Jennifer was amazed the first time she saw snow. She had never seen anything like it growing up in Honduras. She watched the flakes slowly drifting from the sky as she looked out the window of the house in Michigan.

She went outside and marveled at the cold, white substance. She and her older sister, Zeira, built a snowman.

“The first time it snowed I went outside and asked them to take photos,” Jennifer said with a shy smile.

The snow was just one of the amazing, remarkable, miraculous events in the young 12-year-old girl’s life.

Instead of experiencing a Michigan winter she should have been in San Pedro Sula, struggling to breathe at the slightest exertion and trying not to think about the fact that she wasn’t expected to live to see her 21st birthday.

But thanks to answered prayers, Jennifer now is healthy. After receiving an operation made possible by the Children’s Heart Project, she now can dream of the future and look forward to a full life.

Jennifer was born with a heart defect that got progressively worse with age. She would get fatigued walking even short distances, and often was too tired to study and do homework. She could only watch while her classmates played.

“I would get tired when I walked to school,” Jennifer said. “I couldn’t run.”

Jennifer was examined by a pediatric cardiologist who works with Samaritan's Purse when she was 10. She was a candidate to receive an operation through the Children’s Heart Project, the program that identifies children with life-threatening heart disease in countries that lack technology and training and matches them with North American hospitals and surgeons.

Jennifer was put on a waiting list, but a follow-up examination revealed a more serious condition. Her case was considered inoperable.

With heavy hearts, our Honduran staff drove to Jennifer’s home to deliver the bad news.

It was another sad moment in the family’s life. Not only was Jennifer born with the heart defect, but her mother died when she was 8 and she had to move in with Zeira, Zeira’s husband, and their two children.

Zeira and Jennifer cried when they heard the news. But despite the prognosis, they weren’t ready to give up.

“I said OK, we are going to leave this in the hands of God and ask Him for a miracle,” said Zeira, who is 22.

The Children’s Heart Project staff in Honduras and at the Samaritan's Purse international headquarters in Boone, N.C., also were praying for the miracle. God answered when a hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, agreed to take the case.

“When Samaritan's Purse called and gave her the good news—I can’t forget the date, February 14—I was grateful to God,” Zeira said.

Jennifer, Zeira, and a translator flew to the United States in September. Although the operation was complicated, doctors were able to repair the heart defect. However, there were post-surgery complications. Jennifer needed two more operations to drain fluids.

It would have been easy to be discouraged but the girls, along with the host family and church, kept praying. Jennifer began to recover, and soon felt strong enough to play in the snow. Another new, marvelous experience was playing games on the Wii, the host’s video game system.

“My favorite was hula hoop,” Jennifer said.

Jennifer returned home in January. She has gained weight and energy. She enjoys riding her bike along the dusty roads outside her home, and playing with her friends at school.

“I’m thankful to be back with my family and have Jennifer healthy,” Zeira said. “She is able to play more. Her appetite has improved a lot.”

Jennifer recently celebrated her 12th birthday. With a repaired heart, she can look forward to many more.

“I know that Jennifer is here because of the will of God,” Zeira said. “After asking for a miracle, I want to keep going to church and dedicate Jennifer’s life to God.”

Samaritan's Purse , Honduras , Children's Heart Project , An Answer to Prayer