Oh, it is with a weary & sore heart that I write this message to all of you who have been praying so diligently. Our Anna's heart & little body just got too tired to go on. We received the results of the CT scan and without hesitation we knew God had answered a shared prayer......to show us His will without any question. Anna's cerebral cortex had been so severely jeopardized on Monday during CPR that any form of normal survival function was out of the question. The cerebral edema that was taking over both lobes could not be treated with any medicines. In addition, the trauma her heart sustained made surgery to correct very difficult with the continuing pressure build up. Basically, to continue we would be doing it for clearly selfish reasons since our sweet Anna would fight herself to death. No matter what the doctors tried to come up with as an option there was really only one. We took Anna off the bypass and all life support......and I had the incredible privilege to hold my baby as her sweet heart beat its last beat. Oh, what a precious, peaceful moment. To know that God entrusted me with this amazing child for the last 10 weeks makes me so proud.
We are so humbled by the outreach and prayers for our family. We are mourning, we are hurting, we are confused, we are yucky in every way right now but most importantly we praise our Heavenly Father and all His Glory!
We want our time with Anna and her short life to bring him only Glory! Without the guidance of the Father we would never have even known this miraculous creature. Please join us in His praise and prayer for our sweet Grace. As a family we now have the mountain of pain, separation, and grief to conquer. Our Lord is covering us with His Cloak of Peace and for that we are so grateful.
We are so humbled by the outreach and prayers for our family. We are mourning, we are hurting, we are confused, we are yucky in every way right now but most importantly we praise our Heavenly Father and all His Glory!
We want our time with Anna and her short life to bring him only Glory! Without the guidance of the Father we would never have even known this miraculous creature. Please join us in His praise and prayer for our sweet Grace. As a family we now have the mountain of pain, separation, and grief to conquer. Our Lord is covering us with His Cloak of Peace and for that we are so grateful.
~ Jo
Anna's Memorial Celebration
Saturday, August 30
10:00 AM Visitation
11:00 AM Memorial Celebration
~
Williamson Memorial Funeral Home
3009 Columbia Avenue
Franklin, TN 37064
615-794-2289
~
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Nashville's Ronald McDonald House
Thank you!
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35 comments:
Dear Jo and the Gooden Family, I am so sorry to hear of Anna's passing. We are another AWAA family, and just want you to know that we praise the Lord for the peace beyond understanding which he will give to you. We continue to uphold you in prayer, and grieve with all of you at this time. God bless you, Petrie and Jay Montgomery
Dear Gooden Family,
We are praying for you today and will continue in the days to come. May you feel the peace & comfort of God.
Jody & Caryn Bowser
AWAA waiting children family
Dear Gooden Family, my heart is breaking for you today. I have been down this road with close friends a few years ago. I am praying for God to uphold you and to give you strength. Cling to Him and his promises, He will see you through!
In Him,
Melinda Pierce
AWAA Waiting Child Family
Thank you for sharing this with us today. My heart is heavy with your loss.
May you know peace in the coming weeks.
Liz and Andrew Barna
An AWAA family
Continuing to pray for you and your family!
Alyce Bass
I am so sorry for your loss your family is in our thoughts and prayers. I can only hope that comfort and peace will come to you in time. Christe
Dear Gooden Family,
I have no words, just prayer. I'm so very sorry for your loss and know that He will sustain you through this. Praying, praying hard for all of you.
In Him,
Liesl - another China adoption family
jo and family
my heart is aching for you all. I pray you find the strength you need to get through this difficult time. Cherish the memories you have. Anna is a beautiful little girl and she is now at peace.
Dawn
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. We are praying for God's peace for your entire family.
Phil and Karen Huey
AWAA Waiting Child Family
Jo and Tony,
This is a copy of the email we sent to all of our praying friends and Grace's soccer team parents:
It is with a very heavy heart that I must inform you that Anna has gone Home to the Lord. I count it an incredible privilege that I was blessed to meet this precious little one while she was still with us. Her mom Jo and her sister Grace are truly a Gift from God. Please pray for this family as they miss Anna. Pray for comfort during this time and that God will use them to comfort others. Please read this blog as we cover this great family with the Love of Christ and our prayers.
http://prayingforanna.blogspot.com/
Romans 12:15
Rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Psalm 139:14-16
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Be God’s,
Bob, Robin and Jenna Crissey
AWAA Family, Parents of Lauren Danielle who is in Heaven with Anna the Lord.
I also have no words that seem to mean anything right now. We are another AW family home now with our daughter for only 4 months...I can't imagine your grief. My tears are shed for you tonight, and our prayers for you are that He will sustain you through this time and give you the peace that only He can give.
To the Goodens and all their extended Family,
I'm so very sorry for the loss of your precious Anna. I hope the many, many blessings, joys and special memories of having had Anna in your lives will sustain you and all your family throughout these tough days ahead.
I will pray that time will bring peace to your aching hearts and ease the sadness, knowing she is now in the arms of the Angels.
Thinking of you,
Anita D., KC,MO
On-line "ferret" friend of Cindy's
(I had to post as anonymous due to not having an account)
Tony & Jo,
It is so hard to wrap our minds around all that you are going through right now. Thank you for allowing us to share a little bit of this journey with you from afar. Jo, your words are so profoundly God-honoring, heart-wrenching, mind-altering. You can know without a shadow of a doubt that the many who are watching will walk away hungering for your Almighty God -- Who else can give you that supernatural peace and comfort? Your journey brings James 1 to mind-- may you be especially blessed when you one day lay that crown of life at the feet of the Prince of Peace! We love you and are continuing to pray and know that He upholds you with His mighty hand!
Blessings,
John, Beth, Jonathan, Mia & Sophie Lossing
Dear Jo and family,
Once again, no words can be said for your incredible loss. What a sweet gift that Anna was able to be held in the love and security of her mama's arms as she went to meet her Maker. I know your love for her goes way beyond the 10 weeks you had with her.
Your family will continue to be in our prayers.
i don't know you but have been praying this week for your family and your sweet little girl. i'm a friend of stefani b. and have 4 little ones and can't imagine the pain you are feeling right now. Know that there are people still praying for you and know that God is good! emily
I do not know you, but had been praying ever since my sister shared with me what you were facing with your precious girl! (My sister is friends with a family that traveled to China with you.) I was so saddened to hear of your loss! I cannot imagine the pain you are going through right now. No doubt, the 10 weeks that you had her were filled with love and she got to experience the love of a family before she was taken home to heaven. May God comfort you in the way that only He can! 2 Thess 3:16 "Now may the Lord of peace Himself, continually grant you peace in every circumstance."
Gooden Family,
My heart aches for you, but rejoices that Anna is no longer in any pain and is safe in the arms of her Maker.
However, that doesn't lessen the ache in your hearts and doesn't fill the void in your lives, the words just sound trite and pathetic and I am just so, so sorry for your loss.
I can only guess at your timeline, but it looks like we might have been in China at the same time, you with your beautiful Anna, me with my sweet Ella (who is also a heart baby). 10 weeks just isn't enough time.
I understand Anna has a big sister and pray she will be a comfort to you during this time, but know that the real source of comfort is the One who loves Anna more than even you did and in whose arms she is peacefully resting now.
My prayers are with you.
Kelly
Dear Jo, Tony, & Grace,
I am just heartbroken with you and for you. We have been praying, hoping for healing here, but reminded Anna is forever healed now. I will continue to pray for you. I can't imagine your pain. But I trust that our Father will count every tear you shed as a precious reflection of your love for Anna. I pray for the loving arms of Jesus to wrap around the 3 of you.
My sister, Stefanie B will keep me posted if there is anything you need. Please know there is a community out here loving & praying for you.
I am so sorry. This wasn't the answer to my prayers, but I trust God knows what's best. Know that your sweet Anna is now safe in God's arms. She's fine, and thank goodness she had you to love her in her short life. I now I pray for peace and comfort for you.
Susanna in CA
Dear Gooden's,
We are so sorry for your loss. I am so thankful that we were able to meet sweet Anna and be a part of the adoption with you. She was so blessed to have wonderful parents the last ten weeks of her life on Earth. You will see her again. I am sure she will be waiting for you holding Jesus's hand.
You will forever be in our prayers.
In Christ
The Fiorelli Family
from your adoption group
I can not fathom the depths of your hurt but I know our Sovereign God knows your deep sorrow. I pray for your cherished memories of Anna and a testimony that will draw others to our Lord. Your faith is tremendous as evidenced in your heartfelt words. May He continue to be glorified through your family.
Beth (TX)
AWAA WC Family
Jo and Tony ~ I am so, so sorry for your loss. We are praying for you here in San Antonio. When I found out that your sweet little Anna had gone to be with Jesus, my mind went to a picture of her playing in heaven with Maria Sue Chapman and the sweet little baby boy my sister lost this year. Can't wait for the day when I see you holding and playing with your sweet Anna again.
Jo, Tony and Grace,
Our hearts are aching for you all. We cannot begin to know God's plan or question HIS perfect plan; even as it grieves your hearts. He is an amazing god and offers you comfort every time you turn to Him. Isaiah 40:29-31 states how God will renew you.
I'm so sorry we didn't get to meet Anna, but so enjoyed our long telephone talks when you detailed all of her antics. You all gave Anna the BEST 10 weeks of her life, with more love, compassion, and spiritual guidance than the first 31 months of her life could have offered. As Anna is your angel, the you are Anna's angels.
May God's angel rest peacefully, comfortably, and joyfully in His arms eternally.
Love you,
Celia, OJ, Jasper and Delaney Grace
Dear Gooden family
We are an AWAA family in Chandler, AZ that has been so touched by Anna's story. Thank you for your inspiring words of strength and faith.
Christ is our comfort and we pray that his comfort overflows in your families hearts today.
I am so very sorry for your family's loss. I pray that the Lord will hold you all in His mighty hand and cloak you in His peace.
Lori Burton
Home wih our ds thru AWAA 4-2008
We are another AWAA waiting family. We brought our Anna home from China two years ago. We are praying for you as you face the mountain you spoke of in your note. May our Merciful and Mighty Father hold you tenderly in the days ahead. As you grieve your loss, I pray that you would always remember the joy that Anna brought to you and that you brought to Anna's life. Kristine
I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. I just learned about Anna tonight in checking our FCC yahoo group. My daughter and I had our Forever Family Day two months ago, so I can only imagine your immense loss. I will be praying for you to continue to feel His comforting hand upholding you as you grieve and also as you try to be strong for your other daughter.
Jill
Jo
We have never met, but share a bond now...the loss of a precious child. Reading your post brought me to tears. I to was able to hold my little girl as she took her last breaths and joined God. Please oh please know that I am thinking of you and if you EVER need to "chat" PLEASE email me. God Bless you and I know Anna is being cared for by God and all of his angel babies. Oh the fun they are having. Even though we still hurt, we know GOD is good. Lifting you up.
Kathy T
Anchorage AK
ktatakis@gci.net
Joann, Tony and Grace,
We sure miss you here in VA. We rejoiced when you were able to go to China and get Anna. She has been so blessed these plast few months to know such love that you were able to give her. I am sure she was a joy to you also.
I watched my sister go through the death of her daughter and know the depth of the pain. I will pray for you and my thoughts and love is with you daily.
Love you guys.
Cheryl and Michael in VA
Jo,
Your sisters in CBS have been and will continue to lift you and your family before the Father. Anna's precious body has been perfectly healed and she is with the One who loves her most. Our hearts are crushed that her time with you was so brief, but we are so thankful for His peace that passes all understanding. May He pour it out in abundance on you in the days ahead. Please know that we are here for you.
In Him,
Cindy Chamberlain
I am so very sorry about your loss. I just found your site and then to read this news pains my heart. May The God you serve be with you and sustain you in this time of grief. May His light lead you and your family through this dark valley that you find yourselves in today. Please know that I am praying for you and especially for Grace as she deals with the going home of Anna. Words can not do justice to the sorrow I feel for you and your family at this time. God grant you peace and know that one day you will see Anna again. Yours in Christ Sue Jolly from Kentucky
Oh we are praying for you and your little Grace as you say goodbye to your sweet Grace. May God comfort you with his love and peace.
Jill K in OHio
from LCC
There are no appropriate words. I am so very sorry. I am praying for your family during this difficult time.
Blessings,
Mommy
Your family is on our hearts and minds and in our prayers. May you be blessed with peace and grace during this time of loss.
I am so sorry for your loss. Anna was blessed to have a family who loved her so much, as she was such a blessing to everyone who knew her.
Your family is in our thoughts and prayers.
Denise, Jason and Emma Grace Qi Hicks
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