"Joy runs deeper than despair" Corrie ten Boom
As you can see above, Mary Graham is doing so much better since we have been home. It's amazing how tough she is-I believe she's over the hump and I'm slowing weening her off the heavy meds. Praise God for allowing her to heal so quickly, although the time seems to drag on when she's in pain. Your prayers have been heard.
There is more to the week than I have shared. Mary Graham's left hip is partially dislocated (she had surgery on her hips at 8 months old and was in a body cast for 6 weeks). Well, Dr. Campbell was concerned about it and had another ortho look at it who specializes in hips. He believes she needs another hip surgery to deepen the socket and secure the ball inside. Along with a body cast for 6 weeks. And it needs to be done soon to avoid arthritis setting in at age 8. Basically squeezing it in this spring before she goes for another expansion this summer. This news came the day after her surgery and we are still trying to process all of this. We are praying about where we are going to have the surgery, getting another opinion and seeking God's wisdom. I'm so sad that she is going to have to go through this and so many questions about how she will manage in a cast with her weakness and then having to relearn how to walk. And how we will explain all of this to her. I know God will walk with us and go before us.
I've been in a fog since we have been back-it takes me a while to get clarity back and look back on all God has done. I love the quote from above. A friend sent it to me and it is so true. Despair is something I have experienced at times with MG, but the joy that runs through me is deep and unexplainable. And times like these, I know it can only come from God. I read the verse in John 16 this morning, as Jesus is teaching us to abide in Him and in his love he says, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." Complete, enough, whole and perfect. The joy that can only come from Christ and knowing that he is all we need, even in the depths of despair.
Our travel home was good....she fell hard asleep on the Philly to Atlanta flight home and then chatted it up with the nicest guy on our Birmingham flight. He heard her story, as she showed him all the pictures on my phone of our family (every. single. picture. even of Lee's scar from his surgery on his shoulder and pictures of her back-yikes) and all she's been through and said, "Mary Graham, you are my hero" to which she answered, "Do you want to come live in our family?"
There is more to the week than I have shared. Mary Graham's left hip is partially dislocated (she had surgery on her hips at 8 months old and was in a body cast for 6 weeks). Well, Dr. Campbell was concerned about it and had another ortho look at it who specializes in hips. He believes she needs another hip surgery to deepen the socket and secure the ball inside. Along with a body cast for 6 weeks. And it needs to be done soon to avoid arthritis setting in at age 8. Basically squeezing it in this spring before she goes for another expansion this summer. This news came the day after her surgery and we are still trying to process all of this. We are praying about where we are going to have the surgery, getting another opinion and seeking God's wisdom. I'm so sad that she is going to have to go through this and so many questions about how she will manage in a cast with her weakness and then having to relearn how to walk. And how we will explain all of this to her. I know God will walk with us and go before us.
I've been in a fog since we have been back-it takes me a while to get clarity back and look back on all God has done. I love the quote from above. A friend sent it to me and it is so true. Despair is something I have experienced at times with MG, but the joy that runs through me is deep and unexplainable. And times like these, I know it can only come from God. I read the verse in John 16 this morning, as Jesus is teaching us to abide in Him and in his love he says, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." Complete, enough, whole and perfect. The joy that can only come from Christ and knowing that he is all we need, even in the depths of despair.
Our travel home was good....she fell hard asleep on the Philly to Atlanta flight home and then chatted it up with the nicest guy on our Birmingham flight. He heard her story, as she showed him all the pictures on my phone of our family (every. single. picture. even of Lee's scar from his surgery on his shoulder and pictures of her back-yikes) and all she's been through and said, "Mary Graham, you are my hero" to which she answered, "Do you want to come live in our family?"
This was just one example of the kindness we experienced all week. I'm always amazed at the grace and love I see in people, some from those that don't know us or MG at all. From my sister who left her own family to come with us and support me (and make me laugh until I cried sometimes-the nurses would look at us like we were crazy-but we were so delirious at times). Also, two other ladies on the flight there talked to MG the entire time and played with her and said as we departed they would be praying for her and us.
The kindness of those at CHOP is always evident-a nurse came just to stand beside me, while I stood beside MG, as they put her under anesthesia. This is so hard for me to watch-she can't have the normal drugs to be put under because of her muscle disease and she is so much more awake until they get the IV in her and put her under and she always starts throwing up and looking terrified before she's asleep. At one moment the anesthesiologist started singing "Do you wanna build a Snowman?" in his Brazilian voice :)
For Lee, many brought meals for him and Loftin and Lucy, since he is only able to use one arm these days and healing from his surgery. Other friends had Loftin and Lucy over after school to play and distract them from missing us and being scared about MG's surgery. Lucy's teacher even had the class make a whole laminated book with get well letters to MG. Also, the shuttle drivers, and a precious lady, Marci, who owns a local coffee shop and sat and talked with us and loved talking to MG. We will be back to visit her each time now.
And of course your prayers, I had friends text me that they were up praying at 4:30 in the morning.
And of course your prayers, I had friends text me that they were up praying at 4:30 in the morning.
God's hand is so apparent and visible. Dr. Campbell's nurse told us how it was just a miracle that they were even able to squeeze her in to have surgery so quickly. Dr. C has an insane schedule and another big surgery had been cancelled, which she said was so much better for that family too. God is working in all things-things God doesn't have to let me see, but he graciously does. And it confirmed that this was His timing.
I had been replaying a song, We Will Feast, on my phone all week by Sandra McCraken (one of my favorite singers). She hasn't even released it yet, but came to our church and sang it, so it's a rough recording of that. Here are the words, which aren't nearly as moving without the music being sung.
We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things we will say together
We will sing and weep no more
Lee told me when I got home he had been singing this song in his head all week-I hadn't even mentioned that I had also. I love the part that we will sing with our hearts restored. One day we will all be restored, MG's body will be restored, with no pain or surgery. But for now, we are so blessed and full of joy for what God has done for her and all He has taught us through the despair and suffering.
When we saw Lee and Loftin and Lucy at the airport for the first time, Mary Graham cried, tears of joy as she hugged them all. She said "I missed you so much." My prayer is that her joy runs deep with all she has to experience and that she will sing and rejoice in what God has done in her life. All of this is hard, but it's so beautiful in so many ways too.
We would love your prayers for MG's hip and that possible surgery and the decisions we will be making in the next week or so. Thank you so much for walking with us and praying. You have no idea how grateful we are.
I had been replaying a song, We Will Feast, on my phone all week by Sandra McCraken (one of my favorite singers). She hasn't even released it yet, but came to our church and sang it, so it's a rough recording of that. Here are the words, which aren't nearly as moving without the music being sung.
We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things we will say together
We will sing and weep no more
Lee told me when I got home he had been singing this song in his head all week-I hadn't even mentioned that I had also. I love the part that we will sing with our hearts restored. One day we will all be restored, MG's body will be restored, with no pain or surgery. But for now, we are so blessed and full of joy for what God has done for her and all He has taught us through the despair and suffering.
When we saw Lee and Loftin and Lucy at the airport for the first time, Mary Graham cried, tears of joy as she hugged them all. She said "I missed you so much." My prayer is that her joy runs deep with all she has to experience and that she will sing and rejoice in what God has done in her life. All of this is hard, but it's so beautiful in so many ways too.
We would love your prayers for MG's hip and that possible surgery and the decisions we will be making in the next week or so. Thank you so much for walking with us and praying. You have no idea how grateful we are.
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