TWO HEARTS ARE BETTER THAN ONE

Some time ago there was a story about a special little girl named Virsaviya. She was born in Russia with an extremely rare disease with her heart outside of her chest. But that’s not what makes her special. God gave this 6-year-old girl an incredible spirit and purpose that impresses everyone who meets her.

This precious girl was already blessed with a loving mom and a profound understanding that Jesus made her the way she is for a reason. But even so, only one in a million babies are born with Virsaviya’s unique medical condition, and most don’t survive. So, the brave girl was bound to feel a certain amount of loneliness in being “one of a kind.” No one could understand exactly what she was going through or what it was like to have such a special heart.

However, since God allowed her to be born this way, He wasn’t through with Virsaviya, so He gave a very special gift. She got to meet another little girl with the same disease and who is just like her! Like Virsaviya, 3-year-old Audrey is a miracle. When she was born and doctors found her heart outside of her body, they told her mother, Ashley, that there was very little chance she’d survive. Doctors at the Texas Children’s Hospital performed an incredibly delicate surgery where they implanted Audrey’s heart back inside of her body and covered it with a thin layer of skin. This procedure was not available to Virsaviya in Russia.

Though the surgery was a success, Ashley was warned that babies who survive the operation usually die three days later. But like Virsaviya, Audrey defied the odds. Her mom said, “She’s a miracle baby, she has proven everybody wrong. Watching her run, and walk and talk, I am very proud, very blessed because I see that God loves her so much.”

So, when the two girls — Audrey in Texas and Virsaviya now in Florida — learned of each other, they begged their moms to let them meet. They were friends in no time, and spent the day enjoying a picnic, playing doctor, using toy stethoscopes to listen to each other’s hearts, and finally visiting Build-A-Bear together.

Ashley says, “Audrey knows what she’s going through, and to see another child with the same condition is just amazing.” But the meeting also meant a lot to the moms. “It gives us courage that Audrey will be six years old,” says Ashley, Audrey’s mom.

What a beautiful blessing for God to bring these two special girls together! We will continue to pray for their health, and for the new friendship they’ve found in each other. Can you say, along with these Moms, we serve an awesome God!

King David asked God “Give me a chance, O LORD, and see what I’m made of; test my heart and my mind.” (Psalm 26:2) We can say that these two little girls have had their hearts tested and they’ve come out as champions. That’s why later on another Psalmist said to the LORD, “With my whole heart I look to you; don’t let me stray from your will for my life.” (Psalm 119:10)

King Solomon also knew the value of one’s heart when he said “Pay attention to your heart, that’s you source of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) Furthermore, he said we are to trust in the Lord with all our heart…In everything you do give Him the honor and He will see that you get to where He wants you to go.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

No wonder Jesus said “We should love the Lord our God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)

And the Apostle Paul prayed that the peace of God, which we cannot fully understand, will be a guard at the door of our heart when we keep our minds on Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

Sometimes it might be helpful if we think of our hearts on the outside so all can see what kind of person we are. God can look at it on the inside, but people don’t know what things you are keeping in your heart. Let them see the “real” you. If you get a good reaction then you can thank God for giving you such a heart. Just keep in mind, like Virsaviya and Audrey, there may be someone else with a heart just like yours. And when you meet them, you’ll know it right away! Then, rejoice in the Lord for bringing you together. – Dr. Robert R Seyda