CHOC

7:09 p.m. Today's project was to visit our great-nephew Cody at the Children's Hospital of Orange County, better known as CHOC. It's located on Main Street in Orange, just blocks away from most of Steve's side of the family and Cody's own home.

As you enter Main Street, the first thing that looms is construction, a giant steel structure that I would presume is a new building. I believe it hasn't changed much since we last visited four years ago, when Steve's mom was hospitalized at St. Joseph's next door. When you park, there is a courtesy shuttle to take visitors to the front desk check-in. Greeting us at the shuttle stop was our nephew Chad, Cody's dad. The long, heartfelt embraces he gave us spoke volumes... I was so glad we'd made the time to visit!

Another thing I noticed about CHOC was the high security. Our diver's licenses were scanned and visitor badges made up. (I whited out Cody's room number). Very impressive, and with little ones in danger from any number of threats such as noncustodial parent kidnapings and child molesters, the tightest security is a must. One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 24:3: "Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established." The Board of Directors and staff there exhibit excellent wisdom!

When we arrived at his room, Cody greeted us, after being reminded of the jumphouse and our dogs. He was watching Spongbob on a tiny DVD player and talking up a storm to his mom and grandma. Then he'd run over and pick up a toy or two, then back to the show. Whew! This boy with a serious life threatening condition has more energy than most of us on our best day! The only down time he'd had, according to his grandma, was when the nurse came to draw blood, despite the efforts of his grandma and dad to distract him and cover his eyes. Honestly, it's all I can do not to cry myself when I have blood drawn, and I fully understand why it's being done! But Cody is a real little soldier, and snapped back quickly.

Daytimes his mom, grandmas and dad are there, but at night, only one visitor may stay over, so Chad does the night shift. Baby sister Rylee has been at home for the most part, since Rachel has been at the hospital all day since Friday.

Steve and I left uplifted and hopeful, knowing that the Holy Spirit is present in Cody's room in the hearts of every family member, praise the Lord, and that God hears our prayers for the tumor to be found benign!

We also felt that we had acted in obedience to Pastor Tim Hamilton's exhortation this morning from Matthew 25:39-40 where Jesus commends the righteous:

When did we see you sick or in prison, and come to You? And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."

We traveled to see Cody and his family for love and the privilege of coming alongside them in their trial, not for any recognition or reward, far be it from us!

Jesus asks the same of all believers--serve Him by serving and uplifting others!