Help Kristianne While She Heals

It has been exactly one month and 2 days since my niece, Kristianne "Kris or
Kesha" Aguinaldo was hospitalize due to complications with COVID-19.
Kris initially resisted emergency care but as she turned bluish, her sister Adrienne
defiantly sought the care Kris needed. We did not anticipate the dire events that
followed. 

On January 17th, Alliance Deaconess Hospital took Kris into emergency care.
Upon learning of Kris's conditions, my sister Imelda 'Melle' took the next flight
from Honolulu to Oklahoma the following day to be by her daughter's side.
Unfortunately, hospital visits were not allowed due to COVID-19...only
FaceTime.  

Kris was in high spirits when she FaceTime with her mom on 1/22. She was
hopeful that she could spend her 30th Birthday (just days away) with her family.  
However, as her breathing got harder, Kris became weary and overcome with
sadness.   On 1/25, she was medically induced into a coma and put on a
ventilator. Her doctors said that she was not maintaining good oxygen levels and a coma was necessary to allow proper blood flow to her lungs and organs.  
Gripped by fear, our hearts broke a million times. No words could possibly
describe our helpless desperation.  Such anguish to see a loved one suffering and
there is nothing you can do to help them.  Sadly, my niece turned 30 years old the next day 1/26 with no loved one by her side. COVID is so cruel!!

Doctors said it may take 21-28 days but it's all up to Kris to pull through.  As we
tried to stay optimistic, we thought, 'a coma might be a good thing because her
body is healing in a state of rest and not straining'. Could this possibly be the
worst stage? Not so!  The following day 1/27, doctors said that Kris had become
unstable due to the ventilator failing to meet her needs and her chance of survival was now down to only 10%. Her doctors said her last resort was an
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) machine. This effectively works as an artificial lung or heart and is an advance form of Life Support.  I didn't even
know there was a last resort option after the ventilators. Once hooked up, her
chances of survival increases to 70%. I have done extensive research and have
found many success stories of similar situations. We cling to the blessed hope
that our help comes from our Heavenly Father above. 

We are putting all of our trust, hope and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  We are
confident that He is not done with Kris.  “…being confident of this, that He who
began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ
Jesus”  Philippians 1:6

Kristianne is as precious to me as my own child.   As my niece sleeps, may I share
the person that she is to us. She is most loved and cherished by all whose lives she
touched. Kristianne wears her kind heart on her sleeves. Her genuine smile and
laughter alone could warm the coldest room. Kris is the oldest of 4 beautiful girls born to Pastors Eddie and Imelda Aguinaldo.  Her sisters (Adrienne, Aimee
and Edie) really look up to her as the mature, responsible, loving and God-fearing older sister.  She is a great role-model to them.

Kristianne is blessed with many talents. She is her daddy's spitting image, in both manner and character.  Pastor Eddie taught her all of the instruments in church
and she had become so accomplished with each: drums, guitar, bass, keyboard
and piano and saxophone (from high school). Music alway surrounded her.
Whether in church as a child, in the Marching Band at Moanalua High School or in a Praise and Worship band in college, music was always like breath to her.  
She overcame many obstacles in life, including self-doubt and many failures that 
proved to be life lessons to mature and grow from. She never gave up and has
shown herself to be a mighty warrior for the Lord!

Kris graduated with a bachelor’s degree at Southwestern Christian University in Oklahoma with a full scholarship.  She had just completed her Master’s degree in Theology.  Kris planned to return home to Hawaii later this year to help her
parents with the ministry.  Everything she learned in school would be a valuable
and powerful church-growing asset.  Kris is our Youth Pastor at Light of the
World Ministries. She was excited to start her own music school as we have many underprivileged children in church. She wanted to bless them with the talents
God gave her.  Kris selflessly serves under the Youth Ministry and Praise and
Worship team. Her heart is on full display when she picks-up and drops-off the
kids, she mentors them and often treats them to a meal. Kris is destined to do
great things in this world. We are firmly believing in God’s promises for her life. 

There are favorable improvements with the ECMO treatment. Each day brings 
us more reason to rejoice in what God is doing in the life of Kristianne. We take
every good news with gladness and thanksgiving. God is performing a miracle!  
Her nurses have been generously kind to set up her phone or iPad daily to
connect her to an App called Discord. Family members chime-in to share their
loving thoughts, prayers, scriptures and praise and worship songs to keep Kris's
spirit soaring, even while she sleeps.  Doctors say she can hear us.  On 2/4 Kris
tried to open her eyes for the first time when she heard her mommy's voice. She is still very heavily sedated, but she tries to open her eyes and is able to follow
simple instructions. Her lungs were damaged and doctors say it's a slow healing
process. All other vital organs are intact and unharmed.  It may take weeks or
months before her lungs can do all of the breathing for her. For now, she is still
100% reliant on the ECMO machine. 

I hesitated to do this fundraising, but many people have asked how they can help
and encouraged us to set up this page. In as much as you are able and willing,
please help my niece while she heals. I do not know what the financial landscape
looks like in the coming months.  But I do know that my niece has a very difficult
fight ahead. This will be the biggest and badest battle of her life. It pains me to
think that she will have to relearn much of the skills she has already acquired...all of the instruments she  played. It's daunting!  Others have had to learn to speak,
walk and simply function again. The daily activities we might take for granted will be feats of accomplishments for Kristianne.  She will need much time to focus on healing and recovering 100%. In the wake of this reality, the bills do not stop. She was diligent to pay-off her car, but her house rent, her school loan payments and
other daily expenses will continue. Her parents and sister Edie have also put a
pause on their lives in Hawaii to be in Oklahoma. In the months to follow,
traveling back and forth will be required to ensure Kris gets all the support and
assistance she needs. 

The Aguinaldo family are forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support
that many people have already shown towards them. Kristianne's friends, church, school and work mates have expressed so much generosity and kindness. They
have dropped off food, gift cards, monetary provisions and even a new bed for
Kris's parents. From near and far, many have sent warm get well-wishes and gifts of many kinds.  The Aguinaldo family is so humbled and overjoyed by the love
many people have shown towards their Kristianne.  It is a testament of the kind of  
person Kris was to everyone.  
 
But more precious to us than any material things are all of the prayers people
graciously offer every single day. It is the fuel that keeps the family going. They
draw strength from your prayer to fight back all the doubts and  uncertainties.
Collective prayers give us confidence that God is still and will forever be the
greatest:  "Waymaker, Miracle Worker, Light in the Darkness."  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose. Romans 8:28   We continue to covet your fervent
prayers. Please always remember our Kristianne, that God be merciful towards
her and that He continues all of His amazing miracles of healing over her.

To everyone who took the time to read, made a kind donation and/or said a prayer
and to all of the amazing Front-line workers, this is our thoughts and prayer
for you!

Thank you for your tender care and kindness towards our Kristianne Aguinaldo 
and for all who are suffering in sickness due to COVID-19 and other illnesses.  If it were not for your dedication and commitment to serving others, especially in
their most dire and vulnerable season, our loved ones would not have a chance
for the battle of their life. It is with the deepest of gratitude that we say,
“THANK YOU SO VERY VERY MUCH” for your servant heart.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be
gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace”
Numbers 6:24-26

Mahalo Nui Loa!!
Auntie Hope Cresencia
On behalf of The Aguinaldo Ohana