Spending the day with 2 angels + video
I had the precious honor of spending the day with 2 angels. They are both living proof that when we go through great difficulties we do not lose our spirit or faith in God when we trust Him with all our hearts. I had the best time taking photos of the winners of Be A Gift… enjoy the special video and take the time to listen to the beautiful song… you are SO LOVED.
Here are their stories: 2 angels Laurie and Linda
Laurie’s 15 year old son, John Hayden Stanley was hit by a car March 31, 2007. Hayden was standing within 3 to 4 feet of the curb in front of his own house when he was hit by a teen driver who was speeding and not paying attention. Hayden was dragged 55 feet under the car and was left trapped under the car. Hayden spent 6 weeks in the intensive care unit at Cox South in Springfield, he was then transferred to St. Louis Childrens Hospital for 13 weeks. Due to Traumatic Brain Injury Hayden was given less than a 1% chance of surviving, but has now been in a coma for about 22 months. He’s now in his own home in Springfield, his parents provide his 24 hr care. He is not fully responsive so he still needs alot of care, he also has periodical hospital stays due to pneumonia and seizures.
Special note from Laurie:
The women at JRA have absolutely blown me away! What an amazing blessing I was given to be chosen for Be A Gift; amazing that they would choose to honor someone who isn’t even a member. My day of pampering and shopping was the most spectacular day, and one of the best days of my life. The women that I had the pleasure of spending the day with were an even bigger blessing for me, we laughed, we cried, we bonded. I didn’t just spend the day with strangers, I made new friends that I plan on keeping for the rest of my life; friends that uplifted me, gave me encouragement, and wisdom that will last far beyond that day. The generosity of JRA is the most overwhelming thing of all, their help will greatly improve our daily struggles, and help us get back to the most important thing in life…our family! I will be forever grateful and thankful to JRA and to God for the life changing, spirit filling honor I’ve been given!
O LORD, thou has brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. …in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing:…To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. PSALMS 30:3,5,11-12
Not long after we moved here in the Fall of 2000, Linda began to yearly experience sinus infections. On the last week of April 2009, Linda developed what we thought was one of those. It was the same signs and symptoms (i.e. stuffy nose, sore throat, cough and headache), followed by her same method of recovery (drag herself to work, eventually go the doctor, finally get relief.) However, this time, she could NOT get rid of the massive headache, even after her doctor’s visit.
On Saturday morning, May 2nd, at approximately 8:45AM, I found Linda curled in a ball on the loveseat, sobbing uncontrollably and grabbing her head with both hands. I took her immediately to the emergency room where they quickly provided her relief through IV medication and conducted a CT scan. The E.R. Physician came into Linda’s room and calmy stated that her sinus cavities were totally clear, BUT she had several spots on her brain. A MRI was immediately scheduled, the results of which showed she had 5 – 7 “multi-focal lesions” in the temporal and parietal lobes of her right brain. By five o’clock, they had admitted Linda as a patient on the Oncology floor of St. John’s hospital. She stayed there until the following Wednesday, being released with the diagnosis of malignant brain cancer (Glioblastoma multi-forme).
From the time Linda arrived at the hospital, until the time she was discharged, God hand-picked every technician, phlebotamist, nurse and doctor, who cared for Linda’s medical needs. HE now continues to meet EVERY other need we have through loving family and friends, whom God has brought to our rescue during this time in our life.
Linda’s treatment protocal will consist of approximatley 36 days of radiation and chemotherapy, followed by approxiamtely eleven months of continued chemotherapy.
The song that has ministered to me the most this past year- LOVE IT. What a blessing of a day for you friend. How I pray these women were ministered to, blessed and this day will carry them far as each of them have roads ahead of them.