please, pray

she is one of the cutest 3 year olds you will ever see. 

Irena, whose mother and father are both from Pakistan, but who was born here in Vienna has been a fiery spark of joy in my life since I met and befriended the family that surrounds her and loves her last August. 

There is much to tell about this beautiful family--each individual person special to my heart in a special way and all together forming a home for my heart and a school of love for me. Most of all, they have taught me the beauty of the human person and just what a human person is capable of doing simply on the grounds of being human, of desiring to love all and serve all, no matter how absurd it may be or how the world and society may challenge you and tell you that it is not humanly possible to live of such love and service and selflessness. (I'm bursting to tell you their story...but alas...I have to wait till the next post because I don't have time to go into every detail now) 

 They thank me so much whenever I am with them--but all I can think is that what I can offer them is nothing compared to the gift of their friendship. And so is the mystifying and beautiful debt of love. 

But enough..I'll tell you all about that later...for now...this is URGENT

I spent the evening at their apartment tonight and stayed at watched the two older girls while Nazli and Saima (yes they are two women...its complicated...) ran some errands and took Irena to the hospital. I was under the impression it was just a routine checkup, although Irena hasn't been eating so well and they have been really watching her sleeping habits, and her eating habits. The two older girls and I passed the time with not a care in the world--playing beauty parlor (I of course being the perpetual customer getting my hair done, nails painted, even my makeup done....oh yes, I had lips that were twice the size of my own thanks to some strategically placed lip liner and lipstick, and at once point one of my eyes looked as though I had been punched in the face) And then they returned from the doctor. I went out to help them bring the stroller up the stairs and the look of fear and anguish in Nazli's eyes startled me. I asked what had happened, what was wrong, the only answer I received being, "Please please pray for little Irena. Please ask everyone you know to pray for her!" 

I didn't press the issue. I was saying my goodbyes and ensuring Nazli that I woudl pray and have everyone I know praying. My heart was soaring at this event--this devout Muslim woman was entrusting her worries to me and asking me to pray. How beautiful it is that no matter the difference in religions and traditions, the chain of prayer remains unbroken. Prayer-the greatest help a human can offer to another-remains a life-line that crosses usual human boundaries. 

I went to find Saima in her room to say goodbye, but to my surprise I found her hiding in her room, sobbing, so that Anna and Aroma (the older daughters) wouldn't see her sadness. I sat on the bed next to her and took her hand and she crashed into me, weeping and clenching my leg and arm. I sat with her held her shaking body as she sobbed into my arms. Nazli joined us a few minutes later and I sat between these two anguish-enveloped woman as they cried and talked and spilled their fear and worry. 

According to the blood tests they received back from the doctor today, and how they match the blood reports that they produced around a year ago...

Irena may have Leukemia. 

Tomorrow morning Saima will take Irena to the hospital to do some more tests and find out for sure what is the reality of her situation. But for now, fear grips these two women,  one the birth-mother of Irena, the other caring and loving Irena as if she were also her birth mother-as they await to see what road they will be forced to walk on this next step in life, dreading the long road of suffering for Irena, themselves, and the family, that is most likely to be the case. 

There were some more phenomenal things about this evening that I can't adequately explain without you knowing the whole background of Saima and Nazli. But suffice it to say, tonight was a painful, yet extraordinary night. And already God has brought little rays of goodness out of the darkness of fear and distress. 

Tonight was the first time since I have been here that I truly felt as If I was sitting beside Mary as she mourned the coming suffering of her Son. I was helpless and could only hold her. I was speechless because no words could soothe the pain or the dread that I know, but could not fathom, was running through her head. I was almost motionless because of my inability to grasp the situation, the emotion, the reality of this mother's suffering. I could only be there, right where God granted me the grace and the gift to be. Right there where she could crash into me with all the weight of her fear and squeeze my hand as if to wring out any ounce of hope to help her through the dread. 

But in all this...nothing is yet for sure. 

So please, please, please PRAY!!!!! For Irena, for her health, for Saima and the rest of the family. Pray for a miracle. 

danke.