Sunday, September 2, 2007, London, England~

Shalom, Journal! (Or should that be Hellooooooooo! *attempting British accent LOL*)

T'is your friend, Rebekkah Rachel. Yesterday was a red-letter day: my friend, Susie Callaway, IM'ed me, said she is doing better, but she is getting frustrated at not being able to talk. Susie will return to the hospital 3x a week for PT; to have her getting out of the hospital so soon is nothing short of a miracle.

Also, I was told by my doctors here that I may be able to dance again, which would be a huge dream come true for me. This is remarkable, seeing I have two artificial legs; my doctors back in the states didn't hold out much hope for me. Now docs here are saying that down the road I can lead a normal life. WOW!! Also, I am starting to feel pain!!

It may sound weird to be happy about something like that, but ever since I was small, I never could feel pain, and I would oftentimes end up in trouble. I could hold a lit match to my leg or anywhere else on my body, or sit in a (near) scalding hot tub of water, and not so much as flinch. It sounds strange, but that's how it was for me. I also was prone to all kinds of infection, and until I got sick, I never knew about having an infection. Well, the last time I got NF (necrotizing fasciitis, or flesh-eating disease), and from what I remember, it was nasty!!

I nearly died. I nearly died last time in the hospital too; this was one reason why I am now in England, to see if something can be done to give me some semblance of a normal life. I am still feeling a bit weak, but every day I am getting stronger.

I did find out that my condition is getting worse. Very scary. In fact, the docs back home said I was going to die. Yet now I finally have a sense of hope; Yeshua is blessing me, and I hope He never stops! I can get used to this! :)

At least the MRIs are behind me (for now!). I am glad I am not claustrophobic, like my boyfriend, Johnny: he is so bad they have to knock his happy butt out or else he'd try to tear the MRI scanner apart! LOL

Johnny is doing okay: not great, but okay. His MD is getting worse, but he's hanging in there. I wish I could have some of his toughness; he is one of the most courageous kids I have ever met! I just wish he were closer; I loved it when we were in Tennessee because I could see him just about evrey day, which was wonderul! :) I love that boy....*sighhhh*

Ronee' broke her foot; is now toddling around on crutches. Fell in a hole while getting the mail. Boy, when she does it, she does it good! She is now sporting a bright pink cast on her foot, and is using her crutches again (and complaining the whole time, I bet; she hates her crutches! LOL). Ronee' will be on the crutches for at least another month or so. I was so sorry to hear this; she has been doing phenominally well with her health!

I did something last month I never thought I would do: we went to Israel for vacation. We came to Israel to get away from all the strife back home. We all need a break from life, it seems. It was nice, though, to  see the areas where Jesus actually walked during His lifetime; very fascinating. It brought to me a deeper appreciation of both the Christian/Jewish side of my faith! :)

I don't know if we are going to move back to California, but right now I am trying to adjust to life here. I can't understand the way people talk here; it is all so confusing. For example, what they call "chips" come to mean what we call "French Fries"! Or the trunk of the car is referred to not as a "trunk", but a "bonnet". Or, as another example, they say "loo" for "restroom". It's no wonder I am so flummoxed half of the time when I hear the British people talk! They all sound so----proper! :)

Tennessee was nice, but it just didn't offer what my parents wanted. It was good to see Johnny/Bill/Louisiana/Ronee', etc., on a daily basis instead of through pictures or a computer screen! That was too cool!

I hope things continue to improve for Susie. When I heard she had collapsed, I felt my heart drop to my toes! Hopefully she can make up with Louisiana Sandusky (or her mom); hopefully her mom can do the same! Those three have been fighting like cats and dogs lately! If you ask me, I am acting more like the adult than they are, and I am only a kid, getting ready to go to college soon!

Whoops! The phone is ringing; have to go on and get it! Maybe it's Susie! (Somehow I doubt that; she can't talk right now! Boy, Rebekkah, sometimes you are so stupid! LOL)

Take care and Yeshua bless! (He sure is blessing me; hope it lasts! :) )

~Love, Rebekkah Rachel. :)