This picture was taken right before Hannah went in to get her gallbladder out on Sunday. She was smiling all the way. I think she thought she was in a parade! Who smiles on their way to surgery??
Monday, April 3, 2017
Sunday, April 2, 2017
Saturday, April 1
We are officially free! I can't even put into words how nice it is to be out. That hospital is the best place to be when you need it, but the time had come to move on. We will forever be indebted to all the wonderful people who gave so much of themselves to the cause of saving Hannah. As our friend Alan Hollister wrote last week on the blog comments, "angels saving angels." So true!
Hannah, true to form, had a hard time leaving so many people she had come to love. There were lots of tears the last couple of days. On Friday she had been to a couple of her therapies but then had a half hour break. She knew it was someone's birthday (one of the patients), so she had gone off to see him and take him a present. When her speech therapist came to get her she said, "She's gone again? Have they made her the floor social worker or what?" I told her no, but I thought she might the hospital's most dedicated visiting teacher.
When telling two of her favorite therapists good-bye, they started telling her funny stories about when they first started working with her. I had totally forgotten about the things they were saying. I realized that so much of the last two months is now a gigantic blur, and seem more like a dream. This last week Hannah has started to ask about what really happened. She had been listening to voice mails from that first week and begun to read her emails and snap chats from friends. It made her so sad to see how worried and sad everyone had been. Now she keeps apologizing. I told her apologizing was ridiculous, and that I was just sad for everything she had to go through.
We are spending the weekend in Salt Lake so our family can go to General Conference. Hannah went today and loved it. But tomorrow we will head for home and all those things we hold near and dear. We all are going home changed people. Hannah, of course, is going home with some limitations that she didn't have when we came. But she's also going home with a renewed appreciation for life, an incredible inner strength that has been forged by the refiner's fire, and a stronger relationship with her Heavenly Father. The spiritual experiences she had will forever define her. She has talked with me about sharing some of her experiences, but in the end felt they were to personal and to sacred to share, at least for now.
As for the rest of the family, we too are changed. As a family we have become closer than ever before. I have been so touched to see how my children have rallied around Hannah and been there not only for her, but for me, for their dad, and for each other. I do not have words to express how much I love them and their wonderful spouses and how grateful I am so see how they support and love one another. As a mom, that is really the best gift I could ever ask for.
As for me, I never thought I would survive something so hard. I have never had to rely so heavily upon my Father-in-Heaven. I have prayed and pleaded for faith as mine wavered over and over again. I have felt like Peter, who tried walking on the water and showing his faith, only to begin sinking when the waves became rough and unsure. It seems all the things I have always professed to believe were put to the test. But as I have prayed, I have felt God's love. And I have seen his miracles. A lot of people think that God gives us trials, like he is up there orchestrating a grand scheme to see if we will pass some kind of test. I don't think it works that way. I have thought about this a lot and I don't think He is giving them to us, but I think He helps us through them. He, above all else, is simply a kind and loving Father. I have felt His love for His children time and time again in that hospital. I know He does not leave His suffering children alone. And that for me is life-changing.
The other night Hannah and I talked about what she'd like to say on the blog. I told her to summarize what she had learned. She said three things.
1. God loves us.
2. Miracles still happen.
3. Heaven is real.
As I end this blog, I want Hannah to know what an inspiration she is to me. I want her to know she has been teaching me what's important all her life, and that I am so grateful Heavenly Father let me be her mom. I also want you all to know how grateful our family is for your overwhelming love, support, and most importantly your prayers. I really believe our story might be altogether a different one if it wasn't for your prayers and the sustaining strength you have given us. We are the most blessed people on the planet to have you in our lives. Thank you. We love you.
Hannah, true to form, had a hard time leaving so many people she had come to love. There were lots of tears the last couple of days. On Friday she had been to a couple of her therapies but then had a half hour break. She knew it was someone's birthday (one of the patients), so she had gone off to see him and take him a present. When her speech therapist came to get her she said, "She's gone again? Have they made her the floor social worker or what?" I told her no, but I thought she might the hospital's most dedicated visiting teacher.
When telling two of her favorite therapists good-bye, they started telling her funny stories about when they first started working with her. I had totally forgotten about the things they were saying. I realized that so much of the last two months is now a gigantic blur, and seem more like a dream. This last week Hannah has started to ask about what really happened. She had been listening to voice mails from that first week and begun to read her emails and snap chats from friends. It made her so sad to see how worried and sad everyone had been. Now she keeps apologizing. I told her apologizing was ridiculous, and that I was just sad for everything she had to go through.
We are spending the weekend in Salt Lake so our family can go to General Conference. Hannah went today and loved it. But tomorrow we will head for home and all those things we hold near and dear. We all are going home changed people. Hannah, of course, is going home with some limitations that she didn't have when we came. But she's also going home with a renewed appreciation for life, an incredible inner strength that has been forged by the refiner's fire, and a stronger relationship with her Heavenly Father. The spiritual experiences she had will forever define her. She has talked with me about sharing some of her experiences, but in the end felt they were to personal and to sacred to share, at least for now.
As for the rest of the family, we too are changed. As a family we have become closer than ever before. I have been so touched to see how my children have rallied around Hannah and been there not only for her, but for me, for their dad, and for each other. I do not have words to express how much I love them and their wonderful spouses and how grateful I am so see how they support and love one another. As a mom, that is really the best gift I could ever ask for.
As for me, I never thought I would survive something so hard. I have never had to rely so heavily upon my Father-in-Heaven. I have prayed and pleaded for faith as mine wavered over and over again. I have felt like Peter, who tried walking on the water and showing his faith, only to begin sinking when the waves became rough and unsure. It seems all the things I have always professed to believe were put to the test. But as I have prayed, I have felt God's love. And I have seen his miracles. A lot of people think that God gives us trials, like he is up there orchestrating a grand scheme to see if we will pass some kind of test. I don't think it works that way. I have thought about this a lot and I don't think He is giving them to us, but I think He helps us through them. He, above all else, is simply a kind and loving Father. I have felt His love for His children time and time again in that hospital. I know He does not leave His suffering children alone. And that for me is life-changing.
The other night Hannah and I talked about what she'd like to say on the blog. I told her to summarize what she had learned. She said three things.
1. God loves us.
2. Miracles still happen.
3. Heaven is real.
As I end this blog, I want Hannah to know what an inspiration she is to me. I want her to know she has been teaching me what's important all her life, and that I am so grateful Heavenly Father let me be her mom. I also want you all to know how grateful our family is for your overwhelming love, support, and most importantly your prayers. I really believe our story might be altogether a different one if it wasn't for your prayers and the sustaining strength you have given us. We are the most blessed people on the planet to have you in our lives. Thank you. We love you.
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