Facebook likes to resurrect past posts and a lot of times for me they are really inconsequential things. Seriously. Why did I think that was worth posting? Then other times, they stop me in my tracks and knock the wind right out of me.
Last week, Facebook resurrected such a memory from last year. Only 365 days ago, but in ways it seems like a lifetime has passed. I opened the notification and saw a picture of Caroline holding her brand new Minnie Mouse, beaming at her with wonderment. I instantly recognized that moment.
We had just been to Dallas for our first consult with our new neurosurgeon, Dr. Sacco. Last year, I had just met the man who would later save my daughter's life. My first impression? He seemed knowledgable and nice enough, though a bit arrogant, but what good surgeon isn't at least a little aware of his or her abilities? He spent a lot of time with us explaining every detail of her MRI, and confirmed that my intuitions were right. Caroline did indeed have hydrocephalus, and if left untreated, she would suffer permanent brain damage and eventually death. Time was of the essence. The affirmation that my gut had served us well was mixed with feelings of regret for not acting sooner, anger at ACH, and this overwhelming fear of the impact this would have on Caroline's future.
So what can happen in a year?
Fast-forward 365 days and here we are leaving physical therapy. Caroline walks down the hallway, by herself, out the front door, down the ramp, and holds my hand as we cross the parking lot. That seems pretty normal for a 2 year old, but 365 days ago, Caroline was immobile. She could sit up without support but she couldn't even crawl, let alone walk.
If you have asked me a specific request you could pray about, you know I asked you to pray that Caroline would become a little more independent before Andrew arrives. Well, I am happy to say that Caroline now, for the most part anyway, wants to walk. Until the past 2 months, she could walk but didn't really want to do so. We all know too well the difference between the ability to do something and the desire to actually do something, right? Ahem, like exercise, eating right…for some of us. All I'm saying is come delivery day, I'll need to be living off of cucumbers, pushups, and prayers.
Anyway, your prayers came answered wrapped in a package I was not expecting. God likes to do that though. We make plans and He changes things up a bit. See, this summer has been huge for Caroline and I. She started going to TLC, the Mother's Day Out program, at First United Methodist Church, and has absolutely thrived. I really didn't plan on enrolling her in anything like that until she was at least 3, but after a lot of prayer and encouragement, I took the plunge. The first day was hard. Caroline cried when I left so I hovered in the hallway, out of her sight, hoping to hear her calm down before I left. No such luck. She seemed to cry harder which in turn made me cry. Not wanting to draw attention to myself, the hugely pregnant, crying woman, I made a quick exit. I got a call from TLC about an hour later. I panicked thinking she was still upset and I needed to come get her right away. Instead, I heard about how great she was doing. Since then, she has not shed a single tear when I've dropped her off. If we even drive by the church, she kicks her legs and squeals with delight, wanting to go to "school." She loves Miss Denise and Miss Kristen and all of the kids in her class. Being there has been the best therapy for her. Seeing people her size doing things like walking, running, talking, has instilled this confidence in herself and her abilities. So, thank you for praying and thank you, TLC, for being the vessel.
We still have a long journey ahead, but we've come a long way in just 1 year. Last week, I met with our early childhood intervention specialist with DHS. She helps coordinate all of Caroline't therapies, and we were both amazed at the progress she has made. We are even able to drop one of the therapies, and it is our goal to drop 2 more by the end of the school year!
I don't share all of this with you seeking praise, for it is certainly nothing I have done. I share so that you may have confident hope that whatever you may be facing this year, God can turn it around.
"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."
-Romans 15:13
