I've been feeling like I should share my recent feelings. It's not something I would share very readily, especially here on this blog, but I feel I should.
First off, I'm excited because we're going to take Russell's cast off in two more days! He's scheduled to get his next one on Dec. 27...but I don't know if that's going to happen because he's been a little sick, and still has a cough. You know, each time we try to put a new cast on when the old one's only been off for a week or so, Russell gets sick. He gets a cold, or strep, or influenza, EVERY SINGLE TIME. So then we have to wait about 4-6 weeks to get a new casting date scheduled. In those 6-week "cast breaks" the physical therapist works hard with him, and it's when he starts catching up with his motor skills and speech skills, and during the last break, it's when we really started noticing how weak his core has become, and that his chewing was getting worse. In other words, these long casting breaks have seemed really important. Which is not what you would think, since the casting dr's tell us that he shouldn't be out of his cast for more than about a WEEK. Ever.
Scott and I have discussed this. We've noticed this is a pattern of him "getting" these cast breaks even though they're not recommended. We've also noticed that Russell NEVER gets sick, except for right around those particular dates. We feel this is the Lord's hand in Russell's treatment. This is Heavenly Father's way of blessing Russell's treatment to be just what he needs. I am sure we would not have noticed the symptoms of the myopathy as quickly, and just straight casting, without any breaks, would have left him soooo weak, that the casting wouldn't be worth it.
So this time, we'd actually wondered if we really should schedule this casting date the regular 8 weeks after getting the previous one on, or if we should just schedule in the 6 week break. But we decided to go with the normal 8 week re-casting date, and just cut this cast off one week before getting the new cast. We thought we'd just see what a one week break would do. But once again, it looks like the Lord has different plans. Russell got the influenza virus last week. It wasn't bad-in fact, he had a much milder case than any of the rest of us. But he still has a cough and what appears to be a sore throat (not eating). Shriner's hospital called today, to check on his health for the past few weeks to make sure everything was ready for the surgery (new cast) next week. I have yet to talk to the anesthesiologist, but I'm pretty sure we're going to have to reschedule. We talked about leaving his cast on, but it just feels right to cut it off. Plus-who wants a cast on for Christmas?!!
I'm really grateful for this peace I have in my heart about all of this. This brings tears of gratitude to my heart, especially when I recall that post in April about how angry I was. I remember that anger, how awful I felt, and it is all gone. I didn't think I'd ever be at peace again until the cast was off. I have learned so much about faith, prayers, and finding peace and happiness in the midst of such personal uncertainty. Even with the added diagnosis of the myopathy, I just feel peace. In fact, I would say I have more peace since that diagnosis just because some of the pieces are coming together for us finally. It feels like we're on the right track, and everything will be ok. I know this is in part due to everyone's faith and prayers on our behalf. I hope you all know how grateful we are for you and your prayers. We are so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends through all of this. We have so much. My heart just feels so full and blessed this Christmas season. Thank you.
