It has been a rather stressful few months for our family. Our youngest child, Mikkaylah Lynn, who is nearly six now, continues to battle the effects of progeria, or premature aging. She had her cataract-removal surgery. She did great -- but then, just two days later, she had compications, which meant worry (on our part) and fighting for life (on her part).
Mikkaylah suffered a stroke. It was a bad one. We thought she was going to die, but miraculously, she survived -- but not without lasting effects.
Mikkaylah is paralyzed on her left side (the stroke affected the right side of her brain) and she is learning to talk all over again. She has physical/speech/occupational therapy four days a week. She cannot walk yet, but the therapists are hopeful that she will learn to do so someday; we just have to learn to be patient is all. Right now, she uses a wheelchair that we push. Even though it is one of the smallest models available, the chair still swallows her up; she looks so tiny sitting in it!
Mikkaylah had the stroke on Christmas Day. Needless to say, Christmas for us was anything but merry: we spent it at our child's bedside at the hospital, praying for a miracle from God.
God gave us that miracle: Mikkaylah survived the stroke, even though the doctors said she wouldn't.
Now we take it one step at a time as Mikkaylah continues to overcome the effects of the stroke. At least, for the time being, we don't have to worry about her vision, now that the cataracts have been removed; however, whenever she goes outside, she has to wear her special dark sunglasses because the brightness of the sun would hurt her eyes, thus, possibly damaging her (restored) vision. Mikkaylah looks just like a minature movie star when she has her glasses on!
Nearly losing our daughter only makes time with her that more precious. We cherish each and every day we have with her; we thank God for every day that He allows her to live, and we do all we possibly can to give her a life full of joy, love, adventure, and happiness.
*to be continued.*
