One year ago

A year ago right now, we were in Lizzie's room at Children's Mercy Hospital, getting ready to spend the night after she'd had several seizures that day.  We ended up staying for the next few days while they ran what seemed like endless tests: blood draws, EEGs, MRI, lumbar punctures.  The doctors diagnosed her with epilepsy.  They told us our three-and-a-half month old had the brain waves of a preemie.  They told us they were very concerned.  They gave us a list of conditions she might possibly have.  The picture they painted for us about Lizzie's life was pretty grim: severe developmental delays; uncontrollable seizures; possibly limited life expectancy.  We took her home from the hospital not really knowing what to do or how to prepare ourselves for this.

And yet, this past year has been one unexpected gift after another. 

So many people have supported us with prayers, meals, and monetary donations.  I'm really not exaggerating when I say that almost every day, someone asks me how Lizzie is doing, whether it's a friend, coworker, fellow church member, or former high school or college classmate.  We have been flooded with care and support this year.

Developmental delays?  Lizzie's fine and gross motor skills seem to be well within the limits of normal.  She may have a bit of delay in her speech development, but I'm not ready to call it severe, and more importantly, the professionals--doctors and therapists--are not calling it severe. 

Uncontrollable seizures?  As Lizzie's neurologist pointed out a few weeks ago, she's on a fairly low dose of anti-seizure meds.  Even so, it's doing a fabulous job of controlling Lizzie's epilepsy.  Since mid-October, we have only seen a handful of seizures.  The meds are working above and beyond what we expected.

The entire neurology team at Children's Mercy Hospital reviewed Lizzie's case while she was hospitalized last year.  They all agreed that her condition was very serious.  Inexplicably, things have not turned out the way the doctors said they would. 

Who knows what will happen in a year or five or ten?  There may be twists and turns in the road ahead, but for now we are extremely grateful for all the support, and extremely grateful that every day, we have this little girl who is curious and active and good-natured.  She has beautiful dimples and curly blonde hair.  She loves to have books read to her, she loves to snuggle, and she adores her three big sisters.  She's a bit of a mama's girl, but that's okay--Mama doesn't mind.

We are very, very, very, very blessed.