I felt nothing but helplessness, especially when you know you have done all you could.“ These were the words of Truby‘s dad, recalling the day he rushed his unconscious daughter to an emergency centre.
Truby, a two-year-old toddler, lived with her mum and dad at her grandmother‘s home in Wailekutu, Lami, Fiji. Known for her love of water, she often enjoyed swimming and playing in the rain. Their home, surrounded by lush green forests and river streams flowing from the mountains, was a beautiful and serene place.
In August 2017, on an early morning after returning from the Wailekutu Seventh-day Adventist youth prayer walk, Truby‘s parents found their home filled with children from the Adventurers Club who had stayed over after the Sabbath. Truby‘s dad took a nap while her mum and grandmother prepared breakfast. It had rained the night before and was drizzling that morning, causing the stream in front of the house to rise and its current to strengthen. Laughter filled the breakfast table until Truby‘s dad noticed her absence and asked, “Where is Truby?“
The house erupted in a frantic search for the toddler. Given her love for water, they feared she might be by the stream.
The family noticed the porch door was open, which was unusual as it was always kept closed to prevent Truby from going outside. They rushed toward the stream and found Truby‘s slippers on the path. To their horror, they saw Truby floating face down in the water.
“It was by God‘s grace that she was not swept away by the river‘s current,“ said Truby‘s dad. Panic gripped everyone as they pulled her out of the water. “I offered CPR twice, but there was still no pulse. At that moment, I cried, ‘Truby, no,‘“ her dad recounted. Her grandmother held Truby by her legs, head down, swinging her to clear the water from her lungs. After this, her dad performed CPR again and found a weak pulse.
Still unconcious, they rushed her to the private hospital, where it seemed as if the medical team had been waiting for her. They wrapped her in a silver blanket and performed all necessary medical procedures to stabilise her. “For a parent to watch their child in this state was not easy; there was nothing I could do, I was helpless,“ said Truby‘s dad. Meanwhile, the kids and family at home were on their knees, praying continuously for Truby.
Truby‘s breathing and heartbeat eventually stabilised, and she was transferred to the children‘s ward. The doctor informed Truby‘s parents that there was a high chance water had entered her lungs and possibly her brain, as she had been submerged for 5-6 minutes. Everyone continued to pray earnestly. Miraculously, the doctor later reported that there was no water in her lungs and no signs of brain damage. “It‘s a miracle,“ he said. The next day, Truby regained consciousness, and her first words to her mother were, “Mummy, I want to eat fish.“ She was discharged the following day. Crossing the same stream where she had nearly drowned, Truby pointed to the exact spot and said, “Jesus.“ These words filled her family with hope, believing it was Jesus who saved her.
Now nine years old, Truby is the eldest of her two siblings. Whenever she has the chance, she expresses gratitude to Jesus for saving her life. She now preaches at her church and loves participating in witnessing programs for Christ. “We thank God for saving our daughter,“ her parents said, believing that the Lord has greater plans for Truby.
Jordan Weatherall is a Bible worker and cross-cultural missionary in Suva, Fiji. He serves three local churches including Wailekutu, with a passion for spreading the teachings of the Bible and fostering unity across cultures.
