Christina Levasheff had a beautiful and simple life with her husband, young son, and infant daughter. When her 29 month old son, Judson, began to show some atypical physical symptoms, Christina and her husband began the process of seeking medical attention to discover what was going on. After some incorrect diagnoses, Judson was ultimately diagnosed with Krabbe Leukodystrophy Disease, a genetic disease that destroys the white matter in the brain. In just five months, the Levasheffs watched their bright and active two year old lose vision, speech, and all body movements to eventual death. Throughout the short but intense suffering, Judson retained his mental functioning and joy. As with all the stories told through Tears of Gold, this is a story of suffering and heartache, but it is also a story of how God met Christina in her pain. It is a story of how the compassionate Lord gathered her in His arms and comforted her in ways only the good Father can. And how God has taken that pain and transformed it into a ministry of hope to walk alongside others in their pain. Christina and her husband, Drake, and their daughter, Jessie use Judson's Legacy to bless the children and families walking a similar journey they did. I pray you'll be blessed as you hear Christina's sharing in this episode.
Books mentioned during episode:
A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows through Loss by Jerry L. Sittser
Lament for a Son by Nicholas Wolterstorff
Streams in the Desert by L.B.E. Cowman
Morning and Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon
There Is No Good Card for This: What to Say and Do When Life is Scary, Awful, and Unfair to the People You Love by Kelsey Crowe and Emily McDowell
The book Christina wrote about her loss:
Eyes that See: Judson's Story of Hope in Suffering by Christina Levasheff
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When she was pregnant with her third child, Havah Felker was given the news no parents wants to hear - her unborn baby had a genetic disorder and survival odds were minimal. Despite the grief of this knowledge, Havah, her husband, and loved ones never stopped trusting God. Elisha Felker was born into the arms of Jesus on August 9, 2012 via emergency C-section. The harrowing story continued when it was discovered that Havah had been bleeding internally due to a hidden placenta abruption. The fact that Elisha was born through a C-section saved Havah's life because the doctors were able to stop the bleeding when they saw it. God took Elisha into his arms in heaven but He has allowed Havah more time on earth to do his work. And doing that she is! Since Elisha's passing, Havah and her husband have foster-adopted two children in to their family; she is a pastor's wife; cares for people in her community; and testifies about God's goodness in the midst of hardships. Havah's joy is contagious and I hope you enjoy this episode!
Resources mentioned:
If You Say Go - Rita Springer
Healing is Here - Deluge
Unshakeable - Deluge
Heaven is For Real by Thomas Nelson
Story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendo - Daniel 3
Follow Tears of Gold:
Instagram : @tearsofgold16
Facebook : Tears of Gold :: Stories of Hope
Website : www.tearsofgold.com
If you or someone you know would be interested in being a guest on Tears of Gold, fill out a contact form here.