The "new normal"

As many of you probably know, my family experienced a serious emergency last Thursday.  I wanted to write this post to provide an explanation for anyone who wants to know what happened but didn't want to ask, but mostly for the hundreds of loving souls who have been praying for my family endlessly these past few days, so that they would know their prayers have been and are being answered.

While I was away volunteering as a counselor at Camp Adventure, my 9-year-old brother Joseph was in a lawn mower accident where his right foot was damaged beyond repair.  After being air-lifted to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, he underwent a surgery where the majority of his right foot was removed.

I decided it was best for me to stay my final night at camp instead of returning home right away because honestly I don't think it would have been safe for me to drive for 4+ hours in the emotional state I was in.  We'll come back to this part later...

On Saturday afternoon, a family who went through pretty much the exact same situation with their son, Jace, came to visit Joseph.  Jace's accident had happened 2 years ago when he was 5-years-old, and he too had been treated at Riley.

I truly believe Jace and his parents are angels.  

They explained what they had gone through, and just hearing them share our pain, shock, and fear helped to relieve these same feelings.  Jace showed us his prosthetic leg, decorated with the Duck Commander logo, and showed us how fast he could run.. yes RUN.. around our room.  We asked them question after question and they graciously  answered us with honesty and compassion.  I could physically feel stress being lifted off my shoulders when Jace told us that all the kids at school loved him just the same if not more with his "robo-leg".  Even though there will be rough times ahead, they assured us that we are more scared than Joe is and that he will be back at it in no time.

Yesterday morning Joseph underwent surgery for a partial amputation, where the surgeon removed about the bottom third of his leg.  We learned this was necessary because in order to fit a prosthetic, they need a certain amount of bone, and the size of the bones at his ankle just weren't enough to fit a prosthetic. Johnny was excited to get to spend the night at the hospital last night with his brother, and even though he feels terrible about Joe's leg, he knows the accident was not his fault.

At this point the doctors are working toward being able to manage Joseph's pain orally so we can take him home in the next few days!  He has made improvements every hour of every day, today he was even walking in a walker.  God has been present through this entire trauma, and he's not leaving any time soon.  Johnny even said the other day, the profoundly wise 11-year-old that he is, that God knew this was going to happen before Joe was even born so He knows were going to get through this and that Joe will be O.K.

Isn't it troubling that sometimes it takes a tragedy to get us to believe in the power of prayer?  You hear it all the time, please pray for... but how often do we truly, honestly stop and cry out for the pain or needs of others who ask for prayer?

I can't fathom the amount of prayer Joseph and my family have received these past few days-- but I have felt it.

The strength and calm I felt over the weekend was not my own, it was from my protector, and it was a result of prayer.  When I fell to my knees on the phone with my mom Thursday afternoon, I was instantly covered in prayer by fellow counselors and directors at camp.  The kindness and grace shown by these people that I hardly knew was unlike any love I've ever felt before.  Unconditional.  And it came from God.

My entire family received messages, calls, and just encouragement from people we hadn't heard from in years.  The outpouring of support and love was and still is unbelievable, my only hope now is that it will continue.  Life didn't stop when Joe's accident happened, but it did change.  Now more than ever we need your prayers, love and support as we learn how to live our "new normal".  A lot of things are going to be different, but Joseph is going to be the best he ever was when he's back on his feet.  Positive attitudes are the only option for us at this point, and we won't accept defeat.

I am confident that Joseph is going to be able to do everything he ever could do and more, and to anyone who believes anything different...

Well, let's just say bless your heart.