Wink from Heaven: Christmas for Caleb

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Christmas for Caleb

On Christmas morning Caleb had a cozy place by the fire where his brothers could help him open his gifts and he could stay toasty and warm. It was sweet to see his brothers pile his gifts on his lap and be excited for him. I love seeing my boys help Caleb experience the magic of Christmas, and I love the way Caleb shines with a Christmas spirit all year long.

I know if Caleb could speak he would want to thank his Dad for a gift he gives him every night. We stay up late with Caleb every in order for his medication to take effect and to have some special snuggle time with him. We usually tuck him into bed around midnight, but it usually isn't long until his alarms start beeping, he needs suctioning, he needs a diaper change or more medicine. A few nights a week we have been blessed with night nurses who sit with Caleb from 12-6 so we can get some sleep. On the other nights Caleb is blessed with his sweet father. Dallan selflessly gets up with Caleb numerous times each night to turn, change, suction and love him. He never complains, and quite often I'll hear him visiting with Caleb while tending to his needs. I know that there will be a day when Caleb can wrap his arms around his father and thank him for the service he renders in those quiet hours of the night. But in my heart, I think Dallan already knows.

5 comments:

Junior said...: Beautiful pics. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, lots of love and hugs; December 31, 2011 at 5:05 PM
Brad and Amy said...: The best Christmas present is a loving family, and you guys certainly have that! Merry Christmas from Amy, Brad, and Claire.; December 31, 2011 at 6:44 PM
Janae said...: Oh my goodness, this post really made me tear up. You guys are so inspirational! It is such a blessing to be trusted with these special spirits in our homes!; December 31, 2011 at 9:14 PM
Becky said...: This made me cry...SO sweet! Another Christmas with Caleb. What a treasure. xoxo; January 2, 2012 at 5:41 AM
shirlgirl said...: So much love for Caleb and all of you. Love the picture of Dallan and his sweet son. Caleb is a very lucky boy to have such a loving and attentive family. Heavenly Father certainly knew what he was doing when he sent this gentle spirit to you to love and care for. You are truly blessed.; January 2, 2012 at 6:20 AM

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.