Wink from Heaven: Touched

Friday, December 3, 2010

Touched

Do you know what is so special about Caleb's blurry hand?

It was MOVING to touch his favorite vision toy!

He reached out and touched it on purpose!

It is rare for us to see Caleb reach and touch something

but he continually reaches out to touch our hearts every day.

17 comments:

Devon said...: Um, yay! How awesome!!! This made my evening!; December 3, 2010 at 6:36 PM
The Kings said...: That is SOOOOOO cool!!!!!! :) :) :); December 3, 2010 at 7:58 PM
The VW's said...: Great job Caleb! You are such a smart and cute boy!

And, you have definitely touched my heart! Hugs!; December 4, 2010 at 6:28 AM
Colleen said...: Touched by a little angel!!; December 4, 2010 at 9:22 AM
Junior said...: Way to go Caleb, big hugs; December 4, 2010 at 10:59 AM
Brad and Hailey said...: That's awesome! Great job Caleb!; December 4, 2010 at 6:54 PM
The 5 Disney Lovers said...: thats sweet!; December 4, 2010 at 7:24 PM
Tara Bennett said...: Oh that is amazing! Caleb touches my heart frequently. What a sweet boy :); December 5, 2010 at 11:58 AM
arianne said...: wow; December 5, 2010 at 5:41 PM
The Five Jacksons said...: What a touching post! (oops, pardon the pun). That looks like a neat toy! Where is it from?; December 5, 2010 at 6:29 PM
Bugg's mama said...: Celebrate!!!! Wahoooo!

Love, Bree; December 5, 2010 at 8:36 PM
Becky said...: I LOVE that boy. And HOORAY for purposeful movement! :) He continues to touch people all over! xoxo; December 8, 2010 at 4:21 AM
April said...: That little dangle toy is from the dollar store- in the party section! (I'm glad Caleb enjoys a bargain as much as I do :); December 9, 2010 at 3:27 PM
shirlgirl said...: Awesome, Caleb, and you really know how to excite your family! Good job, sweet angel.; December 12, 2010 at 4:27 PM
Smilen Champ said...: Hi Caleb and his Mom
My name is Jenna and I came across your blog. Caleb is an amazing brave courageous fighter, and hero. I am glad to see he reached out to his toy. Good for you Caleb! I was born with a terminal disease and have developmental delays. My sites:
www.smilenfighter.blogspot.com
or: caringbridge.org/visit/champ291; December 12, 2010 at 8:03 PM
Lacey said...: Yeah to our boys! Jax has never reached or grabbed toys, now he is grabbing his tube and shaking it. Miracle boys indeed!; December 13, 2010 at 8:11 AM
Mommy K said...: My daughter has CVI, what is this toy?? =); December 16, 2010 at 10:26 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.