“No news is good news”.. but LATE news can make all the difference in the world.. Ben’s medical file has been accessed by more than 500 Specialists, Fellows and Neurologists from here to India and though they may not all agree on a firm diagnosis.. they DO agree on the OUTCOME!
The 7th Grader from TN who caught the flu before schools were closed. Suffered only mild cold symptoms. Went to the ER. Got sent home. Then later was kept by the hospital and became a one in a million case. Then onto a worsened statistic.. Who’s brain stem remained in coma status. Yet body still functioning without the help of machines. Who’s tests were lost across the country somewhere, never to be successfully located. But who had the hopeful prayers of all of you who were watching and listening..this outcome is YOURS. “Complete Resolution” were the terms given. The light is GONE. The scaring is not evident..and “Ben looks like a champion and has taught generations to come” were the direct quotes.
The machines they kept outside Ben’s hospital door, waiting to place him on..were never needed. He remained conscious through the demyelination of his brainstem and spinal cord..and prayerfully no other child or MS patient will be wheeled out of Vanderbilt under the false pretense that things are ‘okay’.
My take aways for us all.. Mighty things happen when God’s people pray. The book of Daniel tells of him praying to God..”Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.” — Though God set to answering Daniel’s prayer the moment HE heard it.. it would still be 21 days before Daniel received an answer. Our family was 1 day shy of that 21 date. A.D.E.M. is still what we are going to classify this as, though not all of our doctors agree. (And that’s okay. They do agree with the positive outlook). Our son is alive. He’s healthy. And when school starts in a couple of days, I’m going to put up my Christmas tree and call it a year!🙏🏼
“Update on sweet Ben In A Million”: It’s Day 126.. feels like a long time since his first visit to neurology, but much has happened. Ben was able to finish the school year with his teachers and friends. He graduated from PT with the awesome staff at Star Physical Therapy (thank you, Karen, Amy, Sonia for all of your love and encouragements during those many weeks). Ben has continued to improve in what we can see with our eyes. His medical file continues to be accessed by specialists and physicians still working to understand his case. We were told early-on that the scars from what was happening to his brainstem and spine would be visible for the rest of his life. Not to the outside world, but to those who could see on the inside.. There’s a song entitled ‘Thankful For The Scars’ that speaks right to where we are. The chorus goes like this.. ‘So I'm thankful for the scars.
'Cause without them
I wouldn't know YOUR heart..
And I know they'll always
tell of who YOU are..
So forever I am thankful for the scars.’ This coming Monday night July 1st at 7:30pm, Ben will re-enter Vanderbilt. This time for what we pray will be the final time. He’ll undergo another 4 hour MRI. Lying on that flat table. Placed in the dark. And noises whirling ‘round him until close to midnight. The prayer is that these ‘scars’ will be just that. Reminders of the powerful prayers from around the country that kept our sweet Ben strong and that continue to not make sense to the watching world. We’re thankful for each of you. For sharing with your families and church groups and going to the Lord on behalf of our family when so many around us are in need of the same..We love you for it.❤️ And in case any wonder.. here’s how that song ends.. ‘I can see, I can see
How You delivered me.
In Your hands, in Your feet
I found my victory.
I'm thankful for YOUR scars
'Cause without them
I wouldn't know YOUR heart.
And with my life,
I'll tell of who YOU are
So forever I am thankful..’
-Donna🙏🏼
