ABOUT STEVEN
Steven was born July 9, 2002 at the University Hospital in Brussels, Belgium. We were so thrilled with our son; a beautiful, sweet and peaceful baby. Little did we know that less than three years later, our life would turn upside down in the same hospital. On April 25, 2005, we noticed some strange blue marks on Steven’s legs. A trip to the hospital and a blood test revealed he had acute leukemia, cancer of the blood. That day was one of the toughest of our lives.
Steven underwent chemotherapy treatments and during the many hospitalizations, we took turns staying with our little boy. We were amazed at how Steven took it all. Despite the frightening surroundings, the examinations and the side effects from the chemo, he remained a fountain of joy. As he was not feeling too sick, he enjoyed playing with his cars, watercolor painting and would sing “Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so,” at the top of his lungs. During the long days and nights at the child oncology ward, we meditated on the Psalms in the Bible and experienced God’s comfort and deep love. Through the watches of the night, I put several Psalms to music and sang them to our little boy.
For months on end, we battled against the cancer. We celebrated Steven’s third birthday in July. After his third round of chemo, he developed a serious lung infection. In a desperate attempt to help him in his struggle to draw each breath, little Steven was put into a medically induced coma, connected to a respirator and given loads of medication. Exhausting and stressful days followed at the ICU as Steven struggled from one extreme and severe complication to another. Days became weeks. Moment by moment, we clung to the Lord for strength and comfort. Sitting at Steven’s bedside, we talked to him, gently sang to him and caressed his little arms and legs, reaching out to him through the coma’s thick fog.
After 40 heartbreaking days at the ICU, our little warrior died in our arms on September 27, 2005. Out of our broken hearts and through our tears, we thanked God for the wonderful son He gave us and then took home to Himself. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent (John 17:3). Jesus said: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).
Our desire is that, as you listen to these Psalms, you will draw closer to the Father heart of God and experience a fresh encounter with the Lord Jesus so that you too can be assured of eternal life and may experience the love, peace, comfort and healing grace of God.
Jo & Kristien Rocha
Grateful parents of Adrian, Steven, Klara and Lisa