“You are not forgotten cards” for COVID-19 patients

When a patient is lonely, suffering or in need of prayer, chaplains across Adventist Health in the Central Valley are quick to rush to their bedside to share God’s word. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, the chaplains have found themselves limited to the services they can offer.

“I had a burning desire in my heart to do something for our COVID-19 patients since we’re not going room-to-room, providing visits like we normally would,” says Erika Valenzuela, chaplain for Adventist Health in the Central Valley.

So, Valenzuela reached out to a local design vendor, “Truth and Words,” to have cards created specifically for COVID-19 patients.

“Erika shared with me some of the emotions and issues COVID-19 patients were experiencing, such as isolation, suffering, pain, loneliness and fear,” says Andrea Gruen, owner and CEO of “Truth and Words.” “I took that information back to my office and started to pray, ‘Lord, we have no idea how to meet this need with words and a card, but you do. Show us.’ So, I started to create, hand-letter and place words.”

The end result was a heart-warming card that reads “You are not forgotten” on the front, and on the inside, Psalm 46:1: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help… With love and big hugs, your spiritual care team.

On the very day of receiving the printed cards, Valenzuela received a call from a COVID-19 patient who said she feared dying and was unsure of the purpose God had for her life.

“I listened and ministered to her from scripture,” says Valenzuela. “We ended our conversation with a prayer, and I as soon as I hung up the phone, I took the elevator up to the floor where the patient was receiving care and delivered the ‘You are not forgotten’ card and a sunflower to the nurse to help brighten the patient’s day.”