Core's Continued Miracles -- A Little Bit of What You Feel

I always learn new things about Cora while observing her among peers. But tonight she did something incredible, awe inspiring, miraculous even. She just started a beginner gymnastics class and is currently in year 7 of occupational therapy (there’s a 3 year hiatus in there). In OT she’s been working on balancing on a high balance beam for the last few years. BUT, tonight she learned how to get on a balance beam, come to standing, and walk across ALL UNASSISTED on the first try!! My gosh. I just stood in awe, ugly crying, and silently thanking my Heavenly Father. Wow.

Yesterday I was watching a movie with a scene about a young boy with unexpected health challenges that would change the trajectory of his life and suddenly found myself weeping with this fictional on-screen mother and the new life she would begin. I was shocked how quickly the emotions came flooding back in the blink of an eye; love, grief, inadequacy, exhaustion, hope, confusion, defeat, and light….all of it. I was instantly brought back to memories of 10.5 years ago with my darling Cora. Our journey together of fighting insurance, doctors, IEP’s, and prejudice. Our journey together of hope, love, determination, celebration, and potential. I wouldn’t change it.

And so tonight I sit in silence at the end of a fulfilling day with deep gratitude for a most loving and intimately present Father in heaven. I know that because our Savior lived, died, and lives again for us, that my Cora will one day be blessed with a gloriously perfect body and mind. Because He lives we ALL can be made whole, both in body and spirit. I cannot begin to count the number of miracles I’ve seen on her behalf and I thank Him everyday that He is so merciful in letting her live and experience this life.

*I sent the above journal entry to Donna and John and this was the response from John:

Dearest Becky. So I read your story and testimony a while ago. I hope it's okay with you that I saved it with the intention to memorialize it. Your words made this sentimental old fart ugly cry too. Heavenly Father blessed me to feel just a little bit of what you feel. I'm serious when I say that you should also memorialize those words for your posterity. I feel privileged that you are a part of my family. I've never seen a more remarkable mother-daughter bond. God bless you. God bless Cora.

I was really touched by John's email because he's not a sentimental guy and he's a man of few words. So I texted Donna about it and she said:

 "Well when John and I were reading what you wrote, the next thing I know I'm looking over at Johnny and he has his face covered and he's sobbing like a baby! I said, what you doing? He said, I just can't stop crying. I've never seen him cry like that before! I was just so shocked that he reacted that way."

When I went back and reread John's email I was struck by these words, "Heavenly Father blessed me to feel just a little bit of what you feel." And then I came to understand and appreciate John's reaction to my journal entry. Pure love. And then I started ugly crying again!