The Life Flight Helicopter sat on the pad ready. The local critical team had her intubated and loaded with IV’s, bundled and ready to fly. Small plows were clearing the snow laden lanes. 90 minutes had gone by when seconds counted. Our daughter might die. All the medical centers said they were out of beds. There was no room.
I imagined she would be welcomed into eternity soon. I prayed “Jesus, this isn’t funny but its ironic that no one had room for you either on that first Christmas. Are you going to say to my daughter… there was no room for you in your world so I took you home to mine?”
A critical care unit found room and she was loaded and they were gone in a whirlwind of snow. We drove through the aftermath of the storm and found our daughter still alive but still unresponsive. More waiting. More praying. No more speculation. we are numb.
A couple of days and she could breathe on her own. Around mid day my wife was giving her a hug and her eyes drooped open for a bit and we heard a ragged “hi’ and she closed her eyes. My emotionally numb balloon burst. It was the most mind blowing word. “HI” meant she was coming back to our world. There was hope.
I reminisced about the hundreds of ways “HI” is used and understood. This “Hi” added a new level of meaning. It topped them all…except for the time when I was 11 years old and woke up to say “hi” to my parents (another time to tell). wait..another “hi” ranks higher. That first Christmas when Joseph, Mary and then local shepherds looked into the eyes of the newborn baby Jesus and said “hi” to God who became flesh. I cannot imagine what it would have been like to realize what was really going on. This is the ultimate “HI”.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth”. John 1:14
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
garyfultz 
God Bless you all and my prayers are with your daughter for a most speedy recovery! Merry Christmas! Our hands are open before you Most Glorious Saviour!
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Thankyou so much
She is still headed the right direction. Merry Christmas to you also
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Oh Gary,
I just happened to click on the long read button on my word press and your article was there. We are praying for your daughter, for you and for your family. I wish I could give you a hug. Consider it done with my words. Bless you brother. Please let us all know how your daughter is progressing. If you need anything or there is anything I can do please let me know.
Ron
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Thanks so much Brother. Ill let Tania know you sent a hug.
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Wow, Gary! The Lord Jesus is faithful and true. Been praying since you first told me. But what was the medical cause of such a scare? Still praying my friend!
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For some reason her Sodium plunged below the conscious line. It was the lowest some doctods had seen. To bring it back seems to hurt kidneys and the brain. She has Spina Bifida . Is wheelchair bound and a couple medications. After 35 sugeries her body does strange things sometimes. She is highly intelligent but in a body that rebels at doing the right thing once in awhile. Right now the short term memory is gone. Thinking is slow. Other concerns abound. We can only trust God
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Praying for your daughter and for your family Gary.🙏
Keep us posted.
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Thank Crissy, I will do that.
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Wow Gary. My eyes welled up reading this touching note. You and your daughter are on my prayer list.
Hold tight. The King hears every one of your prayers.
God Bless.
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Thanks david. In our case the King is holding us in his grip. We feel weak. Thanks for the encouragement.
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Hey Gary,
It goes without saying that there are many who are praying for you and your family, but I want you to know that my family is praying, as well. We love you all and will continue to pray for her recovery as well as your confidence in the Great Comforter, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Gabriel
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Thanks so much Gabe.
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Tell your family thanks so much. we miss you and your family a lot.
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Just lifted your daughter and your family up in prayer Gary and asked for her recovery and strength for your family. Please keep us posted. Grace and blessings. – Bruce
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Thanks Bruce. So many people like you are doing the heavy lifting.
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Oh I’m so sorry for this trauma, but praise God, who is rich in mercy for the Hi you heard. My prayers are for you and your wife and loved ones. I was working on an assignment lesson for church tomorrow and reminiscing about Christmas 2010, when tragedy hit me and my family with a diagnosis no one ever wants to hear. I spent Christmas at the hospital with my mom, it was our last Christmas together on earth.
Early one morning during her illness, the Lord said to me Rejoice in The Lord I say again Rejoice.
So I leave you with this prayer-
“Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].”
Philippians 4:5-7 AMP
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Merry Christmas! What a precious gift you have received.
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Thanks so much for that laurette. We have been feeling that peace. It is beyond understanding
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Philippians 4:5-7 has been a favorite scripture of mine since my teen years Laurette. The depths of those truths are beyond me yet I know and have experienced them.
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Thank you for the update and promising outcome. You shared a wonderful Christmas story for all of us to think about . Do we have room for Him .
Sent from my iPhone
>
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Thanks Marty, Things are looking good to go home and be monitored locally as outpatient
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Prayers being said!!!!! May she fully recover and may God grant you both peace during this time.
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Thanks so much Stephanie, that means a lot
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Gary, your family is in my prayers. Our hope is in Jesus Christ. If you need anything please let me know. I love you as part of my family even if we’ve only known each other for a short while. This will always remind me that the smallest thing such as the word hi, may not mean much to someone, but the world to another!
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I deeply appreciate it Kevin. We are all shell shocked emotionally but I hope to see you soon
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I know prayer works – because God gave me these last 7 years with my husband when he almost died. God bless your family and may the New Year find your entire family well and together again.
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Yes, prayer works Lizzy. The Lord is piecing our daughter back together rather quickly physically. Emotionally might be another thing. We are all sea sick from these rough waters, yet the closeness of our refuge in our Father has been unmistakable. More years together with your husband are so precious aren’t they!
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I do pray your daughter will not have lasting emotional problems from her ordeal in the hospital. God bless you and your family. Yes, it is wonderful that God gave me more time with my husband. It is wonderful that your daughter is healing physically and you will have more time with her.
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Thanks for your prayer Lizzy. There is a bit of ptsd going on so the emotional healing may take awhile
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My family and I send you all the prayers we can, for healing and recovery. You’re blessed ones to write such encouragement at a time like this. Trusting the days ahead will pack in more healing, warmth and recovery than you’d ever! Mal4:2. For you who fear My name the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go leap like calves released from the stall.
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Thanks so much, we are very dependent on the Lord in this surreal journey. Restoration seems like a journey to a distant land right now, yet possibly tomorrow.
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Fully understand yet He is right there. We are in a testing season ourselves. Our youngest been with post seizures med aggression. Cant tell you what these days are like. Our gentle perfect 18yr old(born blind) now so changed. But the Lord says to hang on, He knows.
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Yes, Hanging on seems to be one of the Lords reoccurring themes. I’m thinking it’s the main ingredient in the substance of faith….like water in an aloe leaf??
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Beautifully written, Spirit-inspired insights, Gary, as you noted the parallels between your story and the circumstances of Jesus’ birth. I, too, was brought to tears, as your dear daughter was able to say “hi.” And you are so right: to say “hi” to God who became flesh–like Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds did–I cannot imagine, any more than I can imagine meeting him face to face in heaven one day!
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Thanks so much Nancy. As imaginative as we are,…I just fear (more like on a sheer terror level) for those who refuse the ultimate invite from the King of Kings
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Gary, I was stunned to read what you and your family are swimming through. Isn’t it true that in times of hovering, with feet off the floor, there are moments when you feel His arms? Being human, other times we are searching hard for the Everlasting. God’s grip, brother.
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Thanks Alan,you describe it well. Yes, sometimes we do feel his arms, other times we don’t realize until later we were in his arms. Then there are times God seems to have turned his head away from us. No matter what we have decided to know that God is always there no matter our feelings because of HIs promises.. There really is a vacuum without knowing God is present. but even in his arms these things are hard.
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