I’m one of the privileged ones to have seen, heard, and
touched Emma in person. Just a little
over two weeks ago I was sitting right beside her looking into her eyes. Just sitting beside her I could tell she knew
she wasn’t alone. During my last week in
India I realized in my entire four months their I had been running about
capturing photos and video of over 100 children in their daily lives, but had
never just sat down and watched over this particular little girl. It doesn’t take long to figure at that Emma
was no ordinary baby. Her condition left
her to the security of her crib. Even a
slight touch to the cheek gave her a sense of fear from the multiple surgeries
she had received in her short life.
But that last day I spent some time just sitting with her
next to her crib. At first I wasn’t even
sure if she knew I was there, but when I got up to leave, she began to
whimper. I knew then that she wanted me
to sit with her. She didn’t want to be
alone.
And alone she was not.
This one little girl had been rescued from what many doctors pronounced
better off dead. But God, Sarah, and
many others refused to believe her life was beyond all hope. Four months and several surgeries later she
was in a stable condition, gaining wait, and able to muster a small smile at
the sight of a loving caretaker or volunteer to wrap her up in physical and
spiritual warmth. To read more click this link: Emma's Story
I took this picture of Emma on my last day with her because
at the time I thought I never want to forget this moment with her. Little did I know it would be the last time I
saw her.
photo taken of Emma on 4.28.12
But her story is far from over. She has been wrapped up in the arms of an
unfathomable loving God, who I fear because of my own inadequacies. Fear in the sense that He is far greater than
the limits of my imagination yet he has acted in my life in way I will never be
the same.
Emma lives on in the hearts of many. Some who meet her face
to face, others who labored in prayer far away yet closer than we can
comprehend. From Blogs, pictures, to
film Emma’s story will be told. For she
is a Child of God and my Papa loves to talk about his children.
Emma passed away on 5/16/12 in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. The shunt from her brain which drained fluid had failed. She is now home with her heavenly Father.
