Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Where We Want To Go

I've been given the opportunity on several occasions during the past few days to think about the things Ali can and can't do as a little one year old girl. Yesterday at physical therapy, Ali's therapist handed me this very informative article about Cortical Visual Impairment, also known as Cortical Blindness. Several times a week, I discuss how well Ali has progressed and how thankful I am that I have a group of people that pray for Ali and me and the charming and beautiful Susan. I hold to the firm conviction that the credit for her progress is the Lord's as He has intervened in this tragic event by providing and equipping medical people with skills and compassion along with everything else we've received to help us care for this precious little one.

Life is and will continue to be very different than we thought it would be. But I guess we all can say that about our lives. We never expected that we would have the chance to care for and watch a little girl grow up in our home. We never thought that we'd be making that home in California. We never thought that we'd be helping our granddaughter grow through and recover from the effects of Shaken Baby Syndrome.

While Ali was still in a coma in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, I ran a slideshow for the nurses so they could see the Ali I remembered and help us get back there. Below, you'll see slides of Ali crawling, holding her bottle, sitting up in a high chair, trying to stand, rolling over, holding spoons, grabbing bowls away from the charming and beautiful Susan, hugging a teddy bear, and putting her fingers in her mouth all by herself. These are all the things we hope that Ali will one day do again as she continues to progress.


8 comments:

Anonymous said...

She is precious in His sight. I share your prayer that she will, one day, be able to do all of these things again, and go from there.

Anonymous said...

It must be so frustrating to know where she could have been at this point in her little life--and that this didn't have to be.
In the coming months we pray in the name of Jesus that she will meet and exceed every developmental chart, including perfect vision ... because with God, all things are possible.

Bryonm said...

Luann: frustrating beyond belief.

Anonymous said...

One line from my "Jesus Calling" devotional today (written as if Jesus is talking),"I can take the deepest sorrows and weave them into a pattern for good." Anything good is that which conforms us more into His image. This is one of those promises I've clung to many times through the years. I am clinging to it for Ali right now. We all are...

Anonymous said...

How is Charity? Please tell her that I am praying for her, too.

Anonymous said...

PS: Those big, red slippers just kill me! Way too cute on those little baby feet. :)

Anonymous said...

I do understand the frustration, Bryon, but let me offer a word of hope.

One of my stepdaughters has two children, both 5 years old or under. Unbelievably, both were Rh babies--unbelievable, considering that that shouldn't have been allowed, anytime in the past 40 years--and suffered seriously as a result. Our granddaughter fought for her life for her first year, in and out of the hospital. Her little brother faced less risk of death, but at 2-1/2 or 3 yrs. was more than a year behind in development. Thanks to God and to competent interventions by many professionals, both kids have overcome tremendous odds and are now fully functional; they are, in fact, two very bright kids.

We were told that: that competent interventions prior to age five could bring a child up to speed, so that "you'd never know" they had faced such difficulties. Ali is receiving excellent rehabilitative interventions, yes? And she still has you and Susan and all of those who are praying to the Jesus who passionately loves the little children.

So as poorly as I'm saying all of this, please take hope. God has the last Word, and the future for Ali will evolve in His way.

Bryonm said...

vicki: thank you so much for the words of encouragement. We are incredibly hopeful and thankful for Ali's progress. but we often feel like we're riding on the back of some two headed creature that pulls us one day in the direction of hope and the other day in the direction of despair.

I need and appreciate the encouragement I get. I also have taken up the habit of keeping a chronicle blessings.