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Isn't that a sweet kiss? That is "Pappaw," my precious grandfather, who I am so glad my children have the opportunity to know. They love him dearly and he loves them! His knees have been bothering him for some time now and he is looking at replacement surgery in the near future. Please be in prayer for him.
I received a phone call from William's pediatric neurologist yesterday. We appreciate her so much. We really feel that she has taken a personal interest in William. It must be hard to be a doctor and go home at the end of the day and leave your work at the office. Well, she hasn't done that with William. She's prayed and thought and studied and worked on his case until now she thinks she's found the issue. She has gone above and beyond, even looking through my nephew's medical records (Riley had many of the same conditions). His symptoms are all pointing in the same direction. Because of this, we have decided to not pursue the muscle biopsy at this time, as that will not tell us anything. We are going to go forward with the bone marrow draw next week (we're looking at Tuesday) and it should confirm the diagnosis. After the results are in, I will post specifics, as there is no point in all of the speculation at this time.
Dr. Norman also confirmed yesterday that William's "episode" was most likely a seizure. A dear friend of mine told me that her son's seizures begin like that.
So here is how we are asking you to pray for William at this time:
*William is still sick (14 days now). Please pray that he will overcome this quickly and it will not turn into pneumonia (so far so good).
*speech therapy will continue to be beneficial to him as he learns to listen and talk
*nystagmus will not affect his vision
*tremors and seizures will not continue
*wisdom for his doctors/therapists
*sedation/bone marrow draw to go well
Also, we would ask that you pray for our family as we go through this. We are all very concerned for William. I cannot describe the pride I feel as I think about my children and their help to and love for William and each other, especially during these tough times. I am humbled as I realize how good God has been to us. Children truly are a blessing from Him and I am so joyful to be surrounded by so much love. This brings me to another prayer request. Please pray that any remarks we receive will be seasoned with grace. I know there will be people who think we should not have any more children, but I pray that they will keep this to themselves. We believe it is God who opens and shuts the womb, not us. That conviction will not change. I find it impertinent when people tell us that by having lots of children, we run the risk of having one with "defects." This is offensive because it suggests that by not having perfect health a child is less of a blessing. It is deeply insulting because it suggests that Sherrod (Juvenile Diabetes) and William have a lesser value. Well, they are indeed valuable to Michael and to me, to their Heavenly Father, and to their siblings, who all love them greatly. None of us can imagine life without them, nor would we want to try.
Every life has a purpose and is valuable (Jeremiah 29:11). It is the LORD who gives life, it is the LORD who takes life (Job 1:21). Blessed be the name of the LORD!
There are so many Scriptures running through my mind to post today, but I think I'll sign off with this one:
"Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and He that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by Myself." Isaiah 44:24