The Story of the Easter Lily Miracle

The Easter Lily Miracle

It was the Fourth of July, 1965 and we were on a camping trip to the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Our darling little daughter was seven years old; she looked very pale and fragile. When we discovered she was passing blood with her urine, we came home and got her into see Dr. Vick, our Pediatrician. He immediately put her in the hospital because she was desperately ill with rheumatic fever that damaged her heart and kidneys.

It was a fearful time for us and we were beside ourselves with worry. We prayed and prayed and prayed for her and cried and cried………….dear God please give us FAITH!!!!!! Please let us believe that all things are possible, through You. Everyone loved Nancy and they were praying that she would be healed. She was on every prayer list of every Church around.

Get well cards and gifts poured in for her from well wishers. Nancy wasn’t allowed to walk so her Dad carried her downstairs to make her comfortable on the Sun Porch. She was only allowed very few visitors for fear it would be too stressful, but each day I would allow her friend Patrick to stop in to visit her. He seemed to be a lonely boy, but he loved having Nancy as his friend.

I had made an Altar in our dining room and each day I would carry her to "OUR ALTAR" and together we would kneel in prayer for her recovery. Nancy hung up a prayer card of her very own, "NEVER FEAR FOR GOD IS NEAR".

Whatever the other children in the neighborhood were doing, I planned a similar event indoors so she wouldn’t be left out. If they went on a picnic, I would spread a blanket on the floor, open an umbrella to "shade the sun" to prevent us getting "sunburned." I would pack a picnic lunch for us and we would sit on the blanket and have a grand ole picnic.

We took her regularly to the heart specialist in down town Philadelphia and her Daddy would carry her blocks from the train, to avoid her riding in a wheel chair and feeling like an invalid.
She was in the hospital for three weeks at first, but much to our regret she had to go back for 6 more weeks. I tried very hard to keep a smiling and a positive attitude when I was with her, but when I walked out of her room I would bawl like a baby. I prayed and prayed and prayed, "Dear God save our precious little girl; she is such a little gem."

I had to remind myself that God never gives us more than we are capable of handling. Friends would ask if I ever said, "Why God, why?" because at the same time my mother was having nervous or physical break breakdown and I was helping my sister who had hepatitis. I said, "No, I never question Him, but I do pray continuously for FAITH through Jesus."

One day, I visited her school where she would have been in second grade and looked into her classroom. It was more than I could bear and went into the little girl’s room and I cried and cried. I was grateful that no one came into the room. Nancy had a wonderful, wonderful second grade teacher, Mrs. Abalone, that came to the house three days a week to tutor her. She said that she loved Nancy as she was such a joy to be with and was so willing to study and learn even though she was ill and so weak.

We took her to the doctor regularly for him to monitor her heart and her condition. After five months Dr. Kane, her heart specialist, gave us permission to surprise the family and allow Nancy to walk to the table for the first time for Christmas Dinner. We invited a few close family members. Nancy and I would hold hands and say, "Won’t they be surprised!!!" We were so excited that we could hardly wait. Her big moment came; she walked into the dining room and no one could believe it, there was Nancy with the SMILING FACE. No one could hold back the tears. Everyone rejoiced and praised God. It was the best Christmas dinner.

Her walking was still limited so she trained her dog, Kelly her constant companion, to carry notes to me when I was in another part of the house and Kelly would carry the answer back to her.
I tried so hard to make each day a joyful one, even though my heart was breaking. I would dress her in a nurse’s outfit or whatever so she could pretend. Her nurses kit would be used to bandage her dolls or take their temperature and lovingly nurture them. Kelly even became her patient.

Time seemed like an eternity. Would she ever fully recover? Easter 1966 was approaching and Dr. Kane gave us permission to take her to Church on Easter Sunday. She looked so precious in her new Easter outfit even though she was still very pale and frail looking. Mr. Fell, the Rector, gave her a lily from the Altar that her Daddy planted out doors in our garden. She still had to take it very easy for a full year.

How thrilling! Nancy was given permission to return to school in September. She had passed all her tests with the highest grade under Mrs. Abelone’s tutoring and was promoted to third grade. Dr. Kane continued to check her each month. Thanksgiving came and I praised God our little girl was doing so well because for months we didn’t know if she would make it.

Then came Christmas Day….her Daddy came rushing into the house. "QUICK…QUICK", he said to everyone and we all ran outside. It was Christmas of 1966 and God had provided us with a miracle. The "LILY" that was given to Nancy, many, many weeks ago on Easter Day was now in full bloom on Christmas Day. We jumped with joy for we knew in our hearts and souls that this was a miracle. Never before in that region of Pennsylvania had there been an Easter Lily blooming outdoors on Christmas Day. Easter…yes, but Christmas…no.

We again took her for a check-up with Dr. Kane that week. He examined Nancy and said, "this is a MIRACLE…..THIS CHILD’S HEART IS HEALED. The doctor said, "this is not a result of science. This if from God."

How do you say thanks to God for that? You want to shout from the roof tops…Nancy made it!!! Our hearts sang for joy!!

I thank God for the Miraculous Healing and the Miracle of the Easter Lily.
Written by Eleanor Hart