“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you’re young." ~ 1 Timothy 4:12
When air conditioning refrigerant spilled onto her Dad's hands,
leaving them badly burned and unusable for months, two-year-old Vara could only
provide affection. But she gave him all she could. As she matured, she became
the glue that held her family together.
Vara’s Dad, Clint,
barely knew his father, who died from a heart attack at 32. Construction work
kept him healthy and vigorous. So, when his chest and left arm hurt, he
disregarded the warning as the aches and pains that come from approaching 50.
On the Saturday before
Thanksgiving 2024, and four days after celebrating her 11th birthday, Vara watched
her dad collapse. The situation escalated quickly; his heart had stopped.
Vara’s world shifted
from normal childhood routines to a perilous situation where every second
mattered. With incredible composure, the young Girl Scout immediately called
911, unlocked the front door, and started CPR. Even as she worried about what
life would be like without her Dad, she performed chest compressions for about
five to seven minutes until paramedics arrived.
Her swift, textbook
response went a long way toward saving her dad's life. Dr. Talreja, Chief of Cardiology,
explained. “Clint experienced sudden cardiac death. He collapsed with no
heartbeat or pulse. He was clinically dead. Vara’s use of CPR kept oxygenated
blood flowing to her Dad’s brain until his heart could be restarted. She saved
his life!"
Just two weeks earlier, Vara practiced CPR on a dummy
during a Girl Scout training session. She was the only person in the class to
successfully save “Resusci Annie” (the mannequin’s lights turn green for
doing it correctly).
She’d learned the
warning signs and the importance of seeking help immediately. Her practice on
‘Annie” had substituted fear with focus, and an unwavering resolve to do what
was necessary.
Two months later,
Clint returned home from the hospital. He’s following a strict recovery plan
and has steadily regained strength. The best part of this story might be the
deep, loving bond he enjoys with his daughter. This divine intervention not
only saved his life but also transformed him into a healthier person who values
life more.
God uses people of all
ages to change the course of history. Moses, a stutterer, was called to teach
and lead the people of Israel. Abraham and Sarah were told they were too old to
have a baby, but they gave birth to a nation. God gave Vara the strength to recall
her CPR training and the courage to help her father when every second counted.
There’s nothing we can
do to disqualify ourselves from being a candidate whom God chooses to work
through! We are all ordinary… but can do amazing things with God’s help.
“Use my hands, use my feet, to make Your
kingdom come. To the corners of the earth until Your work is done. Faith
without works is dead. On the cross, Your blood was shed, so how could we not
give it away so freely?” ~ Brandon Heath
