Today was one of those days that reminds you just how much faith, love, and a little bit of creativity can change the course of even the most ordinary hospital visit. For Jude, an MRI that could have been stressful, stressful, and exhausting became, instead, a moment of grace and unexpected joy.
When we arrived at the hospital, Jude was asleep—a blessing, because MRIs require absolute stillness. I breathed a sigh of relief, imagining a smooth scan and a quiet hour in the machine. But, as any parent of a spirited child knows, moments of hope can be fleeting. No sooner had we wheeled him into the MRI room than Jude was wide awake, full of energy, smiling, laughing, and turning his head from side to side as if he were performing for an audience. The nurses couldn’t help but laugh, and I knew immediately: he was showing off.
The MRI staff, sensing the challenge ahead, asked if music might help. I panicked for a split second, thinking, “Of course it would—if only we had my phone!” Then I learned something wonderful: they could play it on their own speaker in the room. A simple solution that I hadn’t even considered. When the technician asked what to play, I whispered, “Kari Jobe,” and as the first notes of worship music filled the room, something miraculous happened.
Jude, who had been wide-eyed and playful moments before, slowly relaxed. The familiar melodies seemed to wrap around him like a gentle blanket. His eyes grew heavy. His little body, which had been twisting, laughing, and moving with endless energy, finally softened. Sweet Jude fell into a deep, peaceful sleep, breathing calmly as the MRI machine hummed and clicked around him. The scans were completed without incident, every image captured exactly as the doctors needed.
Watching him sleep, listening to the music that brought such calm, I couldn’t help but feel the power of faith and prayer. Kari Jobe’s worship music, a voice many have turned to in moments of hope and healing, provided the peace Jude needed to do something that could have been stressful or even frightening. It was a reminder that sometimes, solutions come in ways we never expect—through the gentle strum of a guitar, the soft rise of a melody, or the comfort of a familiar song.
Now, we wait. We wait for the radiologist, the orthopedic surgeon, and the neurosurgeon to review the images and give us their insights. There is always that delicate mix of hope and anxiety that comes with waiting for results. But even in that uncertainty, today has reminded us of so much: of Jude’s resilience, his capacity to find joy even in unfamiliar places, and the way little miracles—like music—can create calm in chaos.
Jude’s hospital gown, slightly oversized and soft against his skin, became a symbol of vulnerability and bravery. In it, he lay peacefully, a little warrior who had faced the MRI with courage far beyond his years. Every smile, every tiny movement, every laugh before he drifted off was a testament to his spirit—strong, playful, and unbroken.
And through it all, we are reminded of the community that surrounds us. Every prayer, every message, every word of encouragement has carried us through moments like today. Knowing that friends, family, and even strangers are holding Jude in their hearts makes the waiting easier, the hope brighter, and the gratitude deeper. Today was proof that we are not alone in this journey, and that every act of love, every whispered prayer, contributes to the strength we need to keep going.
As we leave the hospital, photographs in hand, capturing Jude in his little gown, I can’t help but marvel at how resilient children are—and how faith, trust, and the smallest comforts can change everything. It was just a hospital visit, just an MRI, and yet it felt monumental. It was a day that blended stress, anticipation, prayer, and grace into something beautiful.
So now we wait for the doctors’ insights, holding onto the hope that comes from witnessing our child’s courage, the power of music, and the quiet miracles that happen when faith meets need. Jude reminded us today that even in hospital gowns, in the midst of beeping machines and clinical corridors, life—and faith—can be extraordinary.
Keep the prayers coming. Hold hope close. Celebrate the small victories. Because sometimes, courage and miracles come in the form of a little boy, worship music, and a peaceful nap in the middle of an MRI machine.
