A Father's Love

This sweet little girl's name is Aicha. She came to us terrified, scarred, and huddled under her papa's arm. She'd look at the doctors and nurses in fear every time we came close to her. Aicha was burned in a house fire just under a year ago. She lost her mother in that fire and most of their possessions as well. It's just her and her papa now, trying to heal and start over. She had burns all over her body when she came in and 2 of them were still open wounds and so sensitive. She came
back from surgery wrapped in bandages from her neck all the way down to her knees. Poor baby. Her frail little 4 year old body is getting stronger though. Each dressing change was an improvement from the one before, she began eating more, gaining weight slowly, and trusting us more and more.  After a few weeks she was riding her little toy car up to me every morning, she'd put our her hands and want to dance as soon as I turned the music on. She still cried out in fear each time we changed her bandages, or did exercises with her, but the rest of the day she became just like the other kids. Playful, smiling, happy.... And when her father looks at her, you can see the love in his eyes. He adores her, protects her and only wants the best for her.  Often seeing the two of them together makes me think of our heavenly father. It's such a beautiful image of how I imagine God looks at us sometimes. Complete adoration, love, wanting the best for his children even though sometimes that means exercises and wound care that's painful and scary.

Aicha is completely healed now and no longer needs dressing changes. She continues to come to the ship often for rehab though and I still get hugs and smiles from her and her daddy. She's one of the little miracles of this year.

On discharge from the hospital