AMY'S BIRTHDAY

Amy turned 12 years old on Wednesday. What a special day of celebration. We started the day with breakfast in bed. Amy had been awake at 3,4, 5 and 6 a.m anticipating her big party. She could only eat half of her breakfast, she was so excited. After school 12 little girls came over and Russ gave them rides on the four wheeler as they ran the dogs through the woods. After pizza, we went into town for a swim party. We ended up playing keep away from Russ and Daniel. More than once there were five or six little girls hanging on Daniel trying to get the ball away. Through it all, Amy could hardly stop laughing. Filled with joy to be surrounded by her friends. After the party Russ and the kids had meetings to go to, so it was just Amy and I, and she was hungry! As we sat at McDonalds, she giggled and laughed as we talked about her big day. She could finally relax and enjoy her meal. As I watched her, I thought of all we have been through together. More than once she faced death while fighting leukemia. I don't know if you have ever been in a situation like this, but when death was near, I could see it in her eyes, I could feel it in the room.There is a heavy presence. I begged God to spare her. With every fiber in my being I fought for her life. And she lived! I feel privileged to be Amy's mother, and watch her go through life care free, enjoying the simplest things life has to offer. As Easter approaches, the air is filled with hope. When Amy was fighting for her life, I played the song "There is Hope for the Hopeless" over and over. I printed the words and hung them on the refrigerator, as a reminder not to give up.

When hearts start to break and emotions run wild, when it's all you can do just to paint on a smile, when tears start to flow down the lines on your face, you may feel there's no mercy, but don't give up on grace...There's hope for the hopeless, there is no need to fear, when all seems lost, Jesus is here. There is joy in the morning, you can find happiness, if you look to the lord, there is hope, there is hope for the hopeless. In a world full of pain, you can never escape, you can run from your fears, but they keep up the pace! Just when if seems that the race will not end, you come to a place where the healing begins....there is hope for the hopeless, there is no need to fear, when all seems lost Jesus is here. There is joy in the morning, you can find happiness, if you look to the lord, there is hope, there is hope for the hopeless!!

We faced low hemoglobin, high white blood counts, infections in the catheters, liver damage, possible liver transplant, cyto megalo virus, drugs I can't pronounce, blood transfusions and temperatures spiking. Through all that, with the support of my family and the strength from the lord, we made it. Now, if Amy doesn't seem "normal" to some people, I feel sorry for them, because they don't know what I do. Knowing the story of Dick Hoyt and his son Rick, the father/son team who run races and triathlons...with Dick pushing or pulling Rick because he is disabled...I understand. Because Dick knows the love that is unexplainable. A love that goes beyond the worlds standard. A love that reaches deeper than the world can understand. It knows no boundary. It doesn't measure success with how much money you make or the car you drive. It measures success with the heart.

For those of you who know someone who has a child with special needs, don't pity them, envy them. Not for the trials and tragedies they have to go through, but because they experience a love like no other. We were Chosen for this gift. It is a grand day. Amy's birthday. My life will never be the same, and that is a good thing.