With great sadness and sorrow I share this
On Wednesday May 24th around 5:45pm we unexpectedly lost our baby girl, Torah. I found her unresponsive after trying to wake her from a nap. We immediately administered CPR, as did the medics when they arrived on scene, but we were not able to resuscitate her.
She was only two months and eight days old. We are still in utter shock and disbelief.
Our hearts ache and hurt with the deepest of pain we have ever felt. There have been moments, minutes, and hours of pure agony; tears that seemingly flood our eyes without ceasing. Shaun and I hurt for each other and for each one of our children.
This is the hardest thing we’ve ever had to face as a family. We’ve been clinging to God for strength and comfort; and, through it all we’re seeing His faithfulness.
His faithfulness has been made alive through His words:
“He is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalms 34:18
“A shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.”
Isaiah 32:2
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Matthew 5:4
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
II Corinthians 12:9
As much as we don’t understand many things about losing Torah, there are a few things we are being reassured of:
God is the author of our story.
Torah was and is His.
He allowed us to have her for 2 months and 8 days… which was a genuine gift to us.
If He so willed He could have kept her, saved her, or even resurrected her, but He didn’t.
And although He didn’t; He is still good; He is still sovereign; He is still all powerful; and He is still worthy of our praise.
Torah’s life was short, and yet, still so purposeful. Every hair on her head, numbered. Every thought in her mind, known. Not a day went by without the watchful eye of the Father.
She was, flawlessly loved by a sovereign God who sees it all. Seventy days He sustained and orchestrated every second and minute of her life. Not one day unaccounted for. Her life and death, uniquely designed by the creator of the universe, solely for His glory.
And yet, although we know and believe this, if we could have written Torah’s life and death story differently we would have.
We would have made sure she had:
her first steps,
spoke her first words,
celebrated every birthday,
played with her brothers and sisters,
made great friends,
be walked down the aisle by her dad
…and one day even become a mother of her own.
As we looked at our daughter and dreamed of her life, this is what we imagined.
We never imagined her life wouldn’t fill the pages. While we knew it was a possibility, we never fully considered that the Father could be writing something so different, and nevertheless, He was.
We’ve come to understand that God’s stories are not only written for one family or one child, but instead written for the lives of all of His children.
Lives, that somehow, are divinely intertwined. Lives that strangely intersect, and at each point of intersection, opportunity arises — for life to be found and given.
An opportunity for one of God’s hurting, broken, or lost children to return home.
At these intersections, at times, we must face the unfathomable — sometimes in the form of trials, pain, suffering and even death.
And, if we say as the Savior said, “If this cup can pass from me let it pass but if it cannot then nevertheless let your will be done.”
Then, He will be glorified.
As we now stand at this intersection broken as a family, we’ve come to agree with God’s story for Torah’s short life and tragic death.
Torah means arrow, and she was an arrow for God’s Glory. Even through her death He will be glorified. We long for the day to see her again, but until then we will continue to proclaim His story as our own.
For now, we will keep reminding each other everyday that, “Heaven is our true home and we’ll see her again there; where they’ll be no more death, no more pain, and no more sorrow nor tears.”
Torah Glory Joy 
May our lords loving hands of healing be with all of you today and in the days to come. You are not alone. We as a community mourn with you and fall into faith proclaiming god grace and glory. Mother to mother grace be in your heart as you prepare and reflect in the days to come. There are no words in the loss of a child, only faith, only love and only joy. Gods grace always. Thank you for sharing Torah with us all and her story for it. It fall in the deaf but definitely on the faithful. 🙏🏾
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Val and Shaun,
Thank you for sharing your testimony. Even through this trial, your faith in God and in His sovereign plan is a testimony in what you believe the Scriptures tell us. I will continue to pray for you two and for your children.
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I’m so very sorry to hear but very inspired by your strenght through this difficult time. I’ll say a prayer for your family as soon as I’m done typing. May God bless you all.
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Love you all so much,praying every single day for strength every moment that goes by.
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Val,
I am heartbroken for you and yours. God is perfect, and wise, and all knowing….you are so right. However, I am certain that this loss is too much at times. My family will continue to pray for your family. We will pray for peace, strength, and closeness to Jesus, who loves you more than you can imagine. MUCH LOVE. Le
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i don’t have the right words. My heart is so sad. I cannot fathom the pain. And your incredible faith. Val, you’ve always kept your eyes fixed on Jesus. It’s absolutely beautiful. I cannot imagine what your heart feels. What your kids feel. The depths of the pain. Praying for you all daily. Knowing that those scriptures will prove true over and over and over again. Knowing that one day every tear will be wiped away! No more pain or sadness.
I cannot wait to meet Torah in heaven.
Love you all so much
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Val and Shawn…….we will cover all of you in prayer. I’m so so utterly sorry for your loss.
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My sweet Mama Valarie and Shaun. When I heard about Torah Glory Joy I could only imagine the pain you felt in your heart. I know that you both are amazing parents and love your children with so much love and caring. Then I pondered and prayed for your lost of apart of your hearts. I couldn’t help but recall for such a time as this. The book of Esther. Torah Glory Joy was A chosen precious gift. She was molded in your perfect womb where she would grow following other brothers and sisters. She would be nurtured by a tender mom and dad and heard the voices of many family members that woul d love her the minute she arrived. Her very special 70 days were truly special for the purpose God wanted. She was ever present for your 15 year Anniversary . A day where you would only have chosen a special audience to be present to review what Love started and has grown to this day. God tells us that our children are a gift from him. We never know for how long we will have them. As you shared in your blog we as parents have dreams and hopes for our children . And at the end it’s God who knows the time he has given us to be here on this earth. I didn’t meet Torah Glory Joy in person but I truly can tell she was a diamond given to shine every so brightly to a very special family. She will continue to shine everyday through the love she brought into the family and friends. A star she will always be .Till you all meet her again in heaven. 😇🌟
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Sending Prayers to the Lord for you and the family.
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My heart is broken into a million pieces for your loss. Gods ultimate plan will be seen in full glory when we go to be with God s grace. I know Torah is sitting on Gods lap enjoying his loving arms wrapped around her.
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Our hearts and prayers are with you and yours.
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Such a beautiful tribute to your daughter. . So bravely sharing your unbearable sorrow and unbreakable faith. May the Lord God comfort and give you peace
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Our thoughts and prayers are with you!
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My heart and prayers overflow for your family. I don’t know you or you family personally. I’m an old school friend of the Hunt ladies. And that’s how I came across your precious girl’s story. I lost my mom a short 3 months ago suddenly. I understand the sense of shock and unimaginable pain that grief brings. I have felt no comfort, no peace and no sense of the Lord’s presence. Until I read your story. While we can’t explain why this pain comes to us, we can know the hand of God is in all things. We can bless His name though we cannot comprehend the reason. I had forgotten… In my grief I was drowning buy through your strength I have reached for a lifeline. Thank you for sharing your precious daughter’s story. She has touched my life through you. May the Lord bless and comfort y’all as only He can.
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Dear Shaun, Valerie and beautiful children,
We are shocked and saddened by this news and are praying for you. May each one of you know the Comforter and His great grace and power in this time of great pain. We love you and believe that your Jehovah Rapha will do a thorough work in each of your hearts.
Big, big hugs,
Tracey and Nathalie Armstrong & kids.
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Our thoughts and prayers are with you. May God Comfort and keep your family close.
(Friends of McSellers’ Family)
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God thank you for giving this family the strength and resortration to be who you have called them to be. Bless them with your unconditonal love, peace, joy, rightousness, and resortration. Lord you are their everything. May they be abundant blessed go in and coming out. Meet their every need. Amen
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I can imagine the grief you are experiencing. I’ve been through it with the loss of my son and, later, the loss of my daughter, both due to accidents, unexpected and sudden.
I am praying for you and your family as God takes you through this. He truly is faithful and he will guide you and comfort you as he walks with you. May our Lord, whom we serve, continue to bless you with his grace and peace. Amen.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” (2 Cor. 3-5)
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose”. (Ro. 8-28)
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Tears falling down my face as I read this testimony of your family. You are experiencing the greatest grief possible and still giving God the glory through it all. Even though I never knew your precious Torah, I can see her through you. Prayers for you and your sweet family.
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Hi Val,
It’s Sheri from CFC. I’m so very sorry for your loss! Kevin and I lost our daughter a few years ago, and I understand some of the pain you are experiencing. I want you to know that we are praying for you and your family, and I would like to share some resources that may be helpful to all of you in the days to come. You are not alone in this terrible journey.
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Words cannot express how sorry we are for your loss. As I told Heather, I am in awe of your faith during this time. Our family is keeping you all in our prayers.
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Val while I cannot say I feel the pain of you and Sean. After only spending a few hours with you guys felt like a few days as you opened your home and your hearts to my husband and I. In that short time I know your home is filled with God’s love and care no matter how deep your pain is now. He will see you through this season just as you will see your children through their seasons doing all you can to comfort them. God is our Father and He loves us just as much as you love your children. I would like you to know I feel sadness in my heart and I didn’t even get to meet Torah. Hold on to the beautiful moments you had with Torah and the faithfulness of God. One day those memories will bring you joy, not pain. This is the promise of God “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4), Psalm 147:3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
These things I pray for your family in the name of Jesus amen.
Beverly King-Koger / McSellers momz
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Reblogged this on McSellers Thought Of The Day and commented:
*Please take a moment to read… the blog below…It’s powerful….. thought provoking and life changing..
In the midst of pain and hurt we sometimes just don’t understand why things happen but we must know there’s comforter in Jesus who’s waiting to walk with us through it all but that’s not all. He’s willing to carry the burden and load because he knows we can’t carry it alone. Yesterday Shaun said something that’s so true. Death is so difficult because that was never the original design or plan at the beginning of the creation of the world. Now there using their tragedy to bring others closer to and in relationship with the creator… Continue to pray for this family as they share their faith and strength through this difficult trial.
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I’m so deeply sorry for your loss and offer prayer of
Condolences to you and your beautiful family. God bless you and your amazing family..
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Thank you for sharing this, and for pointing me to my Savior. What a beautiful testament to the Lord through Torah’s 70 days on earth. I can’t imagine the courage it took to write this. My husband and I lost our 2 month old daughter in 2014, so reading this has been a blessing of rememberance and an opportunity to specifically know how to pray for your family. I’m so sorry. And I know you’re sweet Torah is made whole and complete. I trust that she’s met our sweet Selah. You have a beautiful family.
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I am so very sorry for your loss. There are no words…When you need to know you that you are not alone, I write about the loss of our sweet baby boy and finding faith through it at redvinespirituality.com. You will be in my prayers, sweet friend.
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The rocks remain, and will forever remain silent.
The shouts of the glory of God ring loudly as an unbeliever today was able to hear of His glory because of the life of Torah.
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