Experience the Miracle! Memorial for Nikita Graham

Recognizing the Miracle!

Nikita was diagnosed with a severe case of asthma at a young age. She knew how to manage it. She knew when to use her inhaler, when to use her nebulizer and when to go to the emergency room. In 2015, she suffered a severe asthma attack and was intubated and put into an induced coma for 1 week. Nikita was a very strong willed woman with a fighter spirit.  So it was no surprise to her family and friends that after that 1 week, she regained consciousness and recovered.

I wish I could say we experienced the same outcome on the early morning of Monday, January 14, 2019.  It was around 1:00am when Nikita began to experience shortness of breath. In her usual formality, she laid on her bed with her head elevated on pillows and put on her nebulizer.  She proceeded to settle in a calm state to allow her lungs to take in the medication.  As her husband, Bryce, sat bedside, he noticed that her breathing wasn’t getting better and Nikita began panicking, so in his swiftness he called 9-1-1.  Honolulu Fire Department were the first to respond.  They were familiar with Nikita and her condition, they’ve been there before.  As the fire fighter immediately picked her up and rushed her downstairs, she shouted to her husband “keep praying”, seconds later, she lost consciousness.  Without realizing it, those would be the last words he would hear his wife say.

Bryce & Nikita met at a young age while attending Roosevelt High School, they were high school sweethearts.  They instantly connected and feel deeply in love.  They were well known amongst family and friends as “Bryce & Nikita” – you would never see one without seeing the other.  5 years into the relationship, they had their oldest son, Chauncey.  4 years afterwards, they had their second son, Caleb.  On February 14, 2011, Valentine’s Day, they got married.

This year, 2019, Bryce & Nikita would’ve celebrated their 8th wedding anniversary and 18 years together.

As many couples experience, Bryce & Nikita ran into their fair share of marital struggles.  Nikita continued to make adjustments in her life to strengthen her marriage.  She knew that Bryce was the love of her life.  The only man for her.  After many attempts to fight for her marriage and strengthen her household, she realized, she needed help.  Nikita & Bryce were asked to attend an Easter Production at Word of Life Christian Center in Honolulu, by close friends who were invited and didn’t want to go alone.  Bryce & Nikita decided to support their friends and attend.

As Nikita sat in her seat, with the intention of being a supportive friend, the Pastor ministered and the production began.  As she watched the re-enactment of the crucifixion, tears began to flow down her face.  What was happening?  She wasn’t there for herself.  She was supporting a friend.  Or so she thought.  When the production ended, she walked out of the church doors in tears, she was overwhelmed with God’s love and was determined to come back.  That was March 27, 2016.  From that moment on, she surrendered her life to God and her life was never the same again.  On April 9, 2016, Nikita and her oldest son Chauncey, got Water Baptized and on May 1, 2016, she attended her first encounter.  After that, she was on a mission - Nikita pressed in like no one I have ever seen before. She attended service, life group, classes and volunteered on a consistent level. She was diligent in her devotions every day and continued to bring her friends and family to church. On February 10, 2017, she opened a women’s Life Group in her home, to encourage women in the word of God and share her testimony. 

God restored marriages, households and individuals through Nikita’s willingness to be His vessel.  Through her surrender, God touched many lives.  Lives that are still serving God today.  Marriages that are still strong today.

As the challenges in her marriage increased, her level of prayer and faith increased as well.  She stood on the foundation scripture Joshua 24:15 “As for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord.”  Nikita took hold of that promise and was adamant that her husband will be a man of God and her sons will be the next generation of leaders for Christ.  She would share this to everyone she was around – family, friends, co-workers, strangers, Lol, everyone knew Nikita’s promise from the Lord.  She never wavered or doubted, she was fully persuaded. 

In her continual fight for her promise, her husband received Jesus as his Lord and Savior in July 2018 and was water baptized in December 2018.  It was happening, God’s promise was unfolding right before her eyes. 

As I received the phone call on Monday, January 14, 2019 at 4:23am, it was the phone call that would change my life forever.  “You need to go to the hospital, Nikita had an asthma attack and her heart stopped beating.” That moment when you feel fear and faith battle for your thoughts.  You think back to every single miracle you read in the bible and miracles you've seen in present days; and say to yourself “this is nothing for God”.  Then, you remind yourself that Nikita is different, she’s a fighter, she’ll get through.  Your mind begins to race.  Then, you look at your phone again and you see a missed call from “Nikita Graham at 2:38am”.  Condemnation quickly begins to makes its way in and you have to combat it immediately because your faith cannot be tampered.

As I continued to pray alongside her husband, Pastors, leaders and family members.  I felt very strongly that God would produce a miracle.  I saw her walking out of that hospital, better than ever.  I was confident.  My faith was high, I wasn’t shaken and I never doubted.  As Nikita’s husband, still a new Christian, began to activate his faith, I saw him do things he never did before.  He prayed out loud using his authority to bring healing to his wife. When people would come in the room crying and devastated, he would say “no, no, it’s ok, no crying, stay in faith.” When the reports began to worsen, he encouraged his children and family members that God is good and He is in control. 

After the third day of praying and believing God for a miracle, the moment arrived when the final report came and we all stood together, surrounding Nikita's bedside, in hopes that our miracle was about to be revealed.  As the doctor, with all compassion, begins to read the results, you realize what is being shared and your body becomes numb, words become muffled and all you hear is "I'm so sorry".  An overwhelming feeling of pain and heartache fills the room like a flood.  With tears running down his face, Bryce slowly turns around and walks towards the window of the hospital room, looked up to the heavens and cries out to God, “God help me. You need to help me God, please.”  As he cried out to God, he saw Nikita’s journal on the window sill.  At that moment, he opened it and began to read her last journal entry from church on Sunday, January 13, 2019 and what he found written in her journal was nothing short of immediate comfort and peace.

“Your vision is your future.  The sacrifices you make today, determines your future.  When you love freely, you give wholly.  Together, we will change the future.” Nikita Graham

Shortly after, with the support of family, Pastors and Godly leadership in the room, Bryce shared with Chauncey and Caleb that “Mommy is going to be with Jesus now, she’s on her way to heaven.”  As Chauncey fell into his father’s chest and Caleb stood there staring at his mom with tears running down his face, Bryce embraced his boys with the love of God and encouraged them that they will continue mom’s legacy.

The moment of releasing his wife to the Lord was at hand.  He leaned over, as his face was close to hers, in a subtle voice, he said “I love you baby, thank you for everything you have done for me and our boys.  Thank you for being a good wife to me and mother to Chauncey and Caleb. I promise to be the man of God who always knew I could be, I promise to raise the boys to serve God, like you taught them.  I release you to the Lord baby; go be with Jesus.  I love you.”   

Shortly after, Nikita took her last breath on earth and went to be with the Lord on Thursday, January 17, 2019.

As I am watching all of this unfold, I realize in that moment, God did indeed, give us a miracle.  It just wasn’t the miracle we thought it would be.  I walked closely with Nikita since she received Jesus in her heart in 2016.  We both stood in faith for her promise, even when things didn’t look good, we continued to fight for her husband and children.  To see her husband, rise up and take his Godly position cannot be explained in any other way but a MIRACLE from God!  Nikita did it.  She accomplished exactly what she said she would.  The miracle wasn’t her healing; the miracle was her husband! 

I am humbly asking for your prayers and support for Bryce, Chauncey & Caleb.  If you feel it on your heart to support financially, please do so.  This is sudden and we want to help Nikita’s family pay for medical costs and funeral expenses.  Any amount would be much appreciated.

Mahalo Nui Loa,
Samantha M. DeCorte
Nikita’s Sister-In-Christ & Life Group Leader