Saturday, June 06, 2009

Please pray for my niece Clara

My older brother Tom lives in South Korea and works as the pastor of a baptist church there.  He has six little girls - Melody, Amy, Holly, Clara, Violet, and Ruby.  Clara was born shortly after my daughter, and so she is a very spunky and smart 3-year-old girl who has her daddy wrapped around her little finger.
Earlier this week, Clara began having seizures during her naptime and was taken to the local hospital.  She slipped in and out of consciousness and finally awoke with the mental capacity of a baby, not recognizing her mom or dad or any of her sisters. Here is the latest update from my brother Tom:
At this point in time, Clara is at Seoul St. Mary's hospital near the Seoul Express Bus Terminal.  It's about 90 minutes from our house, but it's a good hospital.  Since my last email, Clara has improved quite a bit, as she now talks, and recognizes both Laura and me.  She still has a ton of improvement to go - she doesn't recognize her sisters (calls them by the wrong names - but even I've done that in the past), throws unrecognizable fits, and generally has the mentality of a one year old - when before the seizures, she was the smartest child of that age that we've ever had.  She constantly tries to bite off her IVs, jump out of bed, and more - so watching her is a 24 hour task.  Laura is staying at the hospital with her, and I stay all day, traveling home and back each night - so both of us are fairly exhausted.  And I feel bad for practically ignoring our other children, but I am glad that the folks in our church stepped up and are taking care of them.  I'm taking Ruby back and forth so that Laura can feed her (and spend time with her), but I'm most concerned about Violet.  She is the most "needy" of the Vasel kids (one year old), and is now separated from her parents and sisters.  And she's sick.  So pray for her.  As I type this, Clara is under sedation (although you can't tell yet), and will be undergoing an MRI as soon as she falls asleep. Please pray for - the doctors to figure out just what is wrong with her - that it would be nothing - that she would regain her mental facilities as soon as possible - that Laura and I would get enough rest; both mental and physical. I'm doing better physically than Laura, but I'm a wreck in other ways - I'm used to running around helping people with their problems, but right now I'm not able to get anything done for church or otherwise, and I feel completely helpless in regards to Clara.  God is good, and He is taking care of us.  Thank you for your prayers, and for spreading the word about this - it's an encouragement to us. Maybe tomorrow Clara will wake up and everything will be back to normal!  Or maybe not.  Either way, God is in control.  Tom Vasel Psalm 51
As my brother mentioned, he covets your prayers.  I ask that you take a moment today to beg God for the healing of this little girl.  Thank you  - our God's ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts than our thoughts.  We rest in this, knowing as Tom just stated, God is in control.

8 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry to hear about this. We will definitely be praying for your little niece, as well as her parents and sisters.

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  2. Oh, my goodness! I will be praying like mad for your entire family especially little Clara. That just makes my heart break. *hugs*

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  3. Keeping your dear sweet Clara in my prayers. No child should have to go through this.

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  4. How terrifying. I will for sure pray for Clara and her family.

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  5. Im so sorry about this. Of course i will be praying. Keep us posted on this story. Id love to hear how she is now!

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  6. How sad. Please keep us updated.

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  7. They are in my prayers.

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