The past two and a half weeks the Damean siblings, along with their spouses, have been dragged through a pool of emotions predominated by a shadow of nightmare. Only God’s love of us and our love of God gave us the strength required to keep our sanity. I’m sure, some of you have similar stories, hopefully similar outcome.

It began with a rescue mission during the vacation time of one of our siblings. Some of the information is very sensitive and extremely personal, so I’ll keep identities shadowed for protection. The rescue mission involved my mom, who, according to years of expertise in the nursing field of couple of my siblings was more or less two days from death. After few emergency trips to couple hospitals sprinkled with grave challenges my mom got admitted. All doctors were surprised she was still alive. A battle began that lasted two weeks over the wellbeing of my mother. When I say a battle, I mean it in the full extent of it’s word. We, all, were hurt in unthinkable brutal ways, something from which we will recover thanks to God’s help and each others’. After blood transfusions and different medications my mom’s health began to show signs of improvement. But the dialysis did it. Today, as I’m writing she’s going through her 8th or 9th round of dialysis, something she’ll have to do weekly until a new kidney becomes available. In the midsts of these past two weeks I began dental work, a dire step towards my full recovery, desperately needed three years ago but postponed due to my advanced compromised immune system situation. I’ve had a severe reaction Sunday, the 9th of April, involving cardiac symptoms similar to a heart atack followed by an intense Herx reaction that lasted well over one hour, (leaving my body drained and extremely week). My gums were swollen and an open sore may have been the contributing factor of such a severe reaction, but we’re not fully sure as of now. In addition, one of my sisters-in-law, found out she was pregnant. That fantastic news was quickly overshadowed by another news – ectopic pregnancy-a devastating news. Only God keeps us strong during these sorts of challenges. And he’s sure great. Among our pain, sun has shined as well. We’ve had the great privilege to participate at Elizabeth and Ward’s youngest son, Shawn’s baptism on the 8th, despite the fact that on the 7th I felt horrible. God alone, gave me the strength on the 8th, he’s always done that, witness to this is my husband. The time together with Elizabeth and Ward’s family during such an important time of life was a God moment and we savored every moment of it. My book is in the final stage of publication in  Romanian, back home, Merrill, our eldest has found a new place to rent that he’s extremely happy with and after only 7 month at Amazon he got a promotion already.

And today, the biggest celebration so far was the arrival of Denis Stefan Damean, my brother Leo and his wife Nicole’s first born. Like a sweet ointment over all our hearts, Denis’s arrival amongst us feels, making him the 17th grandchild for my parents.

We’ve lost, we’ve gained, we’ve cried (extra these past two weeks), we’ve laughed but above all else WE HAVE LOVED! And that shines above all else. Together, with great love and greater unity, we’ll always overcome the shadow of evil.

Be encouraged, if you too are passing through the valley of death and reach out, we’re here to love and to withstand together the evil that may try to ravage you.

God, Thank you.