We heard a couple weeks ago from the neurologist....based on her muscle biopsy results, Mary Graham has a congenital myopathy, in other words, a muscular disease or type of muscular dystrophy. The doctor is uncertain at this time which specific kind, but is looking into a few very rare ones, and is waiting to do another test on the biopsy and then possibly a genetic blood test. These diseases are usually progressive, can be mild to severe, with progressive muscle weakness, loss of respiratory function, delays, and there is no cure. We are very saddened by this news, however, deep down have thought that this could be a possibility for her. Just when we thought we had a plan for her, this makes things much more difficult. It often is also hard to get a definitive diagnosis, and may take months before we know more specifics.
Please pray for us as we wait....pray for a hopeful diagnosis, a milder disease that doesn't progress quickly. The doctor said every child is different, even with similar diseases and sometimes you never know, it's a wait and see. Talk about just living for today? I have seen this past year God's grace poured out daily. Lee and I were saying how we don't know how we could handle this kind of news a year ago, but God has prepared us, never forsaking us every step and granting us strength and endurance when we have heard bad news, this probably being some of the hardest to swallow. God is very close to the brokenhearted and I know He is close right now. But, hearing from the neurologist last week, my faith has been shaken, tested greater than ever, I have questioned everything..... I thought of the mustard seed. That very day Loftin brought home a tiny mustard seed on an index card from school. Have you seen one? I never had, they are tiny. I looked at it and thought, "yep, that's about right." But God says that even faith that small can move mountains. He wants our complete dependence on Him. This is no surprise to Him, He's still in control. We continue to trust that God can move mountains, He can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, and trust that this truly is His best for Mary Graham and our family, even if we don't understand. Although I believe in each of these truths about God, it is hard for my heart to catch up with my mind. I would never have chosen this for my child....please pray that God will use this for His glory. She is already such a joy to be around, she is a light with all this darkness, and I pray that she will be a light for Jesus and continue to point others towards Him. She is a blessing....God made her perfectly...and we love her exactly the way He made her. Looking at her helps wash away the fears of tomorrow, but they still linger.
We praise Him for how well she is doing now, for the surgeries she has come through and recovered and seems to be getting stronger. MG is really feeling good, so happy, eating well, seems to be growing and her little spirit doesn't seem nearly as afraid anymore. She had gained two pounds and grown two inches since the end of February. The doctor said we are doing everything we can right now to help her, with her therapy, veptrs and our team of doctors, and we will continue down this path.
Your prayers and faithfulness have brought her and our family through so much this year, thank you. Please continue to pray for Mary Graham, for her growth, development, and healing.
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20-21
