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Don't Cross the River, Jordan

from First Glance by Erika Chambers

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(blog entry from August 2006. You can read about Jordan's more recent progress at prayersforjordan.blogspot.com )


Jordan's Song
Nobody heard the splash except Jordan's twin brother Brandon, and there was nothing he could do. The two year olds were supposed to be napping, but they made their way out of the house, and helped each other over the pool fence. Jordan fell in. When his mother found him, he was floating, face down. Immediately, CPR was performed and he was life-flighted to Vanderbilt.

When my mom first visited Jordan in the hospital, she said he looked like a little porcelin doll, suspended between heaven and earth. "Where is he?" she wondered. She pictured him at the shore of a river, nearing the water, about to ultimately cross to the other side... when he hears the voice of his mother calling to him... "Don't Cross the River, Jordan," are the words that played over and over in her head as she stared at the toddler in the hospital bed. When she shared these words with me, I knew that they were the small beginnings of a song. In time, that song would become more meaningful than either of us could have imagined.

When I visited Jordan in the ICU about 2 weeks after the accident, I found it strange that none of his family was anywhere around. Alone, I walked into his room, and sat on a stool next to his bed. The nurses looked at me oddly and whispered amongst themselves, as if they knew something I didn't. I was concerned as I noticed that Jordan had lost much of the color he had during my last visit. Still, I held his tiny hand and started singing his song to him, accompanied by the beeping of his heart monitor and the emphatic voice of a preacher on a cassette tape reading healing scripture verses.

Within a few minutes, Jordan's aunt came in, a somber look on her face. She asked if I had heard the "news". I hadn't. The doctors said that Jordan was braindead, and that while the life support machines were keeping his organs functioning, he was no longer in that little body. The doctors said it was time to let him go. I cried.

The family was torn. Should they let him go, or should they wait? Insurance was running out. One doctor told Jordan's mother that it would be selfish to let him continue on life support. The mother would be neglecting the rest of her family as she continued to care for an empty body. The family's pastor, on the other hand, urged them to wait. What would be the harm in waiting another week? Doctors can be wrong. Yes, doctors can be wrong.

I was out of town on business when we got the call. Jordan was off life support.. and breathing on his own! He had even begun to open his eyes and move his arms and legs when his mother asked him to. He began improving little by little every day. The doctors were wrong. Jordan was NOT braindead. He just needed a little bit of time. Now he is recovering. It is unbelievable.

I have never seen such faith as I have seen in Jordan's family. My family has known them for 10 years, and over that time we have seen them go through a lot... but nothing like this. Through it all, they remain resiliant, and believe with all of their hearts that Jordan is a miracle child. They thank God every day for each and every tiny improvement he makes.. the flutter of an eyelid, the wiggling of a toe. Every day another miracle. Every day I see him, I am challenged and changed.

lyrics

Dont cross the river, Jordan,
'Cause mama needs you home
I've laid my head upon your bed
And cried since youve been gone
Dont cross the river, Jordan
Pawpaws called the Saints to pray
So were gathered at the shoreline
Beggin God for you to stay

Please dont leave sweet angel boy
Your time has not yet come
So rise from the water and with us stand
Till Jesus leads you on

Dont cross the river, Jordan
Mama bade you not to go
Where the waters carry farther
Then pull you down below
Dont cross the river, Jordan
Listen to your mamas voice
I've been callin from the shoreline
Callin to my angel boy

Oh please dont leave sweet angel boy
Your time has not yet come
So rise from the water and with us stand
Till Jesus leads you on

Dont cross the river, Jordan
Till you hear another call
From the Man who walked on water
And can carry you across
Dont cross the river, Jordan
But if you have to go
I'll be wavin from the shoreline
Prayin till youre safely home.

credits

from First Glance, released July 30, 2006

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