A great email from Carrie...
Wow, Sarah, it has been while since we have sent you an update for the blog. Whew! We've all been quite busy!
I am not sure where to begin.
Let's start with the article--Last Sunday (Easter) there was an article about our family and the support of the church community in the News and Observer. It was a little shocking that it was on the front page!
Here is the link: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1482323.html
Chris and I realized after recounting our WHOLE story for the reporter a couple Saturdays ago that it was the first time that we had told the whole story together since everything happened. It was much more emotional than we had realized. Obviously Yonat (the reporter) did not have the space to recount our whole tale, but I think she did a lovely job telling about how the church communities have held us up in this whole time (she is a reporter for the RELIGION section). We are so grateful to Westminster for loving and welcoming us, and for First Burlington (the youth had a wonderful fundraiser for us a couple weeks ago and it was SO GREAT to see you all!) and Faith for continuing to support and pray for us.
What she could not possibly have done was to really make clear how MANY PEOPLE in so many ways have really held us up--alongside our churches. She wasn't able to express the love and unbelievable gratitude that we have for our families, who dropped everything and lived and breathed all our moments of horror and happiness with us. Or the folks from Cary Presbyterian for putting themselves out there to create the Good Samaritan Fund (we asked her not to mention this because we didn't want the church to get an onslaught of requests to make more work for them after all they have done for us). Or our friends, who flew in or drove in on a moments notice. Or the extended "family" of faith who held us up all over the world. Or the people we didn't even know, like the wonderful teachers at my mom's new school who made Christmas happen for Ella Brooks. Or the co-workers or professors who made it possible for our families to leave their jobs to be with us. Yes, I could go on and on and on.
And particularly--the staff at Duke Hospital--who became more like family to us during our long stay. They treated us with kindness and grace. They loved our son like he was their own. They gave us the courage to keep hoping.
Yes, words don't really touch our gratitude to any of you...
There I am, feeling a little mushy and emotive in this beautiful springtime.
Sometimes we look at each other and can't believe where we've been--usually with a look over our sweet children as they laugh or as Heath smiles his slightly toothy (2 teeth and counting!) grin and seems to have sheer joy just being in the world, like he knows that he is lucky to be in world.
We had our clinic visit the thursday before last and they took away a medicine--magnesium--which was great because it was the one that has hurt Heath's tummy. They were thrilled with his progress and we don't go back until JUNE 25!!!
They gave us the go-ahead to make 2 short trips. SO, mom and I took the kids up to Northern VA to see my family! The cousins had much fun together, and Heath had his first egg hunt. Traveling went well, too. Sleeping, not so much, but Heath hadn't been sleeping well anyway.
Then, after wondeful Easter services at Westminster, we hopped in the car and headed to Black Mountain to see Chris' family. It was the first time that Bop (Chris' 97-year-old grandfather) had seen Heath since the day before his diagnosis in November. Visit, wonderful. Sleeping, not so great! (you will see a pattern here)
We're now working on getting ready for our next move. Yes, we have a contract on a fabulous house here in Durham and we will close on April 30. It is perfect for us, and we're so excited. (it is the house in the background of the picture with heath and chris walking)
As of yesterday, we have a contract pending on our house in Greensboro. Please say a prayer that THIS person qualifies for the loan. whew.
AND, they are also showing our rental house, so periodically I have to get both children and the DOG (who is now on anti-anxiety meds and doing so much better!) :) out of the house. Frankly, these regular "worries" I will take any day.
As we have done before, we would ask your prayers for our dear friends, the Landreths, and their daughter, Olivia, who was Heath's roommate in the PICU at Duke. The day before she was to leave the hospital, Olivia took a turn for the worse, and is back in the PICU. Please prayer for her healing, and for her family, who have been at Duke since December.
Gosh, this is long, but not so surprising, I have much to say.
love to you all.
carrie
I am not sure where to begin.
Let's start with the article--Last Sunday (Easter) there was an article about our family and the support of the church community in the News and Observer. It was a little shocking that it was on the front page!
Here is the link: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1482323.html
Chris and I realized after recounting our WHOLE story for the reporter a couple Saturdays ago that it was the first time that we had told the whole story together since everything happened. It was much more emotional than we had realized. Obviously Yonat (the reporter) did not have the space to recount our whole tale, but I think she did a lovely job telling about how the church communities have held us up in this whole time (she is a reporter for the RELIGION section). We are so grateful to Westminster for loving and welcoming us, and for First Burlington (the youth had a wonderful fundraiser for us a couple weeks ago and it was SO GREAT to see you all!) and Faith for continuing to support and pray for us.
What she could not possibly have done was to really make clear how MANY PEOPLE in so many ways have really held us up--alongside our churches. She wasn't able to express the love and unbelievable gratitude that we have for our families, who dropped everything and lived and breathed all our moments of horror and happiness with us. Or the folks from Cary Presbyterian for putting themselves out there to create the Good Samaritan Fund (we asked her not to mention this because we didn't want the church to get an onslaught of requests to make more work for them after all they have done for us). Or our friends, who flew in or drove in on a moments notice. Or the extended "family" of faith who held us up all over the world. Or the people we didn't even know, like the wonderful teachers at my mom's new school who made Christmas happen for Ella Brooks. Or the co-workers or professors who made it possible for our families to leave their jobs to be with us. Yes, I could go on and on and on.
And particularly--the staff at Duke Hospital--who became more like family to us during our long stay. They treated us with kindness and grace. They loved our son like he was their own. They gave us the courage to keep hoping.
Yes, words don't really touch our gratitude to any of you...
There I am, feeling a little mushy and emotive in this beautiful springtime.
Sometimes we look at each other and can't believe where we've been--usually with a look over our sweet children as they laugh or as Heath smiles his slightly toothy (2 teeth and counting!) grin and seems to have sheer joy just being in the world, like he knows that he is lucky to be in world.
We had our clinic visit the thursday before last and they took away a medicine--magnesium--which was great because it was the one that has hurt Heath's tummy. They were thrilled with his progress and we don't go back until JUNE 25!!!
They gave us the go-ahead to make 2 short trips. SO, mom and I took the kids up to Northern VA to see my family! The cousins had much fun together, and Heath had his first egg hunt. Traveling went well, too. Sleeping, not so much, but Heath hadn't been sleeping well anyway.
Then, after wondeful Easter services at Westminster, we hopped in the car and headed to Black Mountain to see Chris' family. It was the first time that Bop (Chris' 97-year-old grandfather) had seen Heath since the day before his diagnosis in November. Visit, wonderful. Sleeping, not so great! (you will see a pattern here)
We're now working on getting ready for our next move. Yes, we have a contract on a fabulous house here in Durham and we will close on April 30. It is perfect for us, and we're so excited. (it is the house in the background of the picture with heath and chris walking)
As of yesterday, we have a contract pending on our house in Greensboro. Please say a prayer that THIS person qualifies for the loan. whew.
AND, they are also showing our rental house, so periodically I have to get both children and the DOG (who is now on anti-anxiety meds and doing so much better!) :) out of the house. Frankly, these regular "worries" I will take any day.
As we have done before, we would ask your prayers for our dear friends, the Landreths, and their daughter, Olivia, who was Heath's roommate in the PICU at Duke. The day before she was to leave the hospital, Olivia took a turn for the worse, and is back in the PICU. Please prayer for her healing, and for her family, who have been at Duke since December.
Gosh, this is long, but not so surprising, I have much to say.
love to you all.
carrie
Blessings,
"Gran" Sarah
