God's Got Good for the Currats

 Dear Prayer Warriors,

The tears and sadness shed at my daughter Anna’s birth remain so distant as we celebrated with great joy her 12^th birthday two weeks ago. I wept gallons or so it seemed during her 7 week stay at the Evanston Northshore NICU. The banner over us during that time would have read, “God’s got good for Anna!” These were the absurd words from our faith provoking pastor at the time. We did take it in faith, rather than rejecting the claim based on the medical testing indicating extensive brain damage and a prognosis of disability. The hospital was a time marked with people from church who would come to support us in prayer and share a meal with us. Although I’ve shared this story years ago, it’s on my heart to repeat. I clearly recall a lady with an unknowing Word for me. It was the kind of message that could easily have been taken the wrong way given our fragile situation and I would have bluntly shown her the door, but God helped us receive this message. Similar to “God’s got good for Anna.” This lady helped us see with eyes of faith.

 

 We returned home from spending the day at the hospital. Those were exhausting days with lots of praying. Lindsey and I were tired and thankful that an old lady was coming over with a meal. It was someone we had never met before. Anna’s traumatic birth and our petitioning the church for prayer made it so that everyone knew us, at the time, we only knew a handful of families mostly our age. We were the couple from the inner city who drove 30 minutes to the wealthy Northshore to go to church. We had been attending that church for about a year when Anna was born. It's surprising that an old lady would sign up to manage the city streets and drop off a meal to us.  That night, we were hoping for a food drop off at the door, with little to no small talk, and us eating out of containers on the couch. Truthfully, our inner-city, basement apartment was seldom visitor ready especially after weeks of being in survival mode at the hospital.

 

The old church lady rang the bell, I climbed the stairs to answer the door and she promptly handed me a couple of bags. She announced “I’d like to set things up for you if I may.” And followed me down the stairs. She introduced herself as someone who worked with handicapped children in the school districts; her hands were busy arranging the clutter on the table, piling paperwork, homework, and cards of encouragement perhaps like a pushy mother-in-law would do. She placed the clothes on one of the harder to reach chairs. Once the clutter was tidy and enough room was made for the contents in her bag, she laid out nice disposable placemats and several courses made from scratch. I sat at one of the chairs at the table, tired, the conversation made it so that I wasn’t really aware of all she was doing. This meal was going a little overboard on the details as she placed flowers on the table and pulled out the last accent on dinner: the sparkling grape juice. She looked at the set-up, then looked at us defeated first-time parents, and smiled as if her mission was accomplished. Then full of the Spirit she said “there, you’re overwhelmed, I know your daughter remains in the hospital and you can’t be with her. Your trial right now is all you can think about. God is with you. One day your life will be about celebrating her birthday and you will focus more on this type of stuff.” As she pointed out to the elegant spread before us. She left right after that statement leaving behind a table that looked like we were celebrating rather than being beat down.

 

We believed that “God has got good for Anna.” We couldn’t see it, the doctors weren’t saying it, the test suggested otherwise, but it compelled me in faith!! Why? Not because of Anna, but because God is good! I’m so thankful for those words of my pastor and that of the old lady that drove my mind into faith rather than fear. Her gesture of hospitality ministered to me so much. There will be a day when God rights every wrong! Until then, one of the biggest preparations we will ever undertake is shaping up. Next year, we are planning on spending Anna’s Make-A-Wish wish. We are aiming for an elegant ball at a castle-like venue, where she arrives in a horse drawn carriage, excellent musicians leading the night, and we end in a hymn sing. Why? Because those are some of Anna’s favorite things. Phew, can’t wait.  

 

We have good and bad medical news to share regarding Anna. The good news is that the treatment for her Epileptic condition known as ESES has brought a reduction of “misfires” in her nervous system. We are going to continue to use this daily high dose of Valium through the month of June and test her again once weaned. Our prayer is for even less “misfires”. We are persisting with Anna’s GI doctor to evaluate her overall nutrition through weight gain, measuring food consumption, hydration, bowel movements and blood work. After noticing that Anna has persistently low white blood cells, the doctor began to ask other questions that seemed unrelated, “have you noticed hair loss?” We informed her that Anna has a bald spot on her head that isn’t from her headrest. After looking at it, the GI doctor referred us to a Rheumatologist because Anna is showing symptoms similar to autoimmune diseases. Now we haven’t had to deal with a new diagnosis in a while, but my heart dropped when I heard this. Dad guilt tried creeping in, must Anna need more complications? Instead of staying there heartbroken, I took a step back and thought, Anna lives in probably the best country in the world for helping meet the needs of a complex handicap girl and Colorado is likely the best state among all the states for helping families with special needs. How good is that?! When God said He would equip, in His Omniscience, He made me grow up in Colorado and own an apartment in Denver for 8 years before returning from Chicago with Anna. Now Anna has arguably the most aid anyone like her can get. Wow, praise the Lord.

 

Renee’s birthday

 Two weeks before Anna’s birthday, we celebrated Renee’s birthday. It started at the counter of the Waffle House with me. We were delighted by the buzzing of the cooks and waitresses. I go for the hashbrowns, Renee goes for the waffles. It has become our birthday tradition. Next came a perfect little birthday party at 10AM with a theme of craft making because that is her favorite. We were able to pull off a quick game of duck, duck, goose too. She is a blazing 7 years old. Mom made an incredible cake of course and Renee felt the love all day long. On occasion, she still carries a trauma reaction to a non-trauma situation. Her emotions go deep, fast. In many ways, our third born has been asked to lace up the shoes of a first born child. Even after therapy and time, we hope and count on the grace of God to grow her into more faith and mature processing as those instances surface. She struggles with reading and writing but it's coming! Renee is often obedient, loves to color and takes great care of her 6 dolls. She asked mom to make a growth chart for her dolls like the one we have for our kids! The other day, mom and I were treated to each of her dolls wearing a dress meant for her soon-to-be-born baby sister (arriving in about 2 weeks). She picked a full length song for each doll to dance to while in her arms. After about 20 minutes of watching her doll dance show I was spent. She is a joy to be around but don’t give her too much sugar. Renee is the #1 fan of this baby mommy is growing right now. Her excitement brings a smile to my face as she considers everything it takes in welcoming home a newborn baby.

 

Please Pray for:

-Anna to not have an autoimmune disease. For full healing, for seizures to stop, and a greater testimony of God’s glory through her life.

-her Make-a-wish ball and hymn sing. That God would delight us in honoring Anna’s life.

-precious Renee to grow into her faith and grasp the Father’s love for her. That grace would mark the wounds she unfairly received through trauma, grief and loss.

-Lindsey’s completion of pregnancy with a victorious labor and delivery. Pray for angels to attend and protection for both the baby and mom during the ordeal, due date is 3-30. Pray especially that labor would start on its own, not needing to be induced.

-this unborn daughter, that she would lay a hold of faith and grace to be a hopeful servant of her perfect heavenly Father. We assign a hymn for each of our kids. The hymn we have been singing while she is in her mother’s womb is This is my Father’s World. If the song lays on your heart please join us in wonder at our great God who gives good gifts.    

Join us in rejoicing and praying, 

Nic for the Currats