My take on Michelle Kidwell's character, Rebekkah Cohen.
Michelle, thanks for brightening my world with this brave young bundle of courage; and thanks for all your love and support. This story is for you; enjoy! :)
July 12, 2007, 3:23 p.m.~
Dear Journal~
It's me, Rebekkah Rachel Cohen.
I am sorry if I have seemed distant, so depressed lately, but once you understand the magnitude of what I have been going through lately, maybe then you will understand.
First and foremost, my mom has been diagnosed with FA (Frederich's ataxxia--spelling??), a neuromuscular disorder that's in the muscular dystrophy family. Speaking of muscular dystrophy, I have also found out that my little brother, Daniel, has been diagnosed with Duchenne's, which is the worst form of muscular dystrophy a person can have. (Duchenne's is also what my boyfriend, Johnny, has.)
Anyway, Frederich's ataxxia affects my mom's motor skills, her balance, her speech. The doctor wants her to use a wheelchair; she won't hear of it. The other day, mom fell; thank God she wasn't hurt, but it scared us all halfway to death! It's terrifying to think what her future might be like. Will she become totally dependent on us that she will end up helpless as a newborn baby, or end up in a (God forbid!) nursing home?
I try not to think about this, seeing mama has little ones to care for, babies, but when I see her struggling to do things or hearing her cry in frustration in the middle of the night, I can't help it. It's only natural that a kid worry about her parent when something bad happens to him (or her).
Susie is now a Christian. Just before she got sick (our last conversation), she I.M.'ed me, told me that she accepted Jesus Christ into her heart. When I heard that, I cried because I have been praying hard for her salvation, as have many other people. I guess Susie decided she'd been through enough in her personal life. She decided she couldn't handle any more stuff, so she made the decision to accept Christ into her heart.
Now she lies sick in a hospital bed, recovering from major brain surgery--and a stroke. She only woke up from her coma a few days ago, and she is still pretty much out of it.
Here's what happened: just as we were getting ready to leave for Centennial Park, Audrey (Susie's mom) called mom to tell her to meet her at Nashville Memorial Hospital, as Susie'd been rushed there by ambulance. Apparently, Susie had a very bad seizure that didn't let up; she was in ICU, tubes sprouting from her.
When I visited her in the ICU, I could hardly make her out from all the tubes and wires sprouting from (and in) her. A respirator breathed for her; the beeps/hums from the monitors were the only indication that she was alive. It was very upsetting. Susie had a big, white bandage covering her head, and an ICD (intercranial device) was monitoring the pressure inside her brain. She looked like some crazy madman's idea for a bizarre medical experiment. To see Susie looking like that, so helpless, so vulnerable, made me cry.
Despit all the doubts from neurologists and other doctors, she did emerge from the coma with all her faculties intact, which is a miracle in itself. The day Susie woke up from her coma was a very happy one, to say the least.
What caused all of this mess in the first place was that Susie had suffered a stroke when a blood clot lodged in her brain. This was why she had all those nasty seizures.
Needless to say, our Fourth of July holiday plans were dashed when Susie got sick and we got that call from Audrey. She was in tears, she was so upset. Instead of celebrating our nation's birthday, we spent a good chunk of it in a hospital waiting room, hanging onto one another, crying helplessly. No fireworks. No picnics. No fun and games or midway rides. No concerts. No seeing Johnny and Ronee' performing on stage. No parades. No military flyovers. No marching bands or floats, no candy or other goodies being thrown, Mardi-Gras-style, to the throngs of people along the parade route. Just heartbreak on top of heartbreak. Our Fourth of July was worse than a rained-out fireworks display: it was a complete dud, thanks to Susie's latest medical crisis.
Susie is now awake, but her future is still "in limbo": her future is still in doubt. I'm scared; I don't know what I would do if my friend were to suddenly get worse and die. I'm scared that something bad'll happen to mama or one of the kids. (Or me.)
Well, mama needs my help (AGAIN), so I have to go now. I'll write in here again later; until then, take care! I also have to help daddy with the other kids and do my chores.
Wow! So much going on in Rebekkah's life...much like reality for many. Touching write with her thoughts of her mother, and the fear of having to put her in a nursing home...one that many have dreaded and tried to avoid, sad. I met a young man the other night at a friends church we visited, who has Duchenne's disease, he was a fantastic singer had a beautiful little boy very upbeat young man. My sister in law told me that his wife had left him and her son shortly after he had to begin using the wheelchair, but he hasn't allowed that to dampen his spirits...he sang beautiful and very powerful. I was truly touched. Great write my friend, very emotional and heartfelt.
Blessings,
Joyce B.
I love your take On Rebekka Rachel, you do her so well, as always thank you for sharing, and I am so glad to be reading your stories.
God Bless
Michelle!
When a family member or a dear friend is in need, the Fourth of July celebration can wait, because we have to go to the ones we love, and celebrate their life. When we choose to celebrate that life, by being there for them, God is with us and them. This story sent chills right through me, Karen. It is a very heartfelt and soulful piece, telling of the concerns for one's life, over partying and celebrating a nation's birthday. I am sure that the souls of our founding fathers approve of being at the hospital, rather than watching a fireworks display, because the life of the one in the hospital is more important. Thank you for sharing Karen.
May the Lord Jesus bless you, and those whom you love, and be with you always, and at your side constantly. With much love in my heart, joy to the world, peace on earth, & ((((((((((MANY WONDERFUL SISTERLY HUGGGGSSSS)))))))))), sister Barbie
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