I remember Emma Thompson Cadena from vacation bible school. We were about 3 and my mother was a teacher there. All the VBS leaders were talking about "cute little Emma". We went to the same elementary schools and high school together. I didn't know Emma real well but I knew she was very sweet, very kind and even though she was beautiful with long dark hair, she never acted like she was any better than anyone else. Through the years I heard that she had gotten married and had a daughter and through Facebook, most all of us, Emma included, got back in tough with each other.
In January, we all learned that Emma's little girl had died from a seizure while she was sleeping, she was 7 years old. After a few days, Emma's husband started putting up pictures of beautiful Isabella on Emma's fb. All of us who looked at the pictures were heartbroken at the loss of such a vibrant child.
I kept feeling like God was telling me to tell her story. There was something about her pictures that seemed so ALIVE. Like her picture needed to be shared and people would feel joy by looking at her. I asked Emma if I could write about her and share her pictures with those who have been praying for her family and my blog readers. Here is her response...she describes Isabella better than I ever could...
Christy I would love for you to share her picture and write about her. I wish you could have known her but you are right you can see a lot by looking at her pictures. She was always happy and in a good mood, she loved everyone she met young or old and if you stood still long enough she would hug and kiss you. She had such a loving spirit and full of life and the things she would say were so funny. We never went anywhere that she did not get the attention of the people around us. She stood out because of her personality. You would not believe the pictures and cards form the students at the school she attended they all knew her from pre-school thru 11th grade and everyone of them said she was so friendly and was always smiling and waving and they would say she was so loving. Thank you Christy for all of your comments. I can not tell you how much it means to me to know that I have a friend who cares. You are a special person. Love,Emma
I have learned so much from this. Sometimes, we all get annoyed with our kids but seeing Isabella's face reminds me that they can be taken from us at anytime and we need to treasure them and enjoy every minute, even when they want to help us pour coffee and spill it everywhere and even when they want to help us cook. They are all so special and each one has unique gifts. I personally have learned from Emma because she is sharing her grief with us. I feel like it is a blessing to know her and a blessing to have seen Isabella's lovely pictures.
One more thing I would like to share. If you have a child who has seizure (Isabella had epilepsy) please be aware they can die. Emma and Ed did not know she could die in her sleep, the doctors did not tell them. If they would have known sweet Isabella would have been sleeping in the room with them.
We will never know until we get to Heaven why things happen. Please share Isabella's story. Let her pictures bless you like they have me. She will live on through everyone who has seen her.
If you have Facebook, you can join her group and see more pictures and leave a note for her family. It is "in memory of Isabella Cadena, we love you isabella"....
Please keep this family in your prayers. I can't imagine what they are going through, only God will can give them peace. To quote Cara "Isabella is really dancing with God in Heaven"...
Sweet Emma, thank you so much for letting me write about your beautiful child. I am blessed everytime I see her face.
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