The children in Natalia Sofia's class wrote these encouraging letters! Thank you!

Plans were made for Natalia Sofia, but The Lord ultimately decides the BEST PLAN for HIS daughter..... On the 1st of April, doctors were actively seeking the best plan for Natalia....A or B? A regular bone graft vs a vascularized fibular graft? Consulting in Boston or not? Surgical candidate or not? On Monday evening, the surgeon called and Announced that there were NEW plans, she needed the surgery NOW, and that he wants to take care of our daughter. She needs bone grafting, and to fix and reinforce the hardware....ASAP. I was told to keep her still, and not move her around too much because the entire hardware could fall apart any moment, and it would be extremely painful. No more school. No.more.any.thing. In the meantime, his assistant was going to try and schedule the surgery as soon as there was an open slot. The doctors scrambled to move up her oncology 9month scans this week...but were only able to get the chest X-Ray done...normal results..No Evidence of Disease......NED! Thank you JESUS! We met with the surgeon for the pre-op appointment......he will be doing a bone graft surgery, taking bone from the iliac crest, and filling in the gap.....HOPEFULLY stimulating her own bone to grow and fuse together. He will redo the hardware, depending on the extense of damage...also, he will decide in the O.R. if she gets the spica cast...or not. :( Surgery is scheduled for this Tuesday and time will be confirmed on Monday. Everything is all set. This past week was a week full of loose ends to tie up, tons of appointments, phone calls, and some sad goodbyes. We ended up going to school, speaking to her class, cleaning out her locker, and saying goodbye....for now! Bittersweet...the following day the children in her class sent Natalia beautiful handwritten letters! We are truly blessed to be surrounded by a strong CHRIST-knit community of family and friends....WOW! All of the Encouraging messages, fervent prayers, calls, cards, letters, hugs....thank you all for loving our family! We are so Blessed to have you all in our lives! A sweet friend got everyone together and threw a spa party for Natalia sofia....loving on her....surrounding our baby girl with the love of Jesus! All the girls circled around Natalia and prayed for her....it was so powerful! The POWER of prayer with the authority that Christ has given us! Unleashing and shaking up the heavenlies....on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus is in control...his fingerprints are so evident in all of this! It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it! And brings about such peace....IN THE MIDST OF THE CHAOS....HE IS CARRYING US. JESUS erased plan A and B and wrote plan C.........we are completely trusting our Natalia Sofia in his capable hands. Jeremiah 1:5 “I knew Natalia Sofia before I formed her in her mother’s womb.Before she was born I set her apart and appointed her as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for Natalia Sofia," says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give her a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Psalm 138:8 The Lord will work out his plans for Natalia's life—for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon her, for you made her. Isaiah 14:27 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has spoken—who can change his plans? 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 It is God who ENABLES us, along with you, to stand FIRM for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us. 1 Corinthians 1:24-25 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the POWER of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

Last Friday, as Natalia was relaxing in her raft, she went to stand up and she could no longer put ANY weight on her surgical leg. She felt pain when she moved it or put any weight on it. Her surgeon said to keep her under observation with NO weight bearing to that leg, and to come in first thing Monday morning for X-rays. X-rays show that her hardware broke and is loose. We were warned that this could happen spontaneously..... We are waiting for the surgeon's call to tell us the next step. Thank you for covering us in prayer...

On April fool's day, Natalia said..."Mom, last year I was going home." At first, I didn't understand what she meant, then it dawned on me. Last year, after a month-long stay at the hospital...because of a second degree radiation burn, with an ng tube down her nose, and a bacteria she picked up at the hospital, we got to go home on April first! The memories are still resonating in our lives a year later!! This year on April first, our family received sorrowing news....involuntary tears streamed down our cheeks all day.......as we digested all of the news. Our surgeon informed us that in order to save Natalia's leg, we had to go into another surgery. He referred her to an orthopedic surgeon out of Boston Children's Hospital for a consult.......PRONTO. The surgery they are looking at doing is very complicated and long. It involves a vascularized bone graft from her fibula and inserting that into the space that hasn't grown, bringing in fresh blood with a vascular vessel from her lower leg. Amazing! God BLESS these doctors! Hopefully this will stimulate bone growth to the area that has died and hasn't grown, thanks to all of the radiation. This surgery will diminish the need for additional surgeries, as well. Although she is still cancer free....PRAISE JESUS! The thought of another surgery that is risky, and complicated makes my stomach turn. Most likely she will be placed in a SPICA cast all over again...be wheelchair bound, learn to walk, etc. we will be starting over. This was truly disappointing and heartbreaking. For the time being, he also asked for her to have minimal strenuous activity. We can't run the risk that her hardware will shift or loosen...so we cut down on her physical therapy. I wish I could just take her backpack FULL of pain, anesthesia, side effects, complications, surgeries, chemo, radiation, scans, long term effects, catheters, doctors, trauma and take the weight OFF our 9 year old little girl.....but I can't. Only JESUS can. Shifting our eyes OFF our very real, agonizing, and painful circumstance and remembering that Jesus is faithful to his word. Through his word, we can find STRENGTH, PEACE, COMFORT, REFUGE, and everything that we will need to get through....this scripture kept coming up ALL day.... Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Be strong, do not be afraid, do not be dismayed.....HE has commanded us. In turn, Obedience WILL bring BLESSING. 1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have PEACE. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Natalia Sofia is the Lord's.....therefore she is an OVERCOMER! Let your will be done, Jesus! Not ours....because you know what's best for her...for us....you see the bigger picture. You have a perfect purpose and plan with our baby girl. Your fingerprints are all over this journey, you have carried us this far, we will continue to TRUST in your SOVEREIGNTY. Philippians 4:6-7, 13 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Notes of gratitude.......a state of continual THANKSGIVING.....in AWE of JESUS! To the kind family that opened their vacation home away from home during the holidays, and although we could not make the trip because of illness, we will NEVER forget your generosity...... To the women of Berea Bible Fellowship.....ALL of you ladies have our hearts....May The Lord continue to BLESS your lives.....thank you for the Valentine surprise! :) To ALL our family and friends who have dedicated their hearts and time to our family....... To our friends that constantly circulate the internet finding a million and one ways to help our family.... To those who have circled Natalia Sofia with AMAZING love and support....AT ALL TIMES...W.O.W. To all the generous people that have mailed gift cards, gifts and made donations through posthope.org....Words don't do justice......such uncommon kindness and generosity..... THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!! WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE! HE IS FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD! BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE! PRAISING HIM FOR WHO HE IS! Luke 6:38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ...to be continued......

Today we celebrated the life of the beautiful Sophia Castro....at a tender 10yrs of age she served her purpose on this earth, ran her race, was found faithful and is now cancer-free. She had a LOT to say....she left her fingerprint on this earth. Her purpose and her message will live on and propagate among those who knew her. Her message of love, forgiveness, courage and strength will live on......in our hearts. Jesus was magnified and glorified...he is a sovereign God with a perfect will....even when it doesn't make sense to our puny little minds....we all thanked him for her life. Natalia took the news quite hard, but held her own at the celebration of life. Better than I expected! It was beautiful...from the words of her parents, family and friends, to the dove and butterfly release! It ended with a breathtaking sunset.... Her last painting was that of her heart....thanking everyone who made a difference in her life....that painting was made into a beautiful thank you card! Our second family, some of St. Joseph's crew of nurses were there and what a joy to see them! Natalia was thrilled to see her old friend Justin, the young man that was undergoing treatment at the same time Natalia did! He sang Our God is mighty to save! What a beautiful tribute in honor of Sophia! How comforting and peaceful to know that this is most definitely NOT a goodbye! That is the peace we have as believers....this is a short life...run your race and run it well....make it count....leave your mark....When we are done with our race, we will live an eternal life....reunited with Jesus and those who left before us......we will see beautiful Sophia again..... Thank you for continuing to lift this family up in prayer. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. John 16:22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. John 16:28, 33 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have PEACE. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Matthew 25:21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.