From Near Death . . .

“I'm sorry, Mrs Livingstone, but I'm afraid your daughter is going to have to stay in hospital. She has encephalitis.”

Sharon screwed up her eyes and shook her head. Seated opposite the consultant, she had no idea what he was talking about.

“It is a rare disease,” the consultant said, “and it is serious. Inflammation of the brain.”

“But she's not even three years old! So what happens next?” Sharon felt tears surging in her eyes.

“She will need urgent treatment. And I must warn you. She could be brain-damaged. Or she could die.”

~~ooo~~

Driving back home, having followed the ambulance to the hospital, Sharon felt overwhelmed. Then, turning into the driveway, she saw a man coming towards her, with a white collar around his neck. He must be a Vicar, she thought.

'My wife and I live at the Vicarage just down the road,” he said, as she opened the car door. “We're almost next door neighbours, and I couldn't help seeing an ambulance stopping here. So I wondered if we could help in any way?”

Grateful for his concern, Sharon invited him in, made a cup of tea for them both and, tearfully, explained the situation. The Vicar then asked if he could pray for her, a request which, despite her having had little to do with faith or church since childhood, she could not refuse.

“Please feel free to pop in and see my wife if you're in need of help at any time,” he said, as he left. “We have a daughter the same age as yours, so I'm sure you'd have a lot in common.”

From then on, not only did Sharon form a close friendship with the Vicar's wife, Mary but, joining the local church, she found her faith again.

“I promise you, Lord, that I will bring Diana up to know and love you,” she prayed, daily, “if only you will make her well again.”

~~ooo~~

Visiting the childrens' hospital on a daily basis, while Diana was in a coma, Sharon found herself supporting other little patients, and their parents. Six weeks later, Diana returned home in full health, a bubbling and adorable little girl. And only decades later, things changed again. . .

NEXT TIME - . . . To New Life

Based on a true story, all names have been changed.