A Trip to Children's Hospital

I am off to Seattle today, 
for a trip to Children's H*spital.


It's been nearly 6 years since we 
"moved in" to Children's for 3 weeks ...


...  when the nurses were surprised that Elijah
     had lived long enough to survive the 
     airlift helicopter ride to Seattle
     in the middle of the night.


...  when our older children were driven the 
     100 miles to Seattle, by our pastor, 
     because their little brother was not 
     expected to live through the night.


...  when Jim and the kids moved in to the
     R*nald McDonald House, while I stayed
     at the hospital every night.


...  when Elijah was in a coma for a week.


...  when we prayed that the doctors would
     not have to amputate his arms or legs
     (as they were ice cold from lack of circulation).


...  when we prayed that our youngest child
     would not have severe brain damage.


...  when the doctors stood in AWE
     as the LORD worked His MIRACLE for Elijah.




Elijah nearly died from bacterial meningitis,
when he was just 3 years old.


While the Lord miraculously healed his little body,
the Lord did allow his body to remain covered
with what we call his "testimony scars".


Elijah's little 3 year old body was covered with
100+ 3rd degree burns.  The bacteria burned
his body from the inside out.


His little body was covered with deep black holes.


We brought him home after 3 weeks,
but continued to do wound care for several months.


Now ... we must go back to the hospital.


We must visit a Plastic Surgeon to have one
of his scars evaluated.  He has a large
triangular scar on his shin, which is just a thin
layer of skin right on the bone.  There is no
protective fatty tissue to be found.


Elijah is actually excited to go "see" the hospital.
He doesn't remember much, but knows all of 
the stories of God's Healing Power.


So, Elijah is looking forward to seeing where he
was when the Lord saved his life.




And ... since we are driving the 100 miles
each way to Seattle, Mama thought we should add
a bit of FUN to our day.


Josiah is going to make the drive with us,
and Mama is going to take the boys to the
Seattle Science C*enter for the afternoon,
before our early evening appt. at the hospital.


Then, Elijah will get to choose a restaurant
for dinner.  It is NOT often that the children
get a dinner at a restaurant ... especially
just 2 kids and Mama.  We are all looking
forward to it.




Now, Elijah may not have many memories of
his time at the hospital ... but Mama surely does.
While I know that many memories may come
flooding back, I am going to focus on the most
AMAZING memory of all .... the fact that
the LORD saved my dear child's life ...
when medical science didn't give us any hope.