"Robyn, our God is So Good", were the first words that excitedly spilled out of Nelda's mouth when she called to tell me the results of her visit to the Kidney specialist in San Antonio. In jubilation I responded, "That is so awesome...they said it is not cancer?" "No", she said, "It is cancer, but they can burn the tumors out of my kidneys!" "Plus, they said that the pain I am having is a kidney stone that is lodged in the urethra, but they are going to remove it." She continued, "We are home from San Antonio, but we have to leave at 5:00 a.m. to go back and have an MRI for that surgical procedure which will take place next week." "That will give me time to heal before they remove the tumors in my neck, and then after that they will use a new procedure and remove the malignant tumors that are in my kidneys." "Oh yeah, they said that I also have tumors in my adrenal glands, but they said they are small and shouldn't cause problems anytime soon. They said that those tumors may cause anxiety and uncontrolled sweating, but I am just suppose to contact the doctor if that happens." She went on to say, "I am also excited because this doctor is from the Mayo Clinic, and he knows so much about Vonn Hippel-Lindau...finally a doctor that knows more about my disease than I do." "So now, Robyn, we need to praise the Lord for answering our prayers...God has been so good to me."

I could not even respond. The words were conflicting in my brain like the same sides of a magnet. I felt joy for her joy, but fear and anxiety over the information she was sharing. I agreed numbly that God was Good, but I am not sure if my heart was in full consent. Some strange form of anger came over me at the injustice of it all. Nelda did not deserve more obstacles. She did not deserve cancer. She did not deserve surgery, after surgery, after surgery. She did not deserve to have her sight stolen from her after fighting so hard to maintain it. She did not deserve to be in a position of full dependence on others, and have her career swiped away from her. Yet, all I could hear coming through that phone line was pure joy and thanksgiving to a Good God who had richly blessed her and answered her prayers. To be completely honest, I am still struggling to reconcile the news she shared with me.

For her, I will have blind faith in our Good God. In the face of her unwavering faith, how can I choose any other path. How can I not have faith in a God that creates a woman like Nelda Salinas Sosa. He truly made her in his own image. Earthly language does not contain words or phrases vast enough to describe her indomitable spirit. Her life is a ministry. Her example is authentic. Her love is genuine. Her hope infinite, and her heart is pure.

I pray that the world comes to know my beautiful, blessed friend who has brought hope to so many through her Sight!