Wink from Heaven: Caleb's Christmas Wish

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Caleb's Christmas Wish

Last year on Christmas Eve Caleb was admitted to Primary Children's hospital. We drove through a blinding snowstorm to get there and spent a long night in the ER. In the wee hours of the morning, my husband came home so he could be there when our little boys woke up on Christmas morning. I stayed in the hospital with Caleb as he continued to worsen and eventually ended up in the pediatric ICU. I woke up on Christmas morning to the beeping lights on the ventilator and longed for the lights on my Christmas tree. I cried.
I've been reflecting on that Christmas with a tender heart. So this year, as we are hoping to spend the holidays all together, we have been thinking of families who will not. Many warm hearts and helping hands made it possible for us to deliver 120 packages for parents who are in the hospital with a sick child over the holidays! Friends, church members, youth, local buisnesses, and even strangers made it possible for us to compile these care packages. We are touched beyond words.
I know that if Caleb could speak he would tell us that his greatest Christmas wish is to reach out and love others. Thank you to many warm hearts and helping hands for making Caleb's Christmas wish come true!

9 comments:

Junior said...: such a wonderful thing to do, I know these families will be so grateful.
We have spent our share of holidays in the ICU and it would make all the difference to know someone cares.; December 15, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Becky said...: Merry Christmas dear Caleb...thank you for making worried families in the PICU feel a little peace during this special holiday season. We love you!!! xoxo; December 15, 2009 at 7:06 PM
Devon said...: That is beautiful. I am so glad you were able to do this. Hugs!; December 15, 2009 at 7:59 PM
arianne said...: April, you are a wonderful example. Even if your trials you know just how to reach out and help others. You've always been like this.; December 16, 2009 at 9:52 AM
Ashley Dawn said...: What a WONDERFUL thing to do. I LOVE this idea.; December 16, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Brad and Hailey said...: Such a wonderful thing you guys are doing. It is truly amazing. I pray and hope your Christmas is spent at home this year. Merry Christmas!; December 16, 2009 at 8:02 PM
Kel said...: Wow! This is Amazing! Do you think you will do anything similar next year? I want to help!; December 18, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Krista said...: Well, you've done it again...it seems like every time I read your posts, I cry! What a beautiful and thoughtful thing to do for families at such a sad time for them. You have such empathy for these sweet parents. They are going to feel so much strength and love from yours and Caleb's gift. You are such an inspiration to me, April. I hope you are having a great Christmas season and enjoy Christmas morning all together as a family this year. Love ya!; December 18, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Jenn said...: How awesome! When we first moved back to UT and I spent a week with Cam at Primary Childrens, one night someone brought by gifts for the kids. It was so thoughtful and helped so much. I'm sure you guys are appreciated more than you know, especially with everything you go through yourselves, what great examples to all of us!; December 25, 2009 at 9:22 PM

Prayer for Caleb

(written by Caleb's Grandma in her weekly column -2008-)

In my family we have a secret code to communicate our love for each other when we are out in public. We wink. When one of us is about to perform or speak, we look for a family member’s face in the crowd. Then we wink at each other. Closing one eye and winking is our secret code for saying, “I love you. You can do it. You’re wonderful.”

About three years ago, my grandson Caleb was born into our family. He must have known before birth that he would never be able to speak to us because he was born with one eyelid permanently closed. So, he is always “winking” at us, always communicating, “I love you. You can do it. You’re wonderful.”

Caleb has one eye lid permanently closed because he is missing one of his eyes . . . and he is also missing his brain. All the doctors said he would die soon after birth. They were wrong. Caleb is three years old. He is a medical miracle. The doctors say he can’t see, hear, speak, think or move. Those who know and love Caleb understand he has his own unique way of experiencing the world and communicating his love to those around him.

After Caleb was born the hospice people told us to buy a burial plot and continually warned us of his imminent death. We soon learned you can not live well in a state of fear and sadness. We decided we could spend Caleb’s entire life anxious and scared he might die at any moment, or we could celebrate each day we were blessed to have him with us. In the beginning, my daughter April celebrated Caleb’s birthday every week instead of every year with balloons and cupcakes because we simply did not know how long we would have him with us. We stopped the cupcakes after we gained ten pounds, but the celebrating goes on.

We all prayed for a miracle when we first learned about Caleb’s condition. We got one. Caleb’s birth, life and mission have had a deep and lasting impact on our lives. His spirit, eternal identity and most of all the loving, individual relationship he has with each of us is truly a miracle. Because of Caleb we know that each of us has a divine purpose and that the physical body is a sacred gift we should never take for granted. We better understand the worth of a soul and the resiliency of the human spirit.

Caleb’s five year old brother Matthew said, “Grandma. The doctors said Caleb was going to die, but he didn’t. That’s the first miracle I ever saw!”

Sometimes Caleb’s baby brother Mitchell pulls out his feeding tube while they hold hands riding together in their double stroller. Sometimes the only intervention that can get Caleb’s heart rate up is when his older brothers Josh and Matty crawl in his crib, hug him and sing, “I am a Child of God.” ...If you have a moment please offer a prayer for the little boy who has never been able to utter a single word and yet has taught everyone who knows and loves him – all the secrets of a rich and meaningful life.