Sunday, May 13, 2007

My Girls

Aaron's home for a short time. Monday he leaves on a trip with the crew from Class One of Patmos Reality Discipleship to Morocco. Reunions these days are short lived. I've found it necessary to make the most of the time I have with people. The last few days with my son have been great.

Communication with the charming and beautiful Susan has been limited to text messages and extremely short phone calls while I was in the Bahamas at the Adventure Learning Centre. Being there was therapeutic. Not only was I with Aaron, but I was able to be with friends that have been mentors and given me guidance through my early years in ministry. I saw God's hand divinely arrange things that way.


Even so, I can't stop thinking about my wife and Ali and how that there is where all the action is. The beautiful and charming Susan is in the middle of dealing with social workers and lawyers and un-official in-laws.

But Ali is there. And Charity. And, as of last night, my sister. They're there. And three thousand and something miles away, I'm here.

Susan is watching Ali improve day-by-day. Ali opens her eyes and just stares at Susan. And of course, Susan, like a star gazer, gets to look into Ali's beautiful and soft little face. Ali can reach out and touch Susan, but she can't yet get her thumb into her mouth which is pretty dang frustrating for little Ali. I'm so thankful that Ali can be frustrated and her audience knows it. The other night, during a short phone call from the Bahamas, I could hear Ali crying in the background. A baby's cry never sounded more like angels singing. I'm not sure I would be more pleased to hear angels or Ali belt out wails.

Susan says that Ali stares up at her as she's held and tries to imitate the movement of Susan's mouth as she talks to Ali. A little over a week ago, a short time in reality, I had a difficult discussion with a doctor. The doctor said that Ali may never be able to breathe on her own. Ali may need a tracheotomy so a machine can breathe for her. A tube may have to be inserted from the outside through her abdomen into her stomach to bring nourishment to her comatose little body.

Ali breathes on her own. She sucks on a pacifier. She swallows, with difficulty, but tomorrow they will begin to re-teach her how to swallow on her own. I'm confident that in few short days, I'll write to you about Ali drinking formula through a bottle.

Ali's gone a long way past any talk of breathing on a machine for the rest of her life. Thanks for praying us through through this with us. We've all been privileged to watch the healing hand of God at work. Please don't grow weary of praying for us. I don't know how we'll come through this without your continued prayer support.

7 comments:

Mike West said...

Thanks for the updates. Great to hear about Ali's improvement and God's ability to give you strength.
Keep Looking Up!
Love,
Mike & Mary West

Nate and Lindsey said...

You and your family are in our prayers

Anonymous said...

How awesome is GOD!!!!! We are praying daily for this precious baby.

The Okon's

Anonymous said...

Oh Lord, this is great news!!!, God is soo good and He works in miraculous ways.
You don't know me but I want you to know that I'm praying for Ali and for all of you.
May she have a complete healing and may this experience take you close to one another and closer to God.
God bless you...

Anonymous said...

By the grace of God, we will not grow weary in lifting all of you in prayer...I am personally blessed that you have this site that each day we are witnesses to the love of God and the strength shown in all of you.

You are all loved.
mary

Anonymous said...

God is doing so much more here than just healing Ali.... we can't begin to fathom ALL that God is doing through this situation. I know it's all good. I know what it's doing in my home....
We're on our knees for your family.
Loving you all,
The Scotts

Anonymous said...

Bryon, did you really think all the prayers would just stop?? It's called the fellowship of suffering, and it's pretty incredible!

We're on vacation, so I'm on the laptop...and having trouble staying up with everything. But this is one place I had to check back. Bless you all!