#MyPandemicStory: How God reconnected me with a lost loved one

By Vanessa May 

Shortly after the COVID-19 crisis began I called my older friend Milly and left her messages, but did not hear back. I started to worry Milly, at 86, had contracted the virus and passed away -- and no one thought to let me know.

Milly lives in a nursing home near Dallas, Texas -- but I live in Des Moines, Iowa, so we stayed in touch with our cell phones. I have known Milly literally all my life. Since my mother passed, Milly has been a mother-figure to me and we have fun, sweet conversations on the phone about grandchildren.

Milly is prone to falls, so I tried to call often. The last time I talked to her was after a fall, she was very confused and crying throughout the call.

In June 2020, I tried to reach Milly but couldn’t get through. Then I tried Milly’s daughter, but her number had changed. I was becoming despondent thinking that I had missed an opportunity to tell Millie I loved her once again. I did what she and I do frequently -- pray. 

I asked God to let me know how she was, either way.

Reconnecting: Divine intervention

On this particular day, I was contemplating calling Millie’s nursing home to see if they would at least give me Milly’s son’s number. I wanted to know she was OK.

My husband and I have home-based businesses with two landlines used mainly for faxing, which, up until a couple of days earlier, were not working after a storm. Once the lines were fixed, there were dozens of messages that I had not yet heard.

Most of the calls are telemarketers, so I tend to put off listening to them -- I clear them when I think of it. 

When I looked at the blinking lights this time, I thought: “I will check them after I get back from the post office.” 

Then one of the phone lines rang. I decided not to pick it up -- until I noticed the number on the caller ID had an area code that looked familiar. 

A thought went through my mind: “Answer it!” So I did, hesitantly. I was dreading the telemarketer’s typical “Do not hang up!....” spiel. 

Then I heard a familiar voice say, “Vanessa?”

It was Milly! 

I was flooded with relief. She was OK!

Millie was asking if she had the right number, which I confirmed it was, and then she said something to someone on her end and asked if she could call me back.

I panicked a little, but then realized I had her new number on caller ID.

After quite a while, she called me back. She explained that they had moved her to a facility in a different town to recover from her last fall and had put her chair and personal things in storage. 

Her phone was locked up in storage, with all her numbers on it. 

How did she call me, then?

An answered prayer

Milly told her nurse that she needed to call me, but she didn’t have my number and could not remember my married name. She knew I lived in Des Moines with my husband John, however. 

The nurse Googled the name “Vanessa” in Des Moines.

Then she read the Google list to Milly, but Milly did not recognize any names -- until the name of my business popped up.

Milly said: “ Yes! That’s the one!” 

I was amazed! I never talk with Millie about my business, our conversation is usually about Bingo games and funny things grandkids say and do.

Then I thought: “Man, it’s a good thing I don’t live in New York!”

In that moment, I realized God had orchestrated our connecting. There simply is no other explanation. There were too many variables. There were too many unknowns.  

What I know is that God’s timing is impeccable.  

The phone lines were working, Milly had the right nurse to help her, and I was home and answered a call I normally would send to voicemail. 

I felt renewed in my faith. There is no doubt in my mind that God listens and answers prayers.