Rhea Lyne' is at the center of our lives.  There isn't a day where we don't worry about her.  She requires 24-hour medical care, and we can't do anything without planning on how we are going to take care of her and take care of the other children, too.

Rhea, who is seven, has severe cerebral palsy, brain damage (resulting in the cerebral palsy), and is nonverbal, unable to walk, feed herself, or do anything a normal little girl should do.  She ended up this way because of a doctor's negligence.  He gave her the wrong drug, and it proved to be lethal.

We are still fighting the hospital, trying to sue the doctor who did this to her.  It's been nothing but one legal loophole after another; it seems as if nobody even cares what has happened to us, and especially to Rhea.

Besides Rhea, we have two other children:  ten-year-old Tanner Rheese and twelve-year-old Jillian Patricia.  It's been hardest on Tanner because Rhea is the only other girl, and Jillian feels frustrated because her little sister can't do anything but lie there and wait for someone to provide for her needs.  Jillian wishes she could tell her about school, play sports (soccer or softball) with her, play the latest rock hits and sing along with the music, and go shopping when she and her friends go to the mall.

Jillian has to do everything with her brother, and unfortunately, Tanner and Jillian do not get along that well: they are constantly butting heads, until we are ready to scream with frustration!

Jillian should remember this: at least she can get a break from her sister, as can Tanner.  We, being Rhea's parents (as well as mom and dad to Tanner and Jillian), can't.  We both work from home because Rhea's health is so precarious at best.

Because Rhea cannot swallow or cough, she is prone to respiratory infections or illnesses that have put her into the Intensive Care at the children's hospital here in town (she's often on oxygen at night when she goes to bed), and she has to have physiotherapy twice a day for over an hour, to help keep her lungs as clear as possible.

My mother comes over quite regularly to help both Dwight and myself out; we can't do it on our own, and Mother has been nothing but a huge blessing in helping us out (and giving us a much needed break with Rhea).

Well, it is time to feed Rhea her "supper", so we will run along now.  We also have to give her her round of eveing meds (both administered through her feeding tube, which has been surgically placed into her stomach, as she cannot eat, chew, or swallow on her own), and get her ready for bed.  I will write in here again another time; hopefully Rhea will continue to stay well, so she doesn't end up in the hospital again.  Take care and God bless; keep those prayers coming for our girl! We appreciate each and every prayer we do get!

~Sincerely, Henrietta Nobles, Columbus, Ohio.