Tatiana comes to visit Utah

As most of you know about Tatiana, I won't go into much detail except to say that she is the young woman we met the spring of 2004 in Romania. Tatiana was a beautiful girl who had the most severe case of Scoliosis we had ever heard about. She desperately needed surgery as the twisting of her spine was slowly cutting off the air to her lungs and would eventually (within a few years) take her life. Our mission President, President Hanson, talked to us and asked us if we wanted to try and find a way to get her some help. He couldn't do it with the other responsibilities he had going on and so we started this project. It turned out to be very discouraging. Many people in the United States tried to give money and get doctors to operate on her. Steve and Barbara Coombs worked very hard on this end talking to medical people but every one of them refused saying they had never seen a case as bad as hers and that she would probably die on the operating table and they didn't want to be responsible for that! Luis Espinosa, from Utah also spent a lot of time talking to doctors out of Utah. It was discouraging but finally, after four years, a miracle happened and the best Scoliosis doctors in the country and a hospital in Florida agreed to take on her project. Tatiana was operated on twice in January and after two months of recovery is now walking around, has a straight spine and is about three inches taller! She is still very fragile and has to wear a brace for another two months but is recovering rapidly. All the doctors and everyone who has worked with her has been amazed at her progress. A lot of people and organizations gave their time and tons of money to have this happen but, in so doing have saved the life of a wonderful girl. The Lord has answered so many prayers. It took a long time but the miracle happened, and God rewarded her faith and patience.
Last Tuesday Tatiana came to visit us for two days. She came to Utah to spend two weeks here so she could see friends, past missionaries, the Temple and go through the Temple for her own endowments. She also wanted to visit BYU and see what the school is all about. While with us we invited several past missionary couples over and had a little get-together for her with people who have all been concerned and have helped her in different ways. It was a touching time and Tatiana was very sweet and very grateful to everyone. The Boyle's, Lofgreen's, Reed's and Thomas' all came over to visit with Tatiana. There were many other couples who helped her but these few were able to give her a big hug and congratulate her on this wonderful new turn her life has taken.


Tatiana is pointing out Brad Armstrong's square in our missionary quilt. Brad flew to Florida and sat with her day and night after her surgery to give her support and be a translator for all the many people who cared for her and helped her recover. He is another person she will always be grateful to for the service he rendered in her behalf.