The Bad News
Emma's brain damage is profound. She is quadriplegic, dependent on a feeding tube, and legally blind. She will never walk or talk and will be permanently dependent on others for even her most basic needs. On all tests Emma consistently scores between birth and six months of age. She will always be an infant. Only her size will change. One of her medical providers described Emma as "the worst brain injury I've ever seen in a living human being". 11 months later we got even more bad news when Hope was born, the same thing happened to her (her mother's uterus ruptured), and the doctor said she would be just like Emma.
Emma and Hope
Cerebral Palsy & Blindness
A ruptured uterus is a catastrophic but rare event, associated with death and injury for both mother and baby.
It happened to us twice.
The Good News
In spite of having lost virtually everything a person can lose, Emma is the happiest person I've ever known. She smiles so much she's even had her picture in a magazine. She can't talk but she teaches me daily. She can't walk but she leads me to to a life more content and fulfilled. She is legally blind but she is my vision. People say, "At least she's healthy. That's the important thing." The truth is, what's important is she knows she is loved and has contentment and Emma has both.
Hope's story is remarkable too. She has surpassed every obstacle and walks and talks just like other kids her age. The doctors and nurses keep telling me that children with brain injuries this severe don't recover but, apparently, Hope didn't get the memo and continues to defy every negative prediction.
Today I count myself as privileged to have a severely disabled child. It has enriched my life and brought me fulfillment and joy like nothing else. Many people think having a severely disabled child means you no longer have a life. It is true you no longer have your old life. You just get a new one and, in many respects, it's a better life because you trade fun for fulfillment and, while fun only lasts a moment and has to be repated over and over again, fulfillment lasts a lifetime.
Perspective
Have you ever wondered why so many people pray for disabled people to be healed but so few are? Could it be that God has a purpose for disabled people and they aren't just tragedies? When we focus on healing for the disabled person we miss what God has for us and every disabled person can teach us something. Emma continually teaches me about love and contentment. Hope teaches me about perseverance. What can your disabled child or friend teach you?
When you pray, do not ask God to heal Emma.
Ask, what Lord do you wish to teach me through Emma.
Emma may be quadriplegic but that doesn't stop her from having fun.
Another family sharing the joy
Reasons to Rejoice
Disabilities don't disable people. Discrimination and disbelief disable people.
"He can't swim." He doesn't have any arms or legs. Does it surprise you he swam the english channel? Does it surprise you he did it in almost half the time predicted by the experts?
"You'll never pass the physical." Does it surprise you he spent years persevering just to pass the military entrance physical and he's now a decorated veteran who retired from the United States Navy after 20 years of faithful service? A fellow veteran and friend, I had the privilege of proof reading his book before it was published. It's a great read and an inspiring story.
"She'll never dance.
She's quadriplegic.
The best she can hope for is to sit on the sidelines and dream." Does it suprise you she won a dance contest within months of this picture being taken?
"You're an amputee.
You can't do that."
Does it suprise you he became the first disabled person to climb to the summit of Mt. Everest?
I once met a man with no legs who won a major weight lifting championship but was disqualified because he wasn't wearing shoes.
One of America's most beloved presidents, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was in a wheelchair but felt he had to hide it from the american public.
Beethoven was deaf.
Some of the greatest minds of all time, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, and Thomas Edison, all had disabilities.
