Pray For Eli - A Journey of Faith & Love

As the title alludes, this will not be our typical educational / informational battery related blog post. Instead, I ask that we put our differences aside, take a moment to pause and pray for Eli.

Who is Eli? Eli is a little boy struggling to survive a Stem Cell transplant. According to the doctors, the actual transplant is progressing and has NOT been rejected by Eli’s body. However, very shortly after the surgery, he acquired a virus that has been attacking his lungs and shutting down his kidneys. This is obviously, hindering the progression of the transplant and robbing his body of the energy and nutrients needed to begin producing the much needed ‘T’ cells that can fight a virus. He now lies lifeless on his hospital bed struggling for every breath and yet after months of battling this virus his little body has not given up! The doctors have prepared the family for what appears to be the inevitable, but left the window of hope open saying “it would take a miracle.”

I personally do not know Eli or his immediate family, but one of my industry colleagues is a good friend and uncle to Eli. Over the past months, as he provided updates, I could detect a growing sense of helplessness, yet profoundly; it seemed wrapped with a steady growth of faith and hope. Although I cannot imagine what the family is truly feeling, I can vaguely relate as an uncle experiencing the same sense of helplessness when my nephew was presented with a life threatening diagnosis.

This Is What Made Eli’s Story Even More Personal For Me

When I was in university, my nephew was diagnosed with the ‘flesh eating disease.’ At the time, a prominent political leader in Canada just battled with the disease undergoing several amputation surgeries—the only way to stop the disease from spreading and killing you. When I received the news, the thought of my brother and sister-in-law losing their son rattled my world. I was at school in Indiana and they were in Eastern Ontario Canada. There was no time or practical way for me to leave school and physically be there to support them. All I could do was pray!

In many ways, especially if you remove the idea of faith, it seems so trivial and a bit magical or wishful thinking to believe that my taking time to pause and pray would make a difference. But I truly believe my prayers (and the prayers of countless others) had a profound IMPACT on the life of my nephew!

First Biblical Reference To Prayer

Remember in the book of Genesis Chapter 18 when Abraham petitioned God not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of 50 good people in the city? And then humbly, yet boldly interceded for Sodom to be saved for the sake of 45 virtuous people, and then 30 people, then 20 until finally, as he begs God not to be angry with him he asks, “for the sake of 10 righteous people would you not destroy the city?” Each time the LORD said “yes,” for the sake of fifty, forty-five…for the sake of 10 righteous people I will not destroy the city. This was one of the short passages of scripture that had helped form my understanding of who God is and how he interacts with his children. So when the life altering news concerning my nephew broke, I quietly withdrew to my “prayer closet” and in those very personal moments conversed with my heavenly Father as Abraham did so long ago. I was confident in whom I knew God to be and what He could do. My initial prayers were filled with raw genuine emotion that is often hard to express in words. As time moved forward they became shorter and bolder. I proceeded with an ever growing confidence and audacity as I watched a miracle unfold before my very eyes. Just as Abraham boldly conversed with God and interceded on behalf of Lot’s family living in Sodom, I boldly stood before my Creator and interceded for my nephew. It went something like this:

I asked for his life to be saved. I wanted to see him grow and mature into a powerful witness for God. The doctors reported he may only lose his leg.

I petitioned for his leg. The report from the doctors indicated they could save his hip socket and remove the leg at the thigh.

“Lord that is not good enough. He needs to be able to run and enjoy life, please give him his leg!” To that the doctors responded with they could save his knee joint so he could be fitted with a prosthetic and live a mostly normal life.

“Lord that is not good enough, let him keep his entire leg!” To which the response was “There is a chance we may be able to save the bone but we will have to remove most of the soft tissue below the knee.”

“No! Give him his leg!”

When the doctors finally came out of surgery they were perplexed and profoundly amazed as they explained they had never seen anything like this! The flesh eating disease turned in on itself and was completely encapsulated. There was no bone or soft tissue damage! They simply removed a foreign ball of tissue. That is my God!

Back To Eli's Journey…

I guess what I am saying is as long as my dear friend and his family hurt, I am hurting. I know there is nothing I can do physically to provide assistance. Doctors have no more tools in their arsenal. By their own admission, there is nothing more they can do to help Eli other than to pray for a miracle. So a miracle is what we will pray for! Join us in our intercession. Spread the word to all your friends and family via Facebook and Twitter. Log on to Eli’s Facebook page to read about his story and receive regular updates. Pray that God would keep the virus at bay long enough to allow the Stem Cell transplant to begin producing the required ‘T’ cells that fight infection. Better yet, pray that God would simply restore Eli to full health in a powerful and glorious way! Be encouraged then to expect, by earnest prayer, the blessing of God to be poured out upon this child and his family.

This morning when I was listening to KLOVE radio, preparing for the day, I felt pressed to write this post as two songs played back-to-back. The first was Need A Miracle by Third Day, followed by Glorious Unfolding by Steven Curtis Chapman. I’m standing there brushing my teeth, tears streaming down my face, foam pouring out of my mouth listening to the words as I remembered the miracle with my nephew. I cried out saying “Lord I want that for Eli!” #LoveForEli