Letter from James and Lynette
02/25/2007

February 25, 2007 10:01 PM

Dear Faithful Friends,

Not soon after James sent the last update, Sydney started to begin to feel herself again and I have come to grips with being a nurse (or I have learned to trust the Lord here also). There has been much less of a struggle and much more laughter and contentment. Deep inside I knew that the child we were seeing the last part of our hospital stay was not Sydney. When we arrived at the Helmsley she was still being weaned from massive amounts of pain medications she had been on for her excruciating pain. She would wake up from naps crying and ask, "Why am I so mad, why I wake up mad?" I would just hold her and comfort her until she worked out of it. It began to take less and less time. Looking back, I have realized that some of the medications she was on were definitely affecting her thinking. I am so thankful we were able to wean her from most of those! Now, she is able to wake up with anticipation and excitement. We are trying to get out each day for an outing. She loves going to the pet store to look at the puppies in the window. She also loves going to Aunt Marcee and Nana's room to eat dinner, play "Hot Potato" or watch a movie with them and Aunt Becky. God is restoring her. It is amazing! Wow, God has brought us so far.

The danger Sydney was in does not seem possible, but she has the scars to show it. One morning we were reading her devotional and it was about David and the honesty he had with God. He wrote about God as his rescuer in 2 Samuel 22:17, "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters". I explained to her that she was "under DEEP water" when we were in the POU (ICU) and that God reached down and brought her out. She looked at me and said, "MOM, He didn't have to reach down, His finger is as long as the deep, deep ocean. I am tiny next to His fingernail"! "WOW", I said, "You are right, God was right there with us and all He did was lift you." Praise be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!!!

Although I have not gone through near what Sydney has, I told James I feel like I have been in "Suffering 101". It is a crash course that cuts to the chase on many areas of your life. It is sure to point out:

• Your spiritual maturity - Just how dependent are you on Christ? Who are you trusting?
• What you use to cope.
• How you deal with relationships.
• What your excuses are.
• Parenting strategies.
• The games you play in your marriage.

• Sydney is on less medication.
• Sydney is herself again.
• She is still eating!
• We are getting out more.
• We are still outpatients.
• God's mercies are new each morning.

• Bone Marrow will grow into a healthy, long living marrow.
• We return home at perfect time for Sydney.
• James remains healthy, encouraged and patient.
• Strength and guidance for all caretakers, doctors, and all those who constantly serve us.
• To God be the Glory.