Emily’s transplant is a testament to what God can do and that he still performs miracles. We are members of First Baptist Orlando. Our pastor, David Uth, prayed for Emily prior to leaving for Duke Children’s to start her healing journey. Pastor David shared with Emily an important hand gesture and meaning that would be the one thing she would depend on throughout her entire transplant journey and continues to be a part of her “faith shaking” moments. He taught her to put her hand out and to lay her thumb down across the palm of her hand. He then told her to wrap the remaining four fingers over the thumb. The thumb represented her and the fingers wrapped around the thumb represents Jesus holding her tightly. He told her whenever she was scared to do this hand gesture as a reminder that God has her. Transplant was tough and there were plenty of scary moments, and each time we observed her holding her little hand in that position. It didn’t end there with Emily. She loves to share things that have helped her and so she began to tell everyone about this simple hand gesture reminding her that Jesus has her. We can’t thank Pastor David and the First Baptist Orlando family for all they mean to us. Here is a picture of the slide they dedicated to Emily. We hope for years to come that many children will know Emily’s story and how God performed a miracle in her life. Her bible verse for her transplant was Philippians 4:13….I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
At the time of Emily’s transplant, she loved to play soccer. It just so happens that KaKa with Orlando City would train across the street where Emily lived. During Emily’s year of isolation post-transplant, she would walk/run every day to build her body back up and she would always see KaKa practicing. It just so happens that KaKa attended First Baptist Orlando as well. October 2017, Emily accepted Jesus as her personal savior and was baptized by Pastor David and Kaka! We are forever grateful for our church and how important they are in our lives forever.
