My daughter, Cara Hope, who is now thirteen, was born with serious mental (and physical) problems.  She was born with brain damage that occurred either at or just before birth (we haven't figured that one out yet); it left her with the mind of an infant.  Although a teenager, Cara Hope has never walked, talked, dressed herself, or even eaten on her own: she is fed by way of a tube in her stomach, every five hours (and gets her medications the same way every four hours).

Cara Hope requires 24 hour care, day and night.  Somebody has to be with her at all times, in case something were to happen to her.  If we can't be with her, then we have my sister (who is a nurse) be with her.  Her name is Purity, but we call her Pretty (because she IS).

Besides Cara, we have two other children: eight-year-old Colton Michael, and four-year-old Camryn Danielle.  They don't often understand why their big sister can't play with them (especially Camryn), but they do know that she is "special", so they try to be understanding and patient towards her.  We make sure to have plenty of "cuddle-time" with Camryn and Colton, so they don't feel left out.

When Cara Hope is well, life is grand, but when she falls sick or ends up in the hospital (which is quite frequent, especially during the winter months), life seems to grind to a halt.  Either Jennie or myself (Daniel, or Danny for short) goes to the hospital (usually Cook Children's here in Fort Worth, Texas, where we make our home) to be with Cara Hope while the other parent stays at home with Colton and Camryn.

It is very hard wheenver Cara is sick because we are oftentimes unsure as to how she will do; we don't know whether she will pull through or not.  She can get dangerously sick, even if she gets something as simple as the common cold: and with Cara, nothing is really ever simple.

We know that Cara won't live as long as we will, which makes all of us sad, but we try to thank God that she si still here, with us, so we try to be grateful, even during the bad times.  God has gotten her through so much already; it just shows how strong of a person she really is.

If Cara Hope has taught us anything, it is patience.  Also compassion, empathy, and most of all, love in its purest form.  She is our teacher, and we, her family, are her interested pupils.  She is truly our Miracle-Child, and we cannot imagine life without her.