Pre-Surgery Trip

We have been overwhelmed by the support of so many people. In the last 24 hours we have received so many messages of encouragement, sympathy and hope. We are truly blessed to have so many friends who love our little boy. 

Noah had a full day of fun. We took him to his Grandmother's house in Florence and he played with his cousins Evie and Aaron all afternoon. My mom said he played well with everyone and it was a good time. Jessica and I have planned a quick get away trip for us. We will be leaving early Friday morning headed to Atlanta. We want Noah to have as much fun as possible in the short time we will be there. Six Flags has a special Thomas the Train section I think he will enjoy, and I know he will love the aquarium. I hope that he has the time of his life.

Next week will be tough. On Monday we meet with his neuro surgeon, Tuesday we meet with the anesthesiologist and have another MRI. Wednesday he will have surgery. As of right now, we don't know what time the surgery will be. 

For the next three days we are going to try not to think about it. A few weeks ago, our pastor preached a sermon in a series called "one month to live." In the message he showed a clip from the movie "Dead Poet's Society" where Robin Williams whispers into the ears of his students "Carpe Diem" - Seize the Day!  I can think of no better time than now to Seize the Day. So for the next three days I may not answer my phone, check my email or update this blog. I plan on disconnecting from everything except the laughter and giggles of a 2 year old boy who holds my heart strings. We may have as much fun in the next 72 hours as the average person does in a year. Why not - we might as well while we can.  : )

Thanks for the prayers and the kind words. For those of you who know how to grieve with those who are hurting.. thanks for what you have said .. or rather what you have not said.

It may seem awkward to tell someone that you can't think of anything to say when they are hurting. In that moment give in to the awkwardness and just say the most important things - "I am sorry for your hurt."   Most of the time, that is enough. 

I imagine thats why Jesus wept when he arrived at the tomb of Lazarus. He saw his friends grieving and hurting. He was hurting too.  Instead of telling them "everything will be alright,"  He chose to weep with them. He understood that sometimes the best things to say when someone is hurting are usually things not spoken.  There is a time to grieve with those who are hurting, a time to encourage those who are discouraged and a time to celebrate with those who have something to celebrate. 

​I spoke with a man last night who has been through some tragedy in his own life with his children and he said to me, "You can usually tell when someone has gone through something like this; they are the ones who only say, 'I am sorry you are hurting.'"

We know Noah is in God's hands. We know his story isn't over. We know that God can and will work good out of every situation. 

Now its time for me to sleep - for tomorrow we party!

John David