Two years ago you nearly left our family. You suffered a devastating stroke, and doctors didn't offer you (or us) much in the way of hope. In fact, when we first saw you in the Intensive Care ward that day, the doctors said you were on the verge of death; you were just a few hours from dying.
But now look at you. Two years later, and you are still here, never ceasing to amaze all who know you, and never ceasing to astound your doctors. You are growing up each and every day, and it is hard to believe that next Wednesday, Christmas Day, you will be 10 years old. Your tenth birthday. No longer a little girl. Almost a teenager.
You are growing taller (maybe not as fast as you would probably like), but you ARE growing! You are taller now this year than you were last year, or even the year before, or the year before that. Sure, you are short, in comparison to your classmates or most kids your age, but you ARE getting taller! You now come up to my armpits, and I can look right into your eyes without having to bend over and strain my back. If that isn't proof that you are growing taller, than I don't know what is! And you are going to need new crutches soon; the ones you have now are getting to be too small. More proof that you are growing up!
Even if you ARE going to be smaller than average, please don't be disappointed. Look at me, your mother. I am not even 4'9" tall; yet, do you hear me complaining? Be proud of who you are inside, NOT of what you are on the outside! You are a beautiful little girl, not only on the outside, but on the inside as well! That is most important, not how tall you are or how you may look to others!
And you have come such a long way from your stroke. It will be two years ago Christmas Day when you had your stroke. Your doctors didn't hold much in the way of hope for you, but YOU, dearest, have come ahead with leaps and bounds; and when people look at you, they don't even KNOW you even HAD a stroke, you look THAT good! You look just like a normal little girl of nearly ten years, and you ACT like a normal little girl, too! Sure, you may have some weakness or numbness in your left side from the stroke; but most people don't even know that unless you tell them! And your smile has returned to its normal apprearance; there is NOTHING lopsided about it! You get around so well it is amazing just to watch you! You get around better now than you did BEFORE you had your stroke!!
I remember seeing you right after you had your stroke. You were in the Intensive Care Ward, hooked up to a myriad of tubes and wires and monitoring equipment, and you lay there, unmoving, unseeing, unfeeling. You looked as though you were close to death, and it scared and upset us. You were paralyzed, the doctors said, and there was talk of brain damage; but when you emerged from your coma and weakly said my name, oh, how we cried! That was the miracle we had all been praying for! We also cried and prayed as you underwent your painful therapy sessions, but you never complained, no, not once. You just gritted your teeth and were more determined than ever to overcome the effects of the stroke.
And overcome you did. You were walking on your crutches only a few months after you had your stroke, and shortly thereafter you were regaining lost skills with your affected hand. You were determined to regain your life; and while you had your bad days, we never left your side, and we cried and prayed with you. We know it wasn't easy, and yet, despite all you had been through, you didn't lose your faith or your courage; and this is one reason we feel you are the way you are today. You are an achiever, and you are an overcomer in the true st sense of the word.
And you are probably our best Christmas present. We have Christmas each and every day because of you. You are so full of the Christmas spirit all year round, and we are reminded of God's Love by giving us His Gift..His Son..whenever we look at you. You are OUR gift, and even though you were born ON Christmas Day, we feel we have been given one of the best presents ever..YOU. We were blessed by God with you, and we always want you to remember that.
May you have a very merry Christmas, and may your Christmas Birthday be merry AND bright! Happy Christmas Birthday, Ronee'!!
Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday, Ronee' dearest!!
With much love, your Maman. (((HUGS)))) and XXXXX, too!!
i agree with michelle...beautiful! you should be published...and i get the first book, 'cause i'm your twin, right? :) (((HUGS))) and i will always support you...*tears* (((HUGS))) and love, karla. :)
Beuatifully written, your work never ceases to amaze me Karen, I believe one day You Will Be Published and I will be purchasing your book, I am surprised you are not already published. Keep it up Karen, and know you are in my prayers.
(((((hugz))))
Your Friend
~Michelle~
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