Walk

Chase is walking. And walking well.

We have been close to this place before, so I hesitate to share it publicly.  A few weeks ago, his gait began to stabilize, and we thought our son was on his way to recovery. The elephant that had been sitting on my chest for weeks lifted, and found the chest of a new worried mama on which to park his wrinkly tail.

But then in just a few days, a setback occurred, with symptoms more pronounced and mobility almost non-existent. Three weeks into the injury, not only was Chase not any better, he had worsened. The fall I experienced from looking through that brief window of hope took me a few days to emotionally recover.  The elephant came back, heavier than before, having consumed the worries of someone else and now resting all of his bulk on me.

But then I called on you.

Hesitantly at first, and then a little more bold, and then frequently and unashamed. A mom would lay her life down for her child, and because that option wouldn’t help Chase, I laid down my pride.

I asked for your prayers for my son, and then you asked for them too. In a few short weeks, thousands were lifting the name of Chase to the Almighty from places like West Africa, Italy, Rwanda and South Miami. Places I have never visited and from faces I may never see, but if God really loves me, He will make sure to introduce us in heaven.

Our community, home state and many others also responded overwhelmingly. Acquaintances are now friends, and friends now family. The prayers poured out on my son’s behalf deepened relationships in a way that will forever change the way  I approach God’s people,  and most certainly the way I pray for them.

Chase still has a ways to go in the recovery process. Double vision and pain are still present, and returning to school most unlikely. But, we see progress, and for now that is enough as we relish in the joy that comes with answered prayers.

Chase is walking. 

And walking well.