Johanna's Battle Against HLH

On the 27th of July 2017, our family came to New Zealand on a two year religious work visa working for Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Family Ministries in Matamata. Coming into the country was financially challenging as we are working voluntarily and thus we rely by faith on God's provision for our needs.

Just a couple of months in New Zealand, Johanna got really really sick. My 4 year 9 months old girl was diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis or HLH, a very rare blood disease. She was in critical condition when brought to Starship Children's Hospital in Auckland where she was transferred by an ambulance on Tuesday afternoon, the 3rd of October from Waikato Hospital in Hamilton where she was confined for two days.

Friday evening Johanna had her first chemotherapy. We almost lost her that night but while she was having chills and fighting for her life, she cried: "Jesus help me." It was so heartbreaking but through it all, we felt God's presence and His peace which surpasses all understanding. That night the chorus of the song "I Will Trust in You" just came to my mind and I remember myself praying, "This is it Lord, I surrender everything. If you will not part the waters I wish I could walk through, then by faith I am walking on water right now, just hold my hand. I will trust in you because I know you love us. " There was calm after that and God gave us Luke 8:50: “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

We are holding on to this verse.

As for Johanna's prayer, God gave us these verses:

Psalm 91:14-16 NIV

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. [15] He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. [16] With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation." We receive these promises for Johanna as well.

As the minutes passed, God answered her prayer. Through the help of the doctors and nurses of Ward 27B, Johanna's vital signs started to stabilize. As the days went by, our daughter's condition got better.

At this time Johanna is now 5 (she had her 5th birthday on the 2nd of January) and is still undergoing chemoteraphy until her big brother, Ronald Jr. can come to New Zealand to donate bone marrow for her. We are raising funds for his airfare and accommodation as well as for our family's expenses while in Auckland for the whole duration of the transplant procedure including pre and post transplant periods.

HLH is a giant that our family especially Johanna is fighting against. But even giants can be slain by children just like David killing Goliath. As we follow Jesus and continue to seek Him, we know that God Almighty is with us especially with Johanna. We contiue to hold on to God's promises.