“Fear is useless, what is needed is trust.”
– Luke 8:50

Tuesday

11:15 am – Tisha, eight months pregnant, went to the doctor with a cold, fever, and body aches. The doctor arranged for her to be tested for COVID-19 immediately.

Wednesday

2:45 pm – Our team checked back in with Tisha, who was quarantined in one of our independent living apartments. She wasn’t feeling well…

Friday

9:30 am – We checked in again. Still not any better…

11:45 am – Tisha’s test results came back: she had indeed acquired the COVID-19 virus. Tisha did not say much. She rarely does. She is a sweet girl. She is also extremely introverted.

“Fear is useless, what is needed is trust.”

Saturday

12:10 pm – Tisha felt her condition was improving. Asked if she needed anything, she said, “no thanks.”

7:25 pm – Tisha reached out to Nurse Nikki on our team. Tisha said she felt feverish again, and her body ached. She thought she was having contractions. Nurse Nikki urged Tisha to call 911.

7:40 pm – Reluctantly, Tisha placed the call.

8:55 pm – E.M.S. picked up Tisha and took her to Touro Hospital. Thanks to Nurse Nikki, the doctor was waiting for her.

9:20 pm – Nurse Nikki texted Tisha to see how she was doing. Tisha said she was so glad that she was at the hospital. She had been scared… but afraid to tell anyone.

Sunday

6:55 am – The doctor texted: “Tisha’s water just broke. She is hypertensive, and her liver enzymes are elevated. Tisha is very sick.”

“Fear is useless, what is needed is trust.”

1:05 pm – I spoke with Tisha shortly after she had received the epidural. She was feeling sleepy.  (We checked in with Tisha throughout the day. She was as sweet as ever.)

9:10 pm – Tisha gave birth to a healthy six-pound baby boy. She thinks she will call him Trent.

Monday

10:30 am – The doctor reported that both mother and child were doing well. Tisha was happy… and very relieved.

Tuesday

Tisha’s blood pressure is still high. Thankfully, the baby can stay with her until Friday. After that, things are complicated. Who can care for him? Who has been exposed to Tisha? Who needs to be quarantined? How long will Tisha be kept in the hospital? Will she then need to be isolated from everyone? From Trent? The answers are unclear…

“Fear is useless, what is needed is trust.”

Sounds so simple. Yet there are days when the fear seems to be winning the battle: for me, and for many of our youth and staff.

Still, this weekend, in the midst of the COVID 19 storm, our dedicated team remained calm and professional… despite the waves of fear touching our community. Their focus was on the health and wellness of this brave young mother – and the birth of her beautiful son.

TODAY, we will try not to be overcome by fear. Instead, we will delight in the JOY of this new child of God.

– Jim