Busy. That’s how Josh and Gina Grant would describe seven-year-old Stella, their third child (and fourth and fifth, they joke!). The first out of bed in the morning, a music-lover, and devoted student, there’s nothing Stella, born with Down syndrome, likes better than making friends, sharing hugs, and holding hands–which can be a problem in coronavirus times. But to the Grants, it’s a good problem to have, because their little ball of energy wasn’t always this way.
In 2014, newborn Stella wasn’t thriving, unable to keep down food. What began as a simple overnight hospital stay turned into 22 days of fear and worry for the Grants. Exploratory stomach surgery repaired Stella’s duodenum, in her small intestine. The Grants were overcome with joy, and then, overcome with enormous medical bills. They were talking bankruptcy when their bill was paid by the Mother’s Day Offering. It’s a story Josh and Gina still love to tell all these years later. “They saved her life,” Gina said. “And it’s a life that has been shining a Christ light on all, and finding the good in others. We wouldn’t change a single thing. Thank you to those who gave.”
Since 2014, things have changed for the Grant family. Josh was sick with COVID-19 in January and is slowly recovering. Now, both he and Gina are front line essential workers with their local school system (he’s an IT pro and she’s a teacher). Yet, at the same time, nothing’s changed: they are still feeling blessed and they are still giving thanks– especially for the Mother’s Day Offering. “Even if you haven’t had COVID, everybody is going through this, it’s impacted life and made it a hardship,” Josh said. “Think of going through what we did with Stella, racking up astronomical bills, having that weight on your shoulders, and having COVID crunching down on you. People are losing jobs, insurance, people they love. They need help, and now’s the time to do it. To know we could help generate revenue for a great ministry to help somebody the way it helped us, that’s the blessing.”
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”