The Good News

Reflecting over the last three months, it's hard for me to believe how much has happened. In March, God layed a desire on my heart to somehow help other parents who have children, like my own, who live with life challenges. The "help" He called me to would be in the form of a book. As most of you know, this started the process of writing the book tentatively titled "Unexpected Gifts, God's Blessings for and through Children Facing Life Challenges."

So far, I have interviewed nine families and spoken to countless others, in fact I can't seem to keep up with the people who would like to share their stories with me and for that I apologize. I want to hear all of them! I have also spoken to two groups, written five chapters, have completed a book proposal, have had author business cards printed and am writing endorsement letter requests. I have spoken with two self publishers and am planning to attend an American Christian Writers Association Mentoring workshop in July where I will be mentored by the editor for Wesleyan Publishing and will meet other writers from across the nation. I am excited!! Needless to say, I am also overwhelmed by God's loving and guiding Hands in this process. I certainly know that I am not capable of doing this on my own. I pray that God's blessings are on this book. He knows that parents of kids facing life challenges need love and support, HIS love and support.

A few Saturdays ago I went with friends to hear Babbie Mason and Jessica LaGrone speak at Roswell United Methodist Church. They shared with us their newest bible studies. Babbie spoke about Embraced by God and also used her wonderful musical talent to bring us to our feet in praise. Jessica shared an intriguing study called Namesake, When God Re-Writes Your Story. I enjoyed hearing her talk about Jacob and how God changed his name and his character. Both women were excellent speakers and inspired me further in the writing of my book. They also confirmed the calling that I have received as each quoted bible scripture that has spoken very loudly to me over the last few months. The verses were quoted as their "favorites" and are as follows:

Psalm 139:14
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Ephesians 3:20
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

These verses speak volumes to me everyday as I encounter parents who share their stories with me. They speak to me about each of our own possibilities to glorify God. They speak to me of the lengths and depths of God's love for us. And they tell me that the path to fulfillment exists only through Him. Despite what others may perceive as our limitations, despite what we may even see as our limitations, God is always able to do more. Remember this as you rise each day to face the world. God is good!

Grateful that it's JUST CP (cerebral palsy)

Today's post is about a precious family who has a faith so strong that it amazes me. I have the honor of personally knowing Beth and David Royal and their twins, Mimi and Suzy. Our paths actually crossed long before any of us had children of our own. In 2000, Beth and David bought a home from us where they still live today. Shortly afterwards, the twins were born and Sara Ashley followed a month later. 

Recently Beth shared with me her family's journey since deciding to start a family. While it hasn't been an easy one, the Royals have been blessed by God through their daughters and through His faithfullness in their lives. 

Below is an excerpt from their story that will be featured in my forthcoming book.

Beth and David Royal waited until later in life to start their family. For the first ten years of their marriage they lived life to its fullest, enjoying each other’s company and the freedoms that come along with life without children. Best friends and soul mates, their desire to start a family came later in their marriage. By this time, Beth, 37, was considered post maternal age. However, she knew many women who successfully conceived and gave birth later in life and was not terribly concerned about her ability to get pregnant. But by age 40, and still not expecting, David and Beth consulted with an infertility specialist. Finally, after the second round of invitro, it appeared that the Royals had a viable pregnancy. They also soon learned that they would have twin girls. A double blessing!

The due date for the Royal twins was December 7^th, 2001. On August 1^st, at 20 weeks gestation, Beth went into premature labor. A little more than half way into her multiples pregnancy (gestation period for multiples is 36 weeks on average), the parents learned that birth of the babies at this time would be fatal. So Beth was hospitalized, put on strict bed rest, and her labor was stopped temporarily with medication. At 24 weeks she went into labor again. This time a heavy drug called Magnesium Sulfate was used to stop the contractions. This drug is thought to affect the amount of calcium in the body. The uterus must have calcium to contract, so by reducing the amount of calcium the contractions are slowed. Use of Magnesium Sulfate gives doctors time to administer life-saving medications to help premature babies’ lungs quickly develop. Unfortunately, the drug also comes with side effects and complications. In Beth’s case, these complications proved to be life-threatening and she quickly had to be taken off the medication.

Mimi Elizabeth Royal and Catherine Suzanne Royal were born on August 25th, 2001.Each twin was only about the weight of a can of soup and barely 12” long, but miraculously, they were ALIVE; breathing on their own, with ten fingers and ten toes. Twins Mimi and Suzy Royal entered this world, 15 weeks premature, as fighters. And they haven’t stopped since.



Suzy Royal

During their first few weeks of life, both girls suffered multiple medical challenges. Mimi, initially the sicker of the two babies, began her life struggling with feeding problems and lung development issues. She also developed retinopathy of prematurity which can cause blindness. Thankfully, in her case, it has only caused vision challenges which her parents are hopeful can be corrected with future laser surgery.

Suzy also developed feeding problems, lung issues and retinopathy of prematurity. But her biggest struggle was when she suffered a Grade III intraventricular brain hemorrhage. This brain hemorrhage would be the cause of her later diagnosis of cerebral palsy.



Mimi (left) and Suzy (right)

 

Despite these setbacks, the girls grew and thrived under the care of their doctors and parents. And Beth and David know that God's healing hands are the biggest reason for their girls' survival. They credit their strong faith and trust in Him for allowing them to remain at peace during the storms of their daughter's struggles. Particularly, they have looked to Ephesians 3:20 for their hope and comfort:

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."

At a year old, Suzy was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Strangely, learning this fact did not shatter the Royals as one might expect. Instead, through their continued faith, they have an attitude of gratefulness. As Beth shares,

“We are told to give thanks in ALL things. I wake up every day with a prayer of thanksgiving on my heart- and that is a prayer of thanksgiving for what I have and what I don’t have. One cannot sit in the office of a neurosurgeon, a neurologist, a neuropsychologist, an orthopedist, or an opthamologist without recognizing that there are people who have it harder than yourself. I am thankful for Suzy’s cerebral palsy and often times thank God that it is just CP. "

This perspective continues to allow Beth and David to remain at peace in their circumstances, loving their girls and living life to the fullest. And though they remain vigilant in overseeing their daughters’ battles, they know that they will continue to grow stronger in the Lord, in the strength of His might, (Ephesians 6:10), by ultimately turning it over to Him. And over and over, through this challenging journey, they choose to rest in the shadow of the Almighty, His strength evidenced through their children and through the unexpected gifts with which God blesses them.  

The Royal Family

Mimi, David, Suzy and Beth (from left to right)