I’m sure you’ve heard before that prayers have the power to move mountains, and for Melanie and Mike Leitner, this couldn’t be more true.
Their precious baby girl, Ella Kate, was born with a large mass in the left ventricle of her heart. Ella’s doctors at the Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, told the parents that she may not live to see her first birthday. They were devastated but continued to pray and hope for a miracle for their little girl.
The doctors decided to put Ella’s name on the transplant list. It was her only chance to survive since her little body had started to fail. Melanie recalls calling the cardiologist, saying her little girl was getting worse, gasping for air and turning gray. They were in a race against time.
As Ella waited for a new heart, her parents turned to their faith to carry them through their darkest hour. On January 29, Melanie and Mike were attending their local church service at Abundant Life Foursquare Church in Mooresville, North Carolina when their pastor halted the service and invited the whole church to pray for a miracle for little Ella.
As the church prayed for the baby girl and her parents, around the same time another powerful prayer was being said over the dedication of the new MedCenter Aircraft.
On their way home from the service, Melanie and Mike received a phone call with the most amazing news; they had found a heart for Ella! Coincidence or not, the airplane that had just been dedicated would be the one picking up Ella’s new heart.
“If this wasn’t a God moment, I don’t know what could be,” Melanie said to WECT TV6.
Ella is now a vivacious 1-year-old and is doing great. Her parents will never forget the joy of having their daughter living a healthy life came at another parent’s loss that had the courage to make a quick decision and save someone else’s baby while they lost their own.
A quick video of some Ella giggles!!! I'm telling you my happy girl is back with 10 times the energy. Last week on Sunday she couldn't sit up for 10 minutes without a break today she's been sitting up for over an hour. Gods timing is always perfect – Praise Him even in the storm! I'm also reflecting on a week ago leaving my girl for her surgery was one of the hardest moments of my life – but I think of what her donor family was going through knowing it doesn't compare. I will never be able to express how grateful I am. #PrayForEllaKate #DonateLife #iAMLCH #MiracleInAction
Posted by Melanie Hillman Leitner on Sunday, February 5, 2017
Melanie said, “You know that another family has lost their child, and you know that in their darkest moments they were able to make the decision that saved my little girl. We will be eternally grateful for that.”
As Melanie and Mike Leitner can attest to, prayer gives you hope even in the worst of circumstances, regardless of the outcome.
Melanie shares the miracle!
Posted by Abundant Life Foursquare Church – Mooresville, NC on Sunday, July 10, 2016
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