Jehova Jireh

I made a new friend! OK. Not really. I have not actually met her as she lives in Pennsylvania. But a friend who is storing jewels in her crown, and is truly a friend indeed! Hold tight for a great story :)

I love how my friends (you all) are so savvy at finding things on the internet. We all have different motivations and use different sites, which makes it all the more valuable when we share with each other. Last week I was feeling rather desperate about Elianna's possible diagnosis. To sit and wait for the allergist to get around to checking back with me was not what I considered a good option, regardless of what he said. While complaining, one of MFF (my favorite friends - do you like it? I made it up. It seems much more adult and appropriate than a cheesy BFF)...anyways, one of MFF sent me links to FPIES pages in facebook and baby center. Those are two places I would have NEVER thought to look for information.

I signed up for baby center and began perusing. I found an amazing amount of information within minutes. Moms helping moms out in a fantastic, long distance manner. I then found the facebook page. This is where I met my new friend.

Her name is Nichole. Isn't that funny? No, I am serious. Her name is Nichole. With an 'H'! And she has a set of twins who are have been battling GI complications since birth. She responded to a few of my posts with more information and encouragement than I have found in months. Then she sent me a facebook message, and in that message she offered to mail me 7 cans of the more expensive formula that they were not using. I was floored. And then I was skeptical. Who does that?

After Elianna's last doctors appointment I began reviewing the last 8 months and all of her symptoms. It occurred to me that she has never had a normal stool, and that even after switching to the partially hydrolyzed formula at three months, the blood went away but the diarrhea and other symptoms never have. That got me to thinking that perhaps she would benefit from the next step up - the more expensive amino acid based formula. Considering the financial state we have been in lately with insurance not covering everything from her formula to Moriah's speech, the thought of moving up to about $60 a can for formula made me want to vomit.

And then, here was this person I have never met offering to ship me 7 cans. I messaged her back and said that it was a lot to ask and I didn't know the cost of shipping it. Her response included this: 'It is hard but faith sustains me - one day at a time. I know it is scary to take the leap when you don't know where the money will come from. I began praying for your family last night and I will keep you in my prayers. I am in PA, but don't worry about the cost to ship the formula. This has been laid on my heart and my husband agrees. We have been so blessed with all of our financial needs being met.'

I cried. I emailed her my address, and waited. Would it really come? Was God really so obviously and blatantly providing during our financially tightest month yet?

Today the doorbell rang and I opened it to find a USPS box on my porch. The return label said Pennsylvania. I brought it inside in amazement. Cracking open the box I found a short note left on the top of 7 cans of very expensive amino acid based formula. It read:
Nichole:
Jehova Jireh
:)
Nichole

Jehova Jireh. God will provide. He will see that my every need is met.

I wept.