The other night I received an email from my blogosphere buddy, Patti, from A Perfect Lily, asking me to do a guest blog post about the most agonizing thing I've ever lived through - nearly losing Josie. The death of a child is the most excruciating pain one can feel and in August 2010, we were told to prepare ourselves for this experience.
My initial reaction was to decline. I do my best to avoid those terrible memories. I can't even look at photos of Josie from those days. I don't think about it, I don't read about it, and I don't talk about it.
However, Patti's email explained that the reason she wanted me to share our story was to offer encouragement to another family whose daughter, Emma, has been given a bleak prognosis from doctors. Patti was an avid blog follower (and more importantly, a devoted prayer warrior) during that time and she thought our experience could offer hope to Emma's family and to other families as well.
So, I reluctantly agreed and I let the words pour out stream of consciousness style. And as much as I dreaded confronting those memories, the process was extremely cathartic for me. It helped remind me of the overwhelming amount of love, support, hope, and faith that surrounded us during that time.
And even though we stood at the door step of our own personal hell, we ultimately became the recipient of one of God's miracles and for that, we are eternally grateful.
I smiled when I found a passage I wrote when I informed blog readers just how dismal Josie's prognosis had become:
We remain hopeful as we wait. We pray
that each day we are greeted with the subtle improvement Josie demonstrated
today. I anxiously await the day I can blog to tell you that she is off the
ventilator...and that she's out of the PICU...and that she gets to go home...and
comes back to punch Dr. Doom & Gloom in the face (Travis' idea, not mine).
With all the love, support, and prayers that surround our sweet baby, we know
she will recover. We've got BIG plans for this kiddo!
Please take a moment to join us in prayer for Baby Emma and her family.
To read my contribution to Patti's "Grief, Hope, and Miracles" series,
Thank you for sharing this story on Lily's blog. I know it couldn't have been easy to relive it all. Josie is such a fighter!
ReplyDeletei read this yesterday on her blog, and didn't realize you had walked through this with josie. we were in our own personal hell a year ago right now, and are oh so grateful that our little is still here with us. thanks for sharing your story!!
ReplyDeleteI am a newer reader. I had no idea that you almost lost Josie. She is such a precious jewel. I'm sorry for your pain and so glad that she made it through. She seems like a fighter. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI didn't start reading here until Josie was older - maybe a year ago? I didn't realize Josie had been so sick. I teared up when I saw that photo of her lungs - and the great change from one day to the next. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis made me cry. I never knew this about adorable little Josie. I have come to love that little beauty. Oh how precious our babies our. God is so amazing.
ReplyDeleteIt was a beautiful post! Josie is such a strong girl but then she has such a strong family who also give and show her strength as well. You are a blessed family! Thanks for sharing this moment.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I've commented on any of your posts, though I read frequently. As someone who is a caretaker and not a mother, I don't have quite the same perspective as the families who read your blog. Leanne and Josie are both so inspiring, and it is warming every day to see how far Josie is coming with her skills and abilities. Your passion and love for her is the same I try to share with the boy I look after. Many warm thoughts for your family always; thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I've commented on any of your posts, though I read frequently. As someone who is a caretaker and not a mother, I don't have quite the same perspective as the families who read your blog. Leanne and Josie are both so inspiring, and it is warming every day to see how far Josie is coming with her skills and abilities. Your passion and love for her is the same I try to share with the boy I look after. Many warm thoughts for your family always; thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteNo idea you guys went through this. Heart wrenching to look at those pictures. We almost lost Coop after his heart surgery due to a blood infection, after his pacemaker implant, after complete heart block. Yep, scariest 5 weeks of our lives. And Dave and I feel like we have some sort of PTSD whenever we talk about it.
ReplyDeleteThese kids of ours are fighters who amaze me with their strength. True little miracles.