Sunday, June 01, 2008

this bitter pill

Most days, we totally forget that we're the parents of a special needs, developmentally challenged child. It even takes some effort to remember that something horrible happened to this little girl. But a recent doctor visit stirred up latent sadness.

Allie's doctor, the one who supervises the physical therapy unit, comes up from the San Fransisco area every six months to meet with patients and their families here in the remote Redwoods region. During his visit on Thursday, he expressed grave concern for Allie because she has been so slow to sit or crawl. He ended the appointment early so I could take Allie to have her hips x-rayed. The x-rays show that her hips are severely turned. One side is worse than the other, but the doctor is concerned that Allie may not be able to walk without a series of surgeries.

Here's the thing I've learned about the way a child develops: a child is not born with hips fully formed. The child's hips finish forming as the she grows and walks. In Allie's case, her brain injury has prevented proper use of her hips and legs and, thus, her hips are growing in a way that is not useful, in fact, could become painful. "Use it or lose it" definitely applies when it comes to proper child development and growth.

I told my dad this news. The cool thing about my dad is that ever since I was a little kid he's always encouraged me to look for the up-side in bad news. As he tried with this news, he couldn't. He said with emotion straining his voice, "I'm sorry, son, I can't think of the up-side."

I said, "Dad, Allie is the up-side."

9 comments:

Mike West said...

Your answer speaks volumes.
Maybe consider a second opinion? Gotcha in prayer....

Bryonm said...

we're workin' on the second opinion. this is a state adoption so we have hoops to jump through...

Anonymous said...

Oh, my God in heaven. Thank you so much for Allie, for the joy she brings to her family and, through this blog, to so many people who have never seen her in 3-D. You formed Allie in her mommy's womb, and You have been with her every moment of every day.

We know You have the power to place Your healing hand on her body and fix those little hips. But we also have seen that, for whatever reason or reasons, You have not seen fit to repair all the damage that was done to her, through Your power, alone. You have another plan.

So, Father, please give great wisdom to Bryon and Susan and to the doctors and caregivers who work with Allie. And grant Your servants Your peace, that peace that only Your Son Jesus can give. For we pray in His name, amen.

Bryonm said...

thanks for that, vicki...

Mary Gerber said...

looks like we will have to pray all that much harder for her.

Anonymous said...

Bryon: God has a plan for Allie and He will bring it to pass. We continue to pray for her...and for you all.

Anonymous said...

God is doing amazing things beyond the physical and including the physical and He's not done yet. The hips may not be growing right, but the love sure is. We'll be praying. Great pictures! She is amazing.

Bryonm said...

thanks, jody...

Kat said...

LOVE this verse and I wanted to share it in case God wanted me to and it wasn't just 'me'.
Jude 1:24-25- 24-To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25-to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.