after she got more medicine her health greatly improved. Orina, the manager of Tumelo Home, told me just this morning that she feels that prayers have helped Neo and she was astonished at the improvement over the last week. From what I understand this condition and the tumors can change and patients have good and bad times dealing with it. Please keep praying!
Many of the children have never left the Home. I was told today that they have a trip planned to the zoo on June 8th where ALL of the children will be able to go and see the animals. She expects Neo to be well enough to go… what a blessing it would be.
Orina felt that overall the condition of Neo is grave (she said perhaps before the end of the year) and they are making arrangements for her to be buried at Tumelo Home. Neo’s only living relatives are not involved in any of her care and do not visit her.
Please pray for the following:
1. That Dan and I would be led to the best course of action to help Neo be comfortable in her last days and to provide for a nice funeral. We’re not sure that providing this AND having me make a visit is possible. We priced a trip to South Africa from Senegal (to try to tack on a visit after my service in Senegal is complete) and it is looking like the cost for airfare would be more than the whole of my trip! We need to be wise in providing the best care for Neo, faithful to pray, and to put her needs ahead of our own and our desire to see her. So please pray that we would be directed by the Lord and God would make it clear how we should proceed.
2. Lastly, pray for a miracle…that Neo’s condition would disappear!! While we know that our God can do that, we trust His sovereignty in the situation and believe that He is good all of the time. We pray His love and comfort to surround this little life and the lives of so many who suffer as she does. We also thank Him for the care she is receiving and that He has enabled us to help in many ways over the past two years. The orphanage has made big improvements in the facility and amount of care workers available for the children since I was there and it is due to prayers and financial support!
Again, thank you!!!
Grace and peace,
~Jill
THANKS FOR PRAYERS!
and he had a family. He had been fighting tongue cancer for maybe a year or so and he didn't make it 
I'm really sad, I'm crying again 
