Wink from Heaven: Sick with a smile

Friday, February 26, 2010

Sick with a smile

Caleb seems to have gotten over RSV. He is still working on the pnemonia in his left lower lobe. He's been really sleepy for the past 2 weeks while his body works on getting better, but he always find a minute to wake up and give me a little smile.

11 comments:

Brad and Hailey said...: What a great smile he has! I'm glad he's feeling a little better. Poor boy!; February 26, 2010 at 8:12 AM
Junior said...: Caleb you have such a sweet smile, glad you are starting to feel better.; February 26, 2010 at 10:00 AM
Tara Bennett said...: Sorry you're sick, Caleb, but I'm glad you can still give your mom smiles! What a cutie :)

Get better SOON!!!! We love ya :); February 26, 2010 at 12:52 PM
Candace said...: I must have missed that he had RSV. Poor thing. Will pray that he heals quickly....Hugs...; February 26, 2010 at 5:24 PM
Krista said...: Oh bless his sweet little heart...I miss that boy so much! Give him a hug and kiss from nurse Krista and tell him I love him and hope he feels better soon!; February 26, 2010 at 5:38 PM
Anonymous said...: Glad Caleb is over the RSV. Really pray her gets rid of the awful pnemonia soon too.

xxx; February 26, 2010 at 5:39 PM
April said...: We miss you too Krista!!! Caleb is blowing you kisses all the way down south :); February 26, 2010 at 9:21 PM
Kel said...: I don't know how you do it. I love you guys. I'd like to meet Caleb someday.; February 26, 2010 at 11:01 PM
Becky said...: It's funny that you should post about this because JUST yesterday Ben gave me a smile for the first time in probably a YEAR! It's been a long time. I was SO happy. (even though he's still battling his pneumonia) Those boys...two peas in a pod. Kiss him for me! xoxo; February 27, 2010 at 5:45 AM
MoonNStarMommy said...: Caleb is so adorable!

You have been given a reward which can be found on my blog. Doesn't matter if you post the awards, give them back out, or not... at least you know you were thought of and appreciated today :)

http://moonnstarmommy.blogspot.com/2010/02/its-award-day.html; February 27, 2010 at 3:14 PM
Ashley Baadsgaard Worthen said...: Oh I'm so glad he's feeling better! It's great to see him so happy. :); February 27, 2010 at 11:13 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.