Mandy’s Miracle
Published: July 4, 2007
Joni and Friends is a Christian organization that, among other things, donates thousands of wheelchairs to over thirty different countries.
Charlene and Ernest Stevens of Knoxville were recently inspired to go on a mission trip with Joni and Friends to Guatemala this past February.
Their daughter, Mandy, died in 2000 after living life in a wheelchair as a result of cerebral palsy.
“She was exuberant. She loved life, loved people and had a sense of humor that was out of this world,” says Charlene.
After Mandy passed away, the Stevens donated her first wheelchair hoping someone could use it.
Little did they know, they would witness the fruits of their generosity first hand in Guatemala.
“I was taking a break, and a therapist rolled up a wheelchair that he said still needed some work.” says Charlene.
The wheelchair looked incredibly familiar to this mother, who had lost her daughter almost a decade ago.
“I told some ladies sitting with me that I thought it was Mandy’s.”
Charlene knew if there was a scratch in the shape of a “f” under one of the arm pads, she was right.
“When I lifted that pad and saw the scratch, I was overwhelmed. I can’t even describe it.” says Charlene.
Her husband, Ernest, recognized the chair by two screw holes he had drilled almost thirty years earlier.
“We have seen a lot of signs like this concerning our daughter. It’s been pretty cool,” says Ernest.
Rhoni Standefer, who runs the Knoxville office of Joni and Friends, was also there.
“The chances of this happening are one in a million, and this was their first trip to Guatemala. It was amazing.”
The Stevens, who said the little girl who received the chair was a lot like Mandy, are now going to donate the chair Mandy used as a young adult to Joni and Friends.
“Since this happened, I don’t have that heavy feeling when I think of Mandy, just peace,” says Charlene.
If you enjoyed this good news Subscribe to Good News Blog
Share this
To share this simply copy and paste one of the below URL's: