If you have read my book, Ava’s Story, you know Dr. Li Ern Chen.  She is an amazing person, surgeon and friend.  Li Ern is a photographer by hobby, capturing nature in the most beautiful ways.  For the last year she planned and hosted a fundraiser in which she sold her photos on canvas at The Kodner Gallery in St Louis.  Li Ern attended medical school and did her fellowship at Washington University St. Louis and one of her mentors, Dr. Kodner, owns the museum and also raises orchids in his greenhouse.  Many of her pictures were of his orchids and the fundraiser, ‘Through the Eye of a Surgeon’ benefited HateBrakers.  HateBrakers is a St. Louis-based non profit organization geared towards ending the hate-breeds-hate cycle through education, awareness and story sharing.  Todd and I decided to surprise Li Ern and attend her charity event.

Li Ern was at the front desk greeting her guests.  She was definitely surprised to see us!  We walked downstairs where her art was featured and admired her work as we mingled with Li Ern’s colleagues, friends and family.  Another one of Ava’s surgeons, Dr. Anne Fisher, walked up and gave us a big hug.  She has since moved from Children’s Medical Center in Dallas to Beaumont Children’s Hospital in Michigan where she is the Surgeon-in-Chief.  We told her all about Jackson and that we had faced CDH again.  As we were all catching up I began to see people hang tags with their names indicating that picture was purchased.  I was happy to see all the people supporting Li Ern and HateBrakers.

Todd and I were browsing Li Ern’s gallery and I thought I would pick one out as inspiration for redecorating my office.  One had initially caught my eye; Li Ern had captured a beautiful white orchid with deep purple, inner petals.  The flower was cropped up close and you could feel the soft texture of the flower with your eyes.  Todd pointed out a few other pictures that were just as stunning; it was so hard to decide.  However, I was still drawn to the white and purple orchid.  Todd said, “it’s your office, get the one you want!”  I didn’t realize each pictured was numbered with a small, indiscrete white sticker next to each canvas.  He asked me what number mine was so I walked towards it to look closely and as I viewed the number, the breathe escaped my lungs and my eyes filled with tears.  I looked at Todd as a tear ran down my face and he automatically knew it was number 47.  I gazed back at the picture and said a little prayer of thanks to God for revealing his miracles so graciously to me.  A few minutes later Todd handed me a tag that said, #47 Dickerson.  I proudly draped it over the picture.  I couldn’t wait to tell Li Ern!  By the time we left, most of her pictures had sold.  It was an amazing afternoon.

That evening we waited for our cab to take us to dinner.  A couple was waiting with us and the dad proudly told us he was on his way to his only daughter’s wedding.  We told him where our recommended dinner reservations were taking us and he said, “you have to go to Dominic’s on the hill. It’s the most romantic and best Italian in St. Louis.”  So, we changed course and headed to Dominic’s.  The Maitre D sat Todd and I at a cozy, candle-lit table in the corner.  “Your waitress for the evening will be right with you.  Her name is Ava.”

We landed the next evening just as the sun was setting.  There were storm clouds in the distance and guess what I saw as I looked out of the plane window?  A beautiful rainbow desending from heaven.  I was overwhelmed with peace and happiness.  It was the perfect ending to an extraordinary trip.

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