This too shall pass

For nearly 8 months, we have had a quote hanging on our refrigerator which reads, "I do not deny the reality of my situation. I do deny the finality of it. This too, shall pass."

Yesterday, these words took on new meaning as we visited a neurologist for the first time since Carl's accident. The goal for this visit was to see if he could offer any other options for dealing with nerve pain in Carl's foot. (thankfully, the Lyrica drug has helped lessen the pain and discomfort during the past months, but the high dosage he takes also has the side effect of "slowing down the brain" and it is frustrating for Carl to not be able to think as quickly on his feet as he has in the past. He will try to lessen the dosage over the next few weeks and see what happens.)

First of all, it was wonderful to hear a new doctor say that based on the accident and surgery reports he had read before seeing Carl, he certainly did not expect to see someone in as good shape as he is. He seemed genuinely impressed!

Carl's strength and energy have been returning, and the really good news is that he is able to wiggle his big toe! (Remember we were told early on that one of the nerves in his right leg had been severed so it seemed impossible that the foot drop would ever get better.) But the bottom line is, when you can move your toes, your foot follows and you are able to walk without limping. Carl wears his orthodic brace only every other day, because he is determined not to become dependent on the brace if there is even a slight possibility that his gait can improve without it.

We were all smiles after we left the doctor's office. It's not like anything major happened there, but we just have so much hope. We have prayed---and so many of you have as well---that God would completely restore Carl's legs and heal his body. We believe that He is doing just that. And yes, there are obstacles that will have to be dealt with in the months ahead, but for now, we rest in God's faithfulness to us.

"Hope is not immune to reality but transcendent of it. Hope lifts us up to higher ground, where we can see the bigger picture, the wider vista, the far horizon."

PS Carl is looking forward to mowing the lawn on Saturday. He loves his riding mower!