To Everything, There is a Season

Sitting here at Lucy's bedside while she finally finds rest and peace, even though it's through the help of medication, I am reminded of her true and natural beauty.  My Daughter is breathtakingly gorgeous - with her thick, long eye lashes and her golden curls; her perfectly-shaped lips and little dimpled hands.  Lucy turns SIX on September 26th, but there's no party planning taking place right now.  Right now, I'm glued to her side as we try to figure out what's going on inside her little body, and as we are faced with decisions no parent should have to face.

Two weeks ago today, we brought Lucy into the ER for severe tremors, vomiting and constipation.  We were admitted the following day and during the next week, many different tests were done and many different specialty teams have come on board with Lucy's care.  She seemed stable on Sunday, so we were discharged all to be brought back to the ER yesterday with that awful, horrible, constant shaking of her body.  It's hard to explain what it looks like, but it is gut-wrenching, as she can't control her body parts in any way.  She has been in so much pain and tries so hard to suck her thumb (one of her only coping mechanisms), but the shaking is too violent and her body won't let her do that.

To Everything, There is a Season - earlier this summer we welcomed my brother home from Oxford and spent some wonderful, happy times together. My Little Sister got married just two weeks ago.  Family birthdays have come and gone, school activities and the like - a Season of Celebration and happiness!  Now, it seems, that a Season of Mourning is upon us, although I truly wish that were not the case.

Mike and I have been meeting with doctors and talking about the future.  We don't know why Lucy's body is seizing, shaking, etc.  We don't know why her bowels aren't working on their own, and why she isn't absorbing her feeds and medications through her gtube.  Will it change and turn around?  Will this just be a passing phase?  Oh, we surely hope so!  But, the evidence is telling us otherwise.  Lucy's body is tired and she's been in agony - NO parent wants their child to live in agony.

I've posted several video updates from the last weeks, onto my Facebook page, and you are welcome to catch up on more details that way.  For now, we are praying for Lucy to be comforted, pain-free and at peace, whatever that might look like.  While we know so many have the best of intentions by offering us remedies, solutions, vitamins, oils, and more, we are secure in the information and treatments we have at this time.  Thank you for understanding that, what we don't need right now, are remedies to help Lucy.  We just want prayer.

A precious friend has set up a Lotsa Helping Hands Calendar for our family, and the needs posted will change as this journey changes.  If you would like to help or serve, please visit the link below and find a way that will be easy for you and for your family.

Lotsa Helping Hands care calendar


We've had several folks ask us about a "Go Fund Me" page, but that's not where the Lord is leading us at this time. YES, we have medical bills and needs we are asking the Lord to provide for and truthfully, I have no idea how we would pay for what lies ahead (it's all so ridiculously expensive), BUT we know God will provide.  He is with us now and He isn't just going to leave us by the wayside, naked and afraid, without any hope.  If you would like to contribute financially, you may visit the link below.  All donations go solely toward our medical expenses and you will receive a tax write-off for your donation.

Tax-Deductible Donations through Helping Hands Ministries

Thank you for your prayers.  Thank you for your friendship, encouragement and love.  Your acts of kindness and service truly show us God's love and we are forever grateful.

Ryan

A Time for Everything

3 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.