NELDA’S STORY
“GOD IS GOOD”

By Robyn Pesek
Copyright 2006

I received a treasured, miraculous gift from my dear, courageous, sister in Christ,
NELDA SOSA.
She always reminds me that “GOD IS GOOD”

Thank you Nelda!
Your light shines bright so the rest of us can see
THE WAY.

“O God
I Love You with my
Whole Heart
Because Above all things
You are
INFINITELY GOOD”
Amen.”

(the inscription on the back of the necklace)

Read Nelda's story to understand the significance of this gift...

Behind this beautiful necklace, lies a miraculous story. My faith has been strengthened and my life changed as a result, and I want to share it with others.
approximately three years ago I was going through some difficulties in my personal life and often the only thing that would get me through each day at work was my friend Nelda’s cheerful smile and her constant reminder, “God is Good”. It seemed as though her passing by my office door was specially ordained and divinely timed. She would look in, smile, and say, “God is Good”, and a sense of warmth and peace would envelop me, and my emotional load seemed to miraculously lighten. Without realizing it, I guess I became somewhat dependent upon Nelda’s faith and love to see me through. And then the devastating news came that new tumors had developed in Nelda’s brain which were life threatening and had to be removed. She had been through the same situation years before, and she had to relearn everything...and she did. Not many people at work were aware of Nelda’s previous struggles, and that is the way she wanted it to stay. Nelda did not want pity or sympathy, and she was always afraid of burdening someone else. But, with the news of new complications there was no choice but to let her friends and colleagues know her condition as she would be out of school for almost a year.

The diagnosis was almost too much for Nelda’s husband, Eddie, to accept. For the first time, Eddie broke down and cried in Nelda’s arms. Eddie did not want to see his sweet wife endure brain surgery for the second time, and he knew he could not face life without her. His fear was so great, but God’s love was greater. Eddie placed his faith and his wife’s life in the hands of the Lord as he knew that his God is Good.

The outpouring of love and kindness from everyone in the Robstown Independent School District was so inspiring as everyone rallied around Nelda. Central office put out a letter to district personnel for the donation of sick days, and Nelda received enough days to be out for almost an entire year. Eventually, it came time for Nelda to leave and face brain surgery for the second time and months of medical treatment and physical rehabilitation. It was not until she was no longer physically in school that it hit me. It was a very selfish feeling. HOW was I going to make it through each day without her? Who was going to remind me that “God is Good” and that I could make it through each day? Who was going to take care of me? I felt like a child throwing a mental temper tantrum, but I also felt so ashamed of my selfishness. It was a strange set of feelings that I struggled to unravel.

I talked to Nelda a few times on the phone prior to her surgery, and she said she was spending a lot of time in prayer with the Lord. She seemed confident, and just hearing her voice brightened my day. The day came for her surgery, and we were all praying for a positive outcome. When Lisa Garcia, another dear sister in Christ, returned to school and reported that Nelda had come through with flying colors, we were all so excited. She also told us amazing stories of conversions to Christ that took place in the recovery room as Nelda witnessed to the hospital staff.

Soon, Nelda came home and very slowly began the rehabilitation process. It was grueling on her physically and mentally, but with the undying love and support of her dear husband Eddie, her faithful Mother, her family, friends, her dedicated medical staff, and God’s loving grace, Nelda regained her strength and returned to her teaching responsibilities at Robstown High School in the fall of 2003. Once again, Nelda was there to brighten everyone’s life with her eternal optimism, faith, and love.

Nelda then found it necessary to show her appreciation to her friends for helping her through her ordeal. It was so like Nelda, but unnecessary as we all felt that we owed her gratitude for her inspiration. One day Nelda unexpectantly came into my office and said that she had a card and a gift for me. I opened the card to find a $50.00 gift certificate to Bealls. She said she wanted me to pick out my own gift. I was overwhelmed and told her that it was way too much. The card was priceless as her words of love and thanksgiving touched me deeply. I told her that I would spend it on something very special...something that always reminded me of her. We hugged, cried, and went on about our individual lives. The first thing that came to my mind was a cross. I was determined to find the perfect cross. I looked at the Bealls in Calallen and in town, and there were some gorgeous gold and silver crosses, but for some strange reason I did not feel they were right. Unlike me, the shopper/spender, I continued to walk away from beautiful necklaces that were very much my style. Then when I was not even thinking about searching for my special cross, I was in Round Rock, Texas at HEB with my sister, Kelley, and my nephew, Brayden. There was a Bealls next door, and I told Kelley that I was going to run over there and look around. I casually perused the clothes department, the shoe department, etc...until I came to a jewelry case. I looked in and, once again, saw some beautiful crosses, but, I had the feeling that they were not right. My eyes were then drawn to the left, and I saw a small gold medallion with a gold cross engraved in it. It was expensive, but it just happened to be on sale. Without a second thought, I said, “Let me try that one on.” I put it on my neck, and I knew that was it. I asked if I could wear it out, and the sales person said yes. With the sale price, it was just within my $50.00 limit. I happily walked out of the store with my special necklace from Nelda. I showed my sister the necklace, and then we changed the subject as we tried to get Brayden in the car and the groceries loaded. We arrived home and went on about our day. That night I slept with the necklace on, which is not like me, and the next morning we prepared for church. On the way to church I reached up, grabbed the medallion, and repeated in my head, “God is Good”. A sense of peace came over me as I attended mass. After mass, back at Kelley’s house I was standing in the kitchen, and I started telling Kelley about Nelda, and why the necklace meant so much to me. I then told her about how Nelda, amidst all her pain and suffering, always reminded me that GOD IS GOOD. I told my sister that when I got home I planned on having those words, “GOD IS GOOD”, engraved on the back of the medallion. As I said this, I turned the medallion over. I had never looked at the back, and as I looked down, I could tell that there was already something engraved in tiny print on the back of the necklace. I was so upset. Now I could not have those special words engraved. I pulled it closer so I could read it, and to my utter awe and astonishment I read these words, “O GOD I LOVE YOU WITH MY WHOLE HEART BECAUSE ABOVE ALL THINGS YOU ARE INFINETLY GOOD AMEN.” I could not even speak. My sister’s eyes widened, and she could not believe I was telling the truth. Treyce and Shelby, my children, could not believe it either. I immediately called Nelda, and when I received her voice mail, I breathlessly recounted the details of the last two days. My sister also said that some difficult issues she was currently coping with seemed to lift, and she felt peace and love even for those individuals who were causing her distress. I have shared this story with many people, and thinking that it was just a unique incident that touched my life, it gradually came back to me that it had impacted others’ lives. That is why I decided to write it up and share it with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I know that it is all a part of the Lord’s Divine Plan, and I am humbled to be a conduit of his message...GOD IS GOOD.

As of the completion of this written account, Nelda is, once again, facing more medical complications which may result in the need for additional surgical procedures. Although she sees clearer than all of us spiritually, her earthly vision is weakening. I believe in miracles, may we all pray for a miracle. Heal our courageous sister in Christ, Nelda Sosa.

January 24, 2006
After completing the previous entry, I copied it and gave it to Nelda. She asked my permission to share it with others, and I said, “Sure, no problem”. Later she told me that she made copies for numerous family members and that she gave a copy to her doctor. She said that her doctor’s entire staff had been touched by this story and that it was hanging in their office. She also said that her family members had commented on the impact that it had on them. Nelda and I praised God’s providential plan that we were seeing worked out in our lives. During this phase of her journey (spring of 2004) Nelda was nominated and elected Robstown I.S.D.’s Secondary Teacher of the Year. The selection consisted of votes, reference letters, and a panel interview. Nelda was recognized by Dr. Roberto Garcia, Superintendent of Schools, at the school board meeting, and we were all there cheering for her. The most humbling part of the evening was when she told me that she wanted to receive her award without her walker, and she wanted me to escort her. I was so honored, yet I was nervous that I may mess up and make her trip or lose her balance. A quick request to heaven alleviated my anxiety, and Nelda received her much deserved award standing proud and tall on her own.

A few days later when I arrived home from work my neighbor, Julie Tilton, stopped me and said, “I have to tell you what happened at the store today.” Julie’s Mother owns LITTON TRAVEL which is a travel agency and a boutique. They sell unique items and much of their merchandise is Christian in nature. Julie continued, “This lady came in with her husband, and she moved slowly seeming nervous. When I asked if I could help her, she said she was fine, but she was just trying to be careful as she did not want to knock anything off the shelves. Nelda continued, ‘I’m looking for a special gift to say thank you to a special friend’”. As Nelda continued to describe the type of item she was looking for, she mentioned that this person was an administrator at Robstown High School. Julie said, “Oh you probably know my neighbor, Robyn Pesek.” Excitedly, Nelda replied, “That is who I’m buying the gift for.” Julie couldn’t believe the consequence. After Julie finished recounting the conversation she had with Nelda, tears came to my eyes. I replied, “Julie, did she include the fact that it is HER being honored tonight at as the Secondary Teacher of the Year?” Julie said, “No, she didn’t”. I could not believe that Nelda was out searching for something to thank me. She was being honored, and it was her that had given so much to me and everyone else in her life. As I went on to share a little bit more of Nelda’s story, Julie listened in disbelief, and she too had chills running up her arms. Nelda was recognized at a community banquette that evening, and I, once again, was honored to celebrate her achievement with her and be included in a picture with Nelda and Solomon P. Ortiz. Russ Davis, a dear friend, and at the time the Vocational Counselor at Robstown, took the picture and had an 8x10 made for each of us. Nelda and I both have that picture proudly displayed in our homes. Nelda presented me with the angel and a cross that she bought from my neighbor Julie, and I cherish both gifts to this day. I never told Nelda that I already knew that she was going to give me a gift, but I did tell her that her story had touched another life, my sweet neighbor, also a dedicated educator, Julie Tilton. Some would call it coincidence; Nelda calls it the HOLY SPIRIT.










January 26, 2006
The original entry was completed February 6, 2004, and so much has happened since that date. The “medical complications”, I referred to at the end of the first entry had to do with Nelda’s vision in her only functioning eye. Not explained in the original story about the necklace was the fact that several years after Nelda’s first brain surgery her junior year in college (1986-1987) she lost her left eye to glaucoma. Therefore, in addition to complete physical rehabilitation of all motor skills, within a few short years, Nelda also had to adapt to vision from only one eye, learn to cope with a prosthetic left eye, all while still mourning the painful loss of beloved family members. To truly understand the strength and steadfast faith of my friend, Nelda, one has to take a glimpse into her entire life. Only then, will you understand.

Nelda’s father reached the end of his earthly journey and life-long battle with Vonn Hippel-Lindau (VHL), the genetic rare disease that Nelda now battles, on April 22, 1977, when Nelda was only 12 years old. Nelda’s only clear memories of her father are of a man in constant battle with this disease; however, for her brother, Mario Arturo Salinas, it was quite a different story.

Mario entered the world on August 8, 1954, and was such a precious gift to his mother and father, Ramon Arturo and Elva Salinas. For four blessed years, Arturo and Elva enjoyed their newly formed family with the average struggles faced by young couples. However, they were to face challenges beyond any they could imagine in the coming years. Arturo began having symptoms of the disease that they would come to know as Vonn Hippel-Lindau. Therefore, from the tender age of four, when most boys are starting to play pitch with their Fathers, Mario began the painful process of watching his Father slowly be taken from him by this merciless disease. Mario watched his father battle back after brain surgery, slowly lose control of his body, and ultimately lose his sight. As a child and as a teenager, Mario had a huge heart which was a blessing, but ultimately it caused him too much pain. His heart bled for his father, and he yearned for answers as to why his father was slipping away. Mario searched for ways to ease the pain and found his answer in substances that would ease his pain….drugs. Mario hung out with other kids who were also turning to drugs, but his involvement with drugs and with the wrong crowd never changed the depths of his giving spirit. His mother recounts numerous times he would return home without his shirt, his boots, or his jacket. When asked about his clothing, he told his mother that one of his friends liked it and that he probably needed it. Mario would bring his friends to the house and his mother would feed them, but she did not have the money to clothe them. Although upset that their hard earned money was being spent on clothes that their son was giving away, Elva and Arturo were proud of their son’s giving spirit and big heart. They hoped that by welcoming his friends into their home and setting a good example they could make a difference in these boys’ lives. As Mario entered his 18th year in 1972, the country was in turmoil, drugs were prevalent, and he now knew that his father’s disease was genetically based and could potentially be lying dormant within his own body. His mother knew that the burden on her son was great, and she persuaded him and his father to attend counseling sessions, but to no avail. Drugs, drinking, partying, and just getting lost became the only answer for Mario. On November 4, 1972, while partying at a small bar in South Texas, there was a scuffle over a gun, and Mario Arturo Salinas was killed.

Nothing can prepare a parent for the loss of a child. Utterly devastated, Elva and Arturo began the heart wrenching process of preparing to bury their first born child, Mario Arturo Salinas. Caught up in the pain and despair, Elva and Arturo placed their precious daughter Nelda, age 7, in the care of cousins.

Arturo and Elva were blessed with the birth of Nelda on November 1, 1965. Her older brother, Mario was 12 years old at the time of Nelda’s birth, and he was so proud of his baby sister. Even through his gradual escape into the darker side of life, Mario always took tender, loving care of his precious baby sister Nelda. He took her to get ice cream, to see Santa Claus, and he spent time with her whenever he could. In Nelda, Mario caught a glimmer of hope for his future. But the thought that the horrible disease which was robbing him of his father, may also be inherited by his baby sister who he loved so much, must have weighed heavily on his mind and pushed him even further into the shadows. Nelda grew to the age of 7 with Mario as her hero, and then, he was gone.

Often parents feel they are protecting children by keeping details from them in a crisis situation, but, as Nelda recounts, children know more than what we give them credit for knowing. Nelda still recalls the small room where she was told to rest while the adults dealt with the funeral arrangements. It was a room with a T.V., but what stood out the most was that she was alone, scared, and did not understand. She yearned for answers. She knew Mario was not coming back, but why? Suddenly a presence filled the room and it became very peaceful. All other voices were quieted, and she heard a silent whisper that said, “I will be your strength. Mario is O.K. People are only loaned to us for a certain amount of time so you must cherish the moments you have.” Nelda knew Jesus was with her. When asked how she knew, she replies, “I just knew.” From that time forward, Jesus has been with Nelda, and she has no fear of death. She still missed her brother dearly and longed to have him back on earth with her, but she knew where he was, and her questions had been answered.

From 1972, the year of Mario’s death, to 1975, Nelda’s father declined rapidly. The death of his son was too much for his mind and body to endure. On April 22, 1977, Ramon Arturo Salinas reached the end of his earthly journey and life-long battle with Vonn Hippel-Lindau. Nelda was only 12 years old when she had to face another great loss in her life. Her dear father was gone, but she knew where he was, the questions had been answered all those years ago in that small quiet room where she met Jesus. Now, she had to keep the faith…and she did.

Keeping the faith was not always easy. After such devastating losses, confusion, doubt, and fear wreaked havoc in Nelda and her mother’s life. The negative spirits were loud, deafening, and constant, at first. The interior battled raged day and night. Nelda and her Mother were tested by fire that scorched their hearts but did not consume their souls. They cried out to the Lord and rather than lie down and give reign to the fires of hell they received rain from heaven. Nelda and her Mother declared daily, constant, spiritual warfare on the invasion of negative spirits. They called on the almighty name of the Lord, declared his goodness, praised his name, and thanked him for their blessings. They ordered Satan behind them in the name of Christ and stood firm in faith, hope, love, and his grace…. which they knew was sufficient. Their cry was heard, and his living water poured down upon them and doused the flames. Their souls were blanketed by his love, and they were carried out of the blazing internal battle field, souls unscathed, in the arms of the risen Lord. In his arms they rested and declared his goodness and mercy to all who would listen. They still felt the scars, forever branded on their hearts, but the spirit of the Lord was their protector, and he supernaturally began to heal those scars, and rehabilitate their hearts. They knew, without a doubt, that their God was Good. Through prayer and petition to their Lord and Savior Nelda and her mother stood strong in the Word of God, weathered the storm, and obtained an even deeper faith.

Nelda was an excellent student and attended school in Premont, Texas. She participated in tennis, basketball, speech & drama, etc…and her Mom was there to support her every endeavor. In her humility, Nelda downplays her accomplishments not wanting them mentioned. She always says, “It is not about me, it is about Jesus.” I calmly agree with her and go on to use my right to free speech. While in high school, Nelda was voted “most beautiful”, crowned homecoming queen in the fall of 1983, crowned prom queen in the spring 1984, and chosen as a class “favorite”. She graduated in the spring of 1984 and left for Southwest Texas University in San Marcos, Texas. Her freshmen and sophomore years were typical of any other young college student’s first years away from home, but in the fall of her junior year it all changed.

Beginning in Nelda’s senior year in high school, she experienced moderate to severe headaches on a regular basis but, healthy otherwise, she did not think much of it. However, during the fall of 1986 the severity of her headaches increased and other symptoms of Vonn Hippel-Lindau began to raise their “ugly heads”. Nelda began having severe stomach pains which could only be assuaged by extreme physical exercise so Nelda almost ran herself to death on the hills of San Marcos. She was vomiting on a daily basis, and her headaches worsened, but being the unobtrusive individual that Nelda is, she never wanted to bother anyone; therefore, she suffered silently. When she did go to the doctor, she was told that it was probably just stress so she continued to deal with it the best way she knew how.

Christmas of 1985 Nelda went home to Premont and spent the holidays with her friends and family, and it was on her return trip to San Marcos that she had the first of many scary experiences. She was more than halfway to San Marcos when she caught herself swerving off the highway, and she could not remember what made her do that. She seemed to temporarily lose touch with reality, and it scared her enough to stop at a restaurant in the next town to get a bite to eat. She ordered and sat down to try to collect her thoughts and rest. When her order was called, she panicked because she could not get up to go and get her order. She told herself to remain calm, but she could not stand. She did not tell anyone of her struggles. She simply remained seated and worked through the episode. Within 30 minutes she felt better and decided to continue on to San Marcos. Her roommates were concerned because they had expected her home earlier. She explained what had happened and they urged her to just relax and take it easy. If anything is foreign to Nelda it is “taking it easy”. Therefore, she stubbornly ignored their pleas and went on about her fast paced life. At this point she recalls having a lot of neck and shoulder pain, but she continued to cope without complaining. She finished the spring semester, went home for the summer and returned to San Marcos in the fall of 1986.

It was then she began having “black outs” as she called them. She said they often happened when she was in the shower. She said she would not fall, but it was as if she would leave and come back. Some times hallucinations would accompany her blackouts. This began affecting her school work as she was having great difficulty concentrating. She struggled to retain information. She worked 3-4 times as hard as anyone else to study for a test that would have normally been fairly easy for her. Fatigue began to plaque her, but in place of recognizing the changes as the health risks that they were, Nelda just came down on herself for being lazy and slow to learn. On a Saturday morning in October of 1986, Nelda opened her eyes, and when she went to get up she couldn’t move. She couldn’t even lift her head. Her roommates called her Mom in Premont. Elva got in her car without hesitation and drove straight to San Marcos to find her sweet daughter paralyzed. Later in the evening, Nelda began to regain feeling and movement, and they took her to what she recalls as the “quack shack”. Quacky maybe, but it was the college campus doctor that finally accurately diagnosed her symptoms and set her up to see a neurologist in San Antonio, Texas.

Nelda’s trip to Dr. Kingman’s office in San Antonio, Texas was the first of many to come. Nelda sings the praises of this fine doctor, but at the time, his follow-up phone call was not welcome at all. Nelda’s Mom answered the phone and sobbed painfully as she heard that Nelda had a tumor at the base of her brain. Nelda courageously took the phone to find out what needed to be done. He urged her to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with her family and friends as it may be her last. Others may have found his approach harsh, but Nelda appreciated his honesty as she wanted to prepare for the worst case scenario. Nelda would have loved to have her boyfriend, Eddie Sosa, at her side as she received this crushing news, but Eddie enlisted in the Army after graduation and was stationed in Panama. Eddie was with her in spirit through every step, but he could not comfort her in his strong, life-affirming embrace, and Nelda missed him.

Nelda savored every minute with her friends and family that Thanksgiving and at the end of November she went in for surgery to remove the tumor that was lodged in the base of her brain.
Nelda came through the surgery with flying colors, but she was quite stubborn with the doctor when he could not predict when she could go home and get on with her life. He told her that it would be a while. When she asked if she would be home for Christmas, he looked at her as if she was crazy, and said, “Definitely not”. He continued, “You will be here for a while”. Discouraged, Nelda accepted the timeline in her verbal response but mentally she had other plans. Nelda was relentless in her rehabilitation. She pushed herself to the limit and beyond. She had to relearn to talk, eat, write, dress herself, etc…. All the life functions that we take for granted became major daily challenges for Nelda. Her daily communion with Jesus in prayer sustained her. She kept a positive attitude, and she beat the odds. Amazed by her progress, Dr. Kingman had to eat his words. By Christmas of 1986, Nelda was in good enough condition to be released. She still had to follow a strict regimen of rehabilitation on her own, but with her progress thus far, her Doctor was not worried about Nelda slacking off or discontinuing her rehabilitation.

The spring and summer of 1987 was dedicated to full time rehabilitation for Nelda. She was at home in Premont, and with the constant support of family and friends, Nelda regained her strength and was able to return to San Marcos in the fall of 1987. Nelda said that the “hills of San Marcos” were the best rehabilitation of all. Her apartment was at the base of a steep hill, and Nelda walked it daily. She also said that pulling herself into the campus shuttle bus strengthened her upper body. Nelda repeated coursework that she was unable to complete due to her physical condition the previous year. By Christmas of 1987, Nelda had completed all of her required coursework for graduation, except for her internship. Her degree was in fashion merchandising, and this was the last requirement. The spring of 1988 she started her internship at Casual Corner in Corpus Christi, Texas, and upon completing this requirement she graduated in May of 1988. It was on this special day that her beloved, Eddie Sosa, proposed for the third time.

Eddie had previously proposed to Nelda, and worried that she would be a burden to him, if she did in fact inherit VHL, she refused his proposal. She recalls, that she did not think this would be fair to him, and she wanted him to have a happy life. He tried a second time and received the same negative response. Most men would’ve quit by this time, but Eddie was not “most men”. Eddie persisted, and after feeling that she was fully healed, and realizing that this man would not accept “no” for an answer, she accepted his proposal. According to Nelda, on his third and final proposal, he threw the ring at her. She said this took place following her graduation ceremony, and she accepted. Nelda jokes about his unromantic proposal, but being his third attempt she was lucky that he didn’t do something else with the ring. Just as he demonstrated in his unwavering attempts to gain Nelda’s hand in matrimony, Eddie has never given up. Through all they have faced, he has continued to hold her hand, steady her step, and love her unconditionally.

Nelda married Eddie Sosa on December 30. 1989. Nelda said that she knew that the man she married had to love Jesus as much as she did, and Eddie met that requirement. Nelda’s journey became Eddie’s journey as they shared one heart in a risen, living Lord.

The summer and fall of 1989, Nelda worked, planned the wedding, and experienced a relatively normal, healthy life. Eddie and Nelda were married, and they moved to Lake Jackson, Texas where Eddie was working as a prison guard. Nelda managed a Paul Harris retail store and also worked at a jewelry store. Nelda happily settled into married life, but she was not happy professionally. She tried to find internal gratification through her interactions with the public, but every time she would sell an item that she felt was overpriced she would feel a sense of guilt. She said that the overpricing was the worst in the jewelry business. As Nelda waited on her customers she would hear young couples’ conversations as they debated the purchase of wedding rings. She could tell that they could not afford the rings, and she felt their pain. Yet, she was directed to push the “more expensive” items, and, in her opinion, convince people to spend money they did not have. This gave Nelda a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. She had spent years of study for a career that she felt was focused on “taking”; therefore, professionally, Nelda felt empty. Not being one to brood for long, Nelda set her sights on a new career. She wanted to teach. Nelda wanted to “give” not “take”. Nelda wanted to make a difference.

In the fall of 1992, Eddie and Nelda moved back to Corpus Christi, and Nelda returned to school to obtain her teaching certification in English. It took her one year to obtain her certification, and during that time she worked part-time jobs and substituted in surrounding school districts.

Even though Nelda was physically healthy; she had to keep regular appointments with her eye doctor in San Antonio, Texas. VHL disease manifests itself in the veins of the eyes, and VHL carriers must have regular extensive eye examinations. Often, further complications can be prevented by closing a busted blood vessel with a laser procedure before a tumor is formed.
Dr. Speights and Dr. Campbell, according to Nelda, are the best eye doctors. They kept close tabs on her progress and were always positive and supportive. Besides this minor inconvenience, Nelda was healthy, happy, and excited about completing her teacher certification. Everything was falling into place until the trip to the newly opened outlet malls. Eddie, Nelda, her first cousin Mari, Mari’s husband Guy, and their son Jason were all on their way for a day of shopping at the outlet malls in San Marcos, Texas, when Nelda experienced an excruciating pain in her left eye. Not wanting to mess up anyone’s trip, Nelda turned to the Lord in prayer and endured the pain silently. She kept this to herself until she couldn’t take it anymore. On the trip home, she broke into tears as she could no longer endure the pain. Once home, she immediately contacted Dr. Speights who prescribed a pain killer and wanted to see her in San Antonio as early as possible the next day.
Another huge obstacle rose in Nelda and Eddie’s future, as they heard the diagnosis of glaucoma. Within a month, it progressed so rapidly that Dr. Speights said that Nelda’s left eye would have to be removed before the disease spread to her healthy right eye. Praying that a second opinion may uncover something he had not found, Dr. Speights recommended that Nelda go to Dr. Sohoki in Corpus Christi. Nelda went to Dr. Sohoki and was not only devastated with the confirmation of Dr. Speight’s diagnosis, but the manner in which the “second opinion” was conveyed. Insensitively, Dr. Sohoki said, “It’s rotten and we need to yank it out.” In shock by the news and the thought of her eye being referred to as “rotten” and in need of being “yanked out”, Nelda’s world, once again, felt as though it was spinning out of her control. She was told to return the next day for some follow-up procedures, and she numbly left the office. Strong in her faith, she fell into the arms of Jesus. Her fear, anger, tears, frustration, and disappointment were poured out at the foot of his cross as she prayed to her ever faithful Lord. The next day, with makeup applied, hair fixed, and confidence in her step she returned to Dr. Sohoki’s office. He was shocked. He said, “I can’t believe how good you look…most people come back with no makeup and they are very down and depressed.” Nelda confidently responded, “No sir, I have the Holy Spirit with me, and I count my blessings. I have one good eye.”

There would be approximately two months before the actual surgery, and during this time she prayed for a miracle, but always concluded her petitions with “if this be your will”. The maintenance of Nelda’s left eye as a conduit for earthly vision was not “his will”, but he had a greater form of vision in store for his faithful daughter Nelda.

Nelda had to go to an ocularist during this time to have a prosthetic eye made so it would be ready once her eye was removed. All the while, her left eye was deteriorating and turning gray. As with each of us, our bodies will only serve us temporarily whether it be for two, fifty or eighty-four years, one day all of our bodies will “rot” in the harsh words of Dr. Sohoki, but our souls, in the hands of our loving Lord, will live eternal. Once Nelda’s eye was removed, she had to wear a patch for 2-3 months and learn how to function with only her right eye. For the most part, Nelda had regained all of her physical strength except for about 25% of her sense of touch in her hands which she lost as a result of her brain surgery; therefore, she was able to contend fairly well with her new challenge.

Nelda rebounded with flying colors, and placed all her energy into completing her student teaching assignment and obtaining a teaching position where she could “give”.

I met Nelda in the spring of 1995. She had just completed her student teaching, and was looking for a full time teaching position. I was working as a speech teacher at Robstown High School, and I remember over hearing one of the administrators talk about this teacher who had just finished school and needed a job mid-term. The conversation centered on what a fine person she was, and for the time being, that was all I knew of Nelda. Two years later, I completed my final coursework to obtain my Masters Degree in Educational Administration and Mid-Management Certification. I was hired full time as an instructional facilitator/asst. principal and was to be assigned approximately 18-20 teachers to supervise and formally appraise throughout the school year. Since I was a “new” administrator, I requested that I be given the “newer” teachers to appraise. In retrospect, I asked for the most difficult job. I found out, with time, that veteran teachers, for the most part, have their instruction down to a precise art; learning is taking place daily in their classrooms, and administrative intervention is seldom necessary. However, being new and naïve, yet energetic, I jumped in with both feet and took on my first assignment with enthusiasm. Nelda Sosa was on my first assignment list. I will never forget my pre-conference with her in the fall of 1997.

Prior to any classroom observations, I wanted to meet with the teachers, try to get to know them, put them at ease, and have them share with me anything that I may need to know that would affect their appraisal. The common types of responses I would get were usually related to a special student who may have a behavior modification plan in which he/she was allowed to take a self-imposed time out, or a class that may have many different instructional levels which called for unique teaching strategies. However, Nelda’s input was quite different and very surprising. She apologetically explained that she may have slight difficulty while at the overhead due to her coordination challenges. She said that as a result of a surgical procedure she had in college, she still lacked feeling in parts of her arms and hands which affected her handwriting and coordination. She said that she may have to ask for a student’s assistance. I was surprised as I had never noticed that Nelda had any type of physical problems. Still in shock, I said, “I never would’ve guessed. You function so well”. Feeling more at ease with me, Nelda said, “I really don’t want anyone to know this, but I had brain surgery my junior year in college which caused this loss of coordination.” She went on to say, “I then lost my left eye to glaucoma a few years after that, but I am fine now.” Speechless, yet curious, I stumbled with my words and asked her when this had happened. She proceeded to tell me about her life to this point. I listened in utter amazement. I had experienced my “hard” times, but nothing could compare to what Nelda shared with me on that day. In her shoes, the majority of people would have either given up or languished in a self-hosted pity parties. Regretful to say, I would have probably been one of them. She insisted that she be treated just like everyone else, and she begged for my complete confidence regarding her life events. I complied with both requests.

I prided myself in being a consistent, fair, yet by-the-book evaluator. I felt my job was to make sure that the students, who I was hired to serve, had the very best instructors. Internally, I feared being biased towards Nelda after hearing her heart wrenching story, but I was determined to treat her like everyone else as she requested. I did not have to worry about being biased for long as one step into Nelda Sosa’s classroom, and you knew authentic learning was taking place. You felt inexplicable warmth in her classroom which made it hard to leave once you entered. It was a feeling of safety, security and love. Words can’t accurately describe the sensation, but I could feel it and see it. Unruly students who other teachers struggled with and who I had seen in the office for disciplinary purposes sat diligently working. Some were even assisting “Mrs. Sosa” with classroom tasks. This atmosphere was not only during her formal evaluation it was every time you entered her classroom. It was mind boggling yet miraculous. Serving as her supervisor was such a pleasure, and she graciously agreed to be a model for struggling teachers to observe. Throughout ongoing professional interactions with Nelda, I knew that students who were placed in her English classes would learn, flourish, and be touched by a phenomenal educator. The counselors had to be careful because it was at this time that a state law was passed that gave teachers the authority, with proper documentation, to refuse to re-admit a student who persistently misbehaved. If a student was refused re-entry into another class, Nelda was always willing to accept them. Eventually this had to be remedied as her classroom counts continued to climb. It was difficult for Nelda to turn down students who wanted to come into her classes, but she knew that she would not be able to adequately serve the students she already had if she accepted any more students. With time, I also came to find out that each day Nelda faithfully anointed the door to her classroom and each desk with oil and prayed for her students. She never publicized her actions, she maintained the separation of church and state, but now I knew why so many wayward students conformed for that one hour of each day. Pessimists might say, “Well, I’m sure she was easy on them, or they felt sorry for her”. I, and many others, are witnesses to the fact that she was one of the strictest teachers on campus and she NEVER “gave” a grade. You earned your grade in her classroom. If you met her high expectations, you excelled, but if you did less than what she knew you were capable of doing, you received the grade that reflected your effort and mastery level. And nobody felt sorry for her because at that time only a select few knew of the challenges she had faced. Lisa Garcia was one of those individuals, and she was a constant source of strength for Nelda. Nelda stayed later and came earlier than other teachers just to stay even. She worked weekends and many late nights to ensure the best for her students, and she prayed constantly for their success in school and in life. Nelda was almost never seen in the front office because if she had a problem she was going to find the solution herself. She was NEVER idle, she never maliciously gossiped, and she never showed any signs of physical or mental struggle. She was a positive force and the finest of educators. Nelda was doing what she had longed to do. She was giving.

I will never forget one of the few times she did enter my office with a somewhat grave look on her face. So quietly, she said, “Robyn, I know how busy you are and I hate to bother you, but I really need some advice.” I told her that she could come at anytime as that was my job. She came in and proceeded to tell me about the athletic director who had approached her and strongly implied that he wanted her to modify a young man’s final grade. She went on to tell me of the countless times she had offered this student tutorials, opportunities to redo failing or unsubmitted assignments, and how the student had never showed up and never made any effort to improve his grade. She said that the student was failing at mid-term and his parents had received the progress report, yet the student nor the parents did anything about it. But now that a big game was approaching, the athletic director was in her classroom, telling her that he would bring the young man personally to make up the work. Nelda maintained her high yet fair standards, pulled up the student’s grades on the computer, showed the athletic director the many opportunities the student had to raise his grade throughout the sixweeks, and refused the director’s offer and request. The Athletic Director proceeded to plead with her making her feel as if, due to her, this child was going to now lose the only thing he loved, baseball. Nelda did not say yes, but under so much pressure she said she would look into the situation and get back with him. It was then that she came to my office and shared this conversation with me. I hit the roof. Aside from being illegal according to the state of Texas’ UIL rules, the nerve of that man to try to place guilt on an individual who had already faced more challenges than most of us will face in a lifetime. After regaining professional composure, I affirmed Nelda’s original decision to decline his offer, I assured her that she had done her job and should carry absolutely no guilt, and I told her that I solidly stood behind her decision to assign the grade the student had actually earned. Nelda thanked me, followed through with what we had discussed, and never again was she illegally approached by the athletic director. After this and other professional interactions, Nelda and I developed a mutual respect and admiration for each other. We saw the world through similar eyes, we felt an unspoken bound, and we continued to work together setting and maintaining high standards for the students at Robstown High School.

A short tangent concerning a life lesson I received from Nelda Sosa. I use to worry what people thought of me, especially as a young administrator who had been a colleague to many teachers who I now supervised. However, as I gained the trust and respect of teachers like Nelda, who were truly dedicated to what was best for students, the opinions of others no longer mattered. If somebody was simply taking a paycheck and not serving students, whether they were a custodian, teacher, secretary, administrator, or superintendent, I had no respect for them, and I did not care how they felt about me. I, like Nelda, and many other dedicated individuals in that school system, could look in the mirror each night, face God each morning, and know that we were making decisions that were student-centered.

It was through this developing bound with Nelda that I felt a dependence on her that I detailed in my entry in February of 2005 which was concluded with her miraculous return to teaching, on a walker, after regaining for the 2nd time in her life all of her motor skills….the minor life functions that we all take for granted; holding a spoon, feeding herself, sitting up, walking, writing, dressing, go to the bathroom, etc… And it was after this struggle that Nelda felt compelled to have a letter of thanks, which she had written, read to the faculty. Everyone was in tears. Prior to her brain surgery in 2002, as I previously stated, very few faculty members at Robstown High School knew about the numerous obstacles she had overcome in her life. Now, she could no longer hide it. She had returned from her second brain surgery, she was dependent on a walker, and her vision in her only functioning eye had weakened. Mundane tasks to the rest of us were momentous challenges for Nelda. Simply getting up getting ready and getting to work was grueling on her physically…not to mention the classes she had to prepare for and teach. Once again, she did not complain. Internally she had to work with her pride as she never wanted pity or special favors, and the Lord gave her the spirit of acceptance which gave her “sufficient grace”. She learned to reach out to her friends at work and accept their help. She entered an entire new realm of joy as she allowed others to show their love for her. That Lenten season Nelda, myself, and our colleagues and friends: Elsabeth Abrego, Norma Rojas, Andrew Martinez, Chris Dundas, Rebecca Campos, Lisa Garcia, and Irma Romero began reading and having a book study group once a week on The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. Nelda had the audio book, and we all received so many blessings during that short time. We had only read to the fourth or fifth chapter when another blow was leveled in Nelda’s direction.

During this time, while still teaching with a special magnified overhead and limited mobility, Nelda began experiencing blurred vision in her right eye. She prayed that this was temporary but with time it worsened. She knew she had to have it checked, and she fearfully went to her Doctor. She and Eddie entered with faith hoping for the best, but there were complications. Her retina was slowly detaching and she would need more surgery. Devastated, Nelda and Eddie left the office, and as they had always done in the past, they fell into the arms of Jesus. Eddie’s heart broke for his dear wife. As one, they gave their fear to God and faced another life-changing challenge. They would accept “his will” with steadfast faith in his goodness.

When talking with Nelda, her concern was never for herself. She was consumed with who would take care of her students, who would see them through the TAKS test, who would make sure they were ready for the subsequent grade-level. She was concerned about the burden she was placing on Eddie, on her Mom and her stepfather, Henry, on Eddie’s parents, on her relatives….the list went on and on, but it was NEVER ABOUT HER.
She did feel that she had a small window of time to prepare for the next surgery, but as we all find out at some point in life, ultimate control is not our own. Nelda had taken some time off prior to her eye surgery, and we all anxiously awaited news of her condition and prayed for a miracle.

I was waiting for my daughter Shelby to get out of soccer, when I received the devastating call from Nelda. She said she felt she had to personally tell me what had happened. The “scheduled” procedure never came to fruition. Her retina had detached before preventative action could be taken by doctors, and they had to do emergency surgery. This was the first time ever that I heard a hint of defeat in Nelda’s voice. She said, “Robyn, I’m tired”. She said she had to lay face down for sixweeks straight and could only get up for 15 minutes per hour. This had to do with the gas bubble in her eye which had to remain in a certain position for a certain amount of time in order to regain her already limited, remaining vision. She said she needed full time care and was considering some form of home health care because she did not want to be a burden to her husband Eddie who worked long hours for the Nueces County Sheriff’s Dept. She talked about nursing care if the home health care didn’t work because she also did not want to continue to burden her mother and her extended family. She said she couldn’t fight anymore and she cried. Quietly and softly, but for the FIRST TIME, with me anyway, she cried. She cried for her students and for the profession that she fought so hard to enter and dearly loved. Teaching was her passion, giving to her students sustained her, and for the first time she talked about having to retire and live on disability which she never, ever wanted to do. She said, “What am I going to do if I can’t teach, that is all I’ve ever wanted to do, what am I going to do when I can’t get up and go teach my students everyday?” Her questions, fears, doubts, and quiet tears went on until she had nothing left. I sat quietly and listened as my heart bled, and then out of nowhere I felt a wave of strength envelop me and somehow her previous fire and conviction was transferred to my heart. I admonished her and told her she was not giving up and that we would do whatever it took to help her. I told her that we would make sure that she finished the school year. I told her that we would get the best substitute available and that he or she could communicate with Nelda daily, until she could do it herself. Nelda listened, seemed slightly rejuvenated, and in a tired, yet sweet voice urged me to take care of my kids and my asthma-once again turning her attention from herself and to another.

During this time period, many colleagues and friends called her on a regular basis, but she really did not encourage visitors. Nelda was struggling, but her prayers and faith in God’s goodness never ceased. They may have weakened, but once again her loving Lord scooped her up and rocked her gently through days and nights of severe pain, unimaginable frustration, and utter fear. Once she was receptive to visitors, Elsabeth, Norma, Rebecca, and I bought her a speaker phone. Rebecca couldn’t make it to the house, but Norma, Elsabeth, and I all went to give Nelda her new mode of communication. We wanted her to remain active in our book study, and we were giving her no way out. We previously tried to have a book study over the regular phone, but she had no feeling in her fingers and could not hold the phone that long. Therefore, with a speaker phone she had no excuses. During the visit, Nelda gave each of us one of her personal Bibles, and told us how to study the Word of God. She urged us to read the Bible regularly and to really get to know the Lord. We were all in tears as we said our good-byes.

It was not long after this that I obtained my first principalship in Agua Dulce ISD. I was excited yet scared. It all happened very quickly, and what I thought was going to be a position beginning in the fall of 2005, became an immediate position. I was extremely busy during the transition, and I was not able to spend as much time with my friends. I did stay in touch by phone, and on one of those calls I was informed that Nelda had again amazed all who knew her. She did not limit her new speaker phone to calls from friends, but she used it as a conduit to her students and began instructing her classes via speaker phone. Nelda had done it again. She defied the odds, placed her faith in a Good God, and persevered in service to his children in Robstown ISD.

My job in Agua Dulce was all consuming until mid-summer. One day when driving to pick up my daughter I realized I had extra time. Normally I would have run errands, but I felt so strongly compelled to just pop in on Nelda. This was definitely not me. I always call friends before going to visit, but the force to turn off the highway was so pure and strong so I submitted. I felt the joy in me surge at the thought of seeing my dear friend. A tiny feeling of apprehension came over me as at the last visit she still had to lay face down and her condition broke my heart. If her condition was worse, I wasn’t sure I could take it. That negative thought left my head as soon as it entered; a strong force continued to guide me straight to her front door. Eddie answered the door, and as always was very welcoming, behind him, stood Nelda. Her eyes were wide open, she was smiling, and I knew she could see me. We hugged and I could not stop going on about how great she looked. She was back to the Nelda that I had pre-conferenced with all those year ago before her appraisal. She said she had just recently gotten her vision back, and that she was working out on her stationary bike, dieting, and trying to get back in shape. She said she had decided to retire, and she was trying to get financial assistance to help with her mounting medical bills. She said she did have one scare when the doctor found more tumors in the lower part of her brain. Her doctor said that they may have to operate to remove them, and Nelda begged for some time. Her doctor hesitantly agreed but set a follow-up appointment. Nelda placed her hands on the base of her brain and with faith “greater than a mustard seed” she prayed for healing. She knew she could not endure another invasive surgical procedure. On her return visit to the doctor he reviewed her slides in disbelief….the tumors were gone. Nelda never flinched or acted surprised as the doctor tried to understand the inexplicable. She told him, “I’m not surprised, God did that.”

I shared with Nelda some of the struggles I was facing in my new job, and she immediately assured me that she would pray for me. Nelda had found a new vocation in prayer. She spent her days committed to prayer for others. She also said she wanted me to meet her cousin, Michael, who was very strong in the Lord and in prayer. She said that she wanted to set up a prayer group, and that she would call me to let me know when we would meet. I told her that once I got the school year started and worked through some of the stressful issues I was facing that I wanted to bring her in as a private tutor to work with the students who were having a hard time passing the TAKS. The thought of working with kids again gave Nelda a shot of energy, and we agreed to stay in touch. As I was walking out, Eddie said, “How strange, I made this extra DVD with hours of Christian Worship Music, and I did not know why…but now I do.” He gave me the DVD, and I thanked him as I walked out feeling lighter and more alive than I had in weeks. True to her word, Nelda set up a prayer group, and I was able to share an entire afternoon with Nelda and her cousins in prayer, thanksgiving, and Bible study. Nelda was right, Michael conveyed the Holy Scripture in a way that touched your very soul. Michael then began praying for me and my situation. After the prayer, Nelda looked at me in amazement and said, “Can you believe that?” I said, “What?” She said, “That Michael’s prayer seemed to speak to the situation you are going through in Agua Dulce.” I said, “Well, you told him what I was struggling with before I came didn’t you?” Nelda said, “No, Michael came after you arrived, and I never had the chance to talk to him about it on the phone.” I knew the Lord was working. Nelda and I shared several more afternoons together, and she was able to meet a dear friend of mine, Pete Gonzalez, who had shown an interest in the prayer group. Nelda and Eddie immediately felt a connection with Pete and have formed what I feel will be a life-long friendship. It wasn’t too long after this that Nelda began talking about fuzziness in her right eye. Like a child, I wanted to plug my ears, thinking if I didn’t hear what she was saying, it wouldn’t be real. After tests were run, her doctor said she would once again need immediate surgery. Thinking that this was to laser out some minor tissue, I was not alarmed. I said, “Oh, so you’ll just have to wait about a week to get your sight back again?” Nelda said, “No, I will have to be on my face again for sixweeks or longer if needed.

Internally, I cried out in anger to God. I had had enough. In addition to watching my mother slowly be taken by Alzheimer’s disease, I had to watch another saint on earth face one devastating blow after another. Just like my mother, Nelda has a pure heart, a positive attitude, and love for everyone, and yet my “Good God” was not removing their pain. I begged God for mercy as I cried alone at night. I pleaded for his healing power to rain down on both of them. How could he tease Nelda with only a few weeks of vision to only strip it away again? Although downhearted, I continued to pray. I became rather involved with litigation in the district where I worked while Nelda went through the surgery, but I tried to visit and call when I could. Once she was able to turn on her side, she was ready to accept visitors again. On my first visit after her surgery, I was filled with pain for her when she said that the anesthesia they had given her did not numb her eye, and that she could feel the needle going in and out. She said it was the worst pain she had ever experienced, but she was too afraid to move. She knew how precise and critical every move was, and she did not want to lose what she had worked so hard to regain. She prayed her way through the pain. Upon her return, she did have to be placed on strong pain medication, and although she feared dependence on any type of pills she desperately needed relief. After a while the severe pain subsided, and she had to cope with laying face down once again. Her dear husband brought her books on tape, and her extra special friend from Robstown, Jane Gonzalez, religiously called her every night to read to her for an hour. Nelda was thirsting for interaction as she said people were not visiting like they use to, and she missed the interaction. I told her that we were going to get a group to come and sing Christmas songs with my daughter’s karaoke machine, and she was so excited. Ultimately, only Elsabeth, Esmie, and I showed up, but we had a blast. Nelda had to remain lying down, but she could hear our howling (include picture). She laughed so hard, and Eddie kept serving a Whiskey Sours. I think our voices improved with each drink. Eddie said that he was having a blast until Esmie showed up because she had a really good voice, and it wasn’t funny anymore. I will have to pay Eddie back for that one. I left town for Christmas and Nelda went home to Premont so I was not able to see her for a while. Once back in Corpus I called, and Pete and I went to see her in Premont. Seeing her made me feel great. She was sitting up, eyes open, but she said she could only see a blanket of black, brown, or white. She said her “white” days were the best because that meant her eyes were open. The “brown days” were new, and her “black days” were very depressing. We were able to meet Father Vandau who was their family priest for years. He is from India and currently serves the parish in Edroy, Texas. He was so interesting to talk to, and he shed a lot of light of the topic of confession. Nelda got into a semi-heated debate with him and her mother, and it was then that I knew, our sweet Nelda with all her fire and conviction was back! Elva, Nelda’s dear mother, made us a wonderful lunch and treated us like royalty as she always does.

I left Premont, Texas feeling happy, alive, and moved by the spirit of God. I praised him in my heart, and made a quiet apology for my previous doubts in his Goodness. As I know his grace is sufficient. Nelda has been able to come back to Corpus for only one week while her husband was off, and we were able to spend quality time together. She continues her prayer ministry and faithfully awaits the return of her vision so she can come home for good and function in her own home without assistance.

A couple of nights ago I was sharing some of this with another dear, dear friend, Jill Honer. I have talked so much about Jill to Nelda, and Nelda to Jill that they feel they know each other. After hearing what Nelda was facing, the wheels in Jill’s head started spinning. She called me back three times with ideas of what we could do to cheer her up. She wanted to have her kids use puff paints to make cards she could feel, but I told her that Nelda didn’t have her sense of touch. She was going to record inspirational quotes, but then she said, “That is not even worthy of all she has endured.” I said, “Well, she does want more attention drawn to Vonn Hippel-Lindau so that maybe a cure can be found.” That was all I had to say. The spark burst into a raging fire, and Jill was on it. “We have to tell her story, and we will give the proceeds to her medical expenses and to research for VHL disease. You are good with words, we can go and tape her story, Robert (her son) can set up a website, we will contact Extreme Makeover Home Edition and they can set her home up so she can provide tutoring to kids struggling in school. We will write Oprah, and we will make sure that attention is drawn to the disease and to the amazing God-filled life this lady has lead. I will call my friend in the morning, and you start writing her story, I will get a tape recorder, and we’ll start first thing in the morning.” I don’t think Jill took one breath as all of the directions flew out of her mouth like a machine gun. Jill was the official “engine” of the group, and from there everything seemed to fall into place. Jill did just as she said and began taking action the next morning. I was a tiny bit hesitant calling Nelda as I remembered how private she was all those years ago, but I called anyway. I told her that Jill wanted to meet her, and I stammered around trying to bring up the part about taping her. I lead in by asking her if I still had the recorder she had leant me, and she said, “Yes, but don’t worry. I have another one, and one of these days I will record my story. My family, the staff in the doctor’s offices, my friends, and my priest have all urged me to write my story, but I just don’t know where to start, and I can’t write it myself.” As she said these words, I could not believe my ears. I was silent and struck speechless. She thought something was wrong, but all I could do was stutter. I could not make a clear sentence to profess the surge of energy that had run through my body. The Holy Spirit was there with me, I could feel the presence, and I could not speak. What I feared to ask of Nelda came flowing out of her heart. Once I regained composure, and shared the plan with Nelda, she said, “Praise God! That is confirmation, God is Good, I have been feeling the need to follow through and record my story, and all I could do was pray about it. Thank you Jesus!” I told her I was bringing Jill by to meet her and we got off the phone. I then called Jill and recounted the entire situation. Jill was ecstatic. She had been on the phone with her friend Wendy who told her to email the story to her. Wendy was also excited and willing to participate in our mission to tell the world about this horrible disease and Nelda’s God-filled fight with its devastating affects. Jill and her sweet kids, Courtney and Eric, were able to meet Nelda. It was immediate recognition of a family member in Christ. We were not able to stay long, but on our next visit, Jill wants to share some children’s books she wrote with Nelda, and if we can get those published she wants to donate those proceeds to research for Vonn Hippel-Lindau. It had been a long time since Jill worked on her children’s books; therefore, she could not remember what her books were about. She dug them out of the attic and wouldn’t you know that God was working on this plan all those year ago when he gave her the inspiration to write…they were on the FIVE SENSES. We continue on this journey of faith, hope, and love always knowing that HIS grace is sufficient and HE IS INFINITELY GOOD!

So much more has happened since I wrote the previous entry...I will enter the rest in my next entry. Always remember "God is Good".

This is a picture of myself and my dear friend Nelda Sosa (middle) and Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz after Nelda was honored as Teacher of the Year. The photo was taken in the spring of 2004. Nelda has battled Vonn Hippel-Lindau, a rare genetic disease, and since the time of this photo her condition has deteriorated. She lost her left eye to this disease several years back, and she currently is praying to recover sight in her right eye after enduring a second surgical procedure which has left her completely blind. Nelda Sosa is a phenomenal individual who, in spite of her physical challenges, maintains a steadfast faith in a "Good God" and persists in finding ways to serve her fellow man. I have been looking for ways to get her story out as Nelda feels that she is losing time, and she wants to help her fellow Vonn Hippel-Lindau survivors by increasing awareness of the disease and finding a way to increase research funding. Nelda hopes that through her "Sight"others will not have to suffer as she and her family has suffered. Nelda's dear friend Lebby Salinas introduced Nelda and I to the world of "blogging"; therefore, we will start here. We are new to this form of communication so any advice would be welcome. I have Nelda's entire story in a word document, and I will try to post it in my next entry....cross your fingers!