Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
I am also linking this post to Miracle Monday, over at A Mom's life.
Today, I'd like to showcase a photo that I DID NOT take. In fact, I wasn't even there......physically that is, but my heart has been with this young lady for a little over 2 months.
I am thrilled to introduce you all to Michelle!
Isn't she beautiful? I think so. This photo was taken September 22, 2008, and I met her for the first time this week. As I stood in her presence, I trembled with emotion that pulsed through my body. I basked in the glow of her mother's love and gratitude as she proudly stood at her side.
You see....This is not the first time I have mentioned Michelle on my blog. In fact, my August 7th Photostory Friday was dedicated to her. Here is a photo taken of Michelle on August 12th.
Yes, Michelle suffered a very serious head injury on the last day of July. They almost lost her 3 times in her ICU stay. In fact, when I wrote my post, I was nearly certain there would not be a happy ending for this story. I am beyond ecstatic to report how wrong I was. With the part of her skull removed, to provide room for swelling, Michelle hung on. Her mother, Janet, never left her side. Family and friends were worried not only for Michelle, but for the health of Janet, as she refused to do anything but be with her daughter. Her own basic needs ignored. The following photo was taken on August 17th.
Somewhere around this day, the tide changed. Michelle was able to handle being out of her coma and started to respond. She wore a helmet to protect her brain, and sat up for some time, and gave a hug to her mother. The following photo was taken on August 18th.
From that day forward, her progress was rapid. With physical therapy, and a surgery around Setp 15th to reattach the removed skull flap, she has been healing, and as you can see in that first photo...she is THRIVING. Go ahead...scroll back up...you know you want to. :) AMAZING! As little as a month of time separates the first and last photo I have posted here. A MONTH. 30-some days....and she goes from being on life support, and in a coma, to dancing.......sigh. Now you can not tell me that Life isn't good!
Janet wrote the following in an email update on September 7th:
Well, many things have changed in the last few days and this past week finds Michelle doing much better. I can't even believe where I was 2, 3 or even 4 weeks ago....holding onto my daughter's hand wondering if that would be the last moment I would share with her; listening to the machine breath for her and imagining I could hear her say "I love you Mom". I prayed with all my heart to trade places with her even while knowing I needed to stay strong for Michael (Michelle's brother). Now we can go for a walk, talk, hug and kiss. She asks me why and how this happened to her and all I can do is tell her that with God, family, friends and each other we can get through this.
This week, when mom and daughter stopped by our work, my emotions were on overdrive. I gazed upon a woman living on the high of having at least one more day with her daughter. I saw a daughter reach to comfort her mother as she was overcome with tears of gratitude. It was a beautiful thing. As they left, I asked permission to share more of their story here on my blog, and feel so blessed have been allowed. They sent me these photos, and Janet offered these words:
Many things happen that make us look at the world differently. Please take something away from my situation, because there is no heartache like the one of watching your child, slowly slip through your finger, and the joy to see them slowly come back to you. I prayed on my birthday that she could just tell me she loved me. She did and I got a "happy birthday" too. I couldn't wait for her to hug me, and when she did for the first time, I knew my world was whole again. Please remember all the sweet little things your child says to you and hold them close to your heart, and when they hug you truly embrace the moment and hug tightly back. Which moment will be our last with them, tomorrow or fifty years from now, we don't know, but please cherish each word, hug, and memory for it needs to last us a life time.
Let's honor this mother's wish, and hold our loved ones a little tighter, cherish the moments we have, and LIVE AND LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT!
43 Live It or Love It:
Thank you for sharing this story. My eyes are filled with tears, and I want to go and wake my children to tell them how much I love them. I am so blessed...I hope to always know that.
Oh my! Thank God she is recovering well now. May God continue to watch over her. Thanks for sharing this one.
Amazing! I'm soo happy that she is well and that there was a happy ending. I'm also glad I was reading this alone as Wal would be very concerned if he heard me sobbing.
Wow, that's incredible!!
Biggest lump in my throat EVER- wonderful story, Corey. Wishing Michelle a continued speedy recovery and a bright and happy future. I will be thinking about all of you.
What a remarkable story.
Awesome! God is wonderful and his miracles are still performed even in the lowest of situations! I'm SO glad she's doing better.
Amazing story. God is so good.
What a glorious, outrageous miracle. Thank you for sharing this, friend. Thank you, thank you.
I'm teary-eyed! I'm blessed to have my eyes opened a little wider and have my appreciation for my child and our life go up immensely! Keep us updated!
Oh Corey that was wonderful. I'm so glad she's ok. And now I am off t hug Miss M who is currently dressed as a fairy. Hugs to you too lovely.
Oh My! That's a tear jerker on so many levels! I have to go find some tissues around this place. Thank you for sharing their story. I can only imagine what they've been through. I'm happy that things took a turn for the better and that Michelle is doing so well. She's a beautiful girl.
thanks for sharing!
God was truly present there in her recovery. What a beautiful story. Thank you so much for sharing.
God is Good, All the time!!! Wow what an amazing story of God's grace and a great reminder to never ever take our time for granted.
I needed a good cry this morning. How wonderful that she recovered. I'm hugging Bug extra tight when I pick him up tonight. Thank you for sharing the story.
Wow. And wow again. What an incredible, amazing, inspiring story. A miracle, really!
:) beautifully shared.
What an incredibly touching story... you've got me crying. Sometimes miracles really do happen! Great photos :)
WOw. What an amazing, incredible story. The whole time I was reading it I had the chills...what an inspirational girl she is!!!!
What a beautiful and amazing story!
This was FANTASTIC. And I'm so thrilled for her recovery. Miracles really do happen!
That is absolutely AMAZING. Praise God!
PSF - Dueling Parents
Thank You for sharing this story..
I totally had to scroll back up. Thank you so much for sharing this tear-inducing story. I'm going to go cuddle my girls now.
Thank you, Corey for posting these photos, the emails and for telling us Michelle's story. Heidi
Wow! What an amazing story. God is good!
What a wonderful story! God is so good!
I'm on the verge of speechlessness, except that I feel the need to express how much I loved this story. Completely inspiring.
Thank you for inspiration and perspective.
Life truly is great, isn't it?
What a beautiful story! I'm so glad she is doing better. I'll keep praying that all goes well.
Re: your comment about our books. We have even MORE than you can see in that photo. There are at least two more shelves of books that aren't shown. That doesn't count the books in other rooms or squirreled away in closets. We LOVE books. T works in a book store, so that just feeds our obsession. My books are my friends though!
Wow. Words escape me and tears fill my eyes. What an amazing amazing story. Amazing. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Wonderful ending to a tragic accident. Gotta think God has a great plans in store for her! And a great testament to the power of prayer.
What a wonderful story, thank you for sharing it! WOW!
Thank you for posting this. It makes me feel so thankful that I have all of my children to hug and to hold. I can only imagine a fraction of the pain a mother suffers when one of her children is hurt so severely.
That is amazing, such a miracle. I got tears in my eyes reading that. I'm so thankful for her miraculous recovery,and I will use her as a reminder that I needed, to cherish today. Thank you for sharing.
What an incredible story. She is a beautiful girl. All the kids get an extra hug tonight...
Yay for Michelle! Thanks for sharing this very special and inspiring story!
Oh my goodness; what a miracle indeed!!
What a beautiful, incredible story. I love happy endings. I love that she is dancing again. Excuse me while I go blow my nose a few hundred times.
Okay, I would give my child a hug right now if he weren't already in bed. This mother's words are true and I often think of that. Each day with Harrison is a gift.
It's a touching story. Thank you for sharing this and my prayers go to Michelle and her family.
Thank you so much for sharing this story Corey. I am touched, tearing, and can't wait for Sophie to wake up so I can hug her.
Yes I scrolled back up and she is the most inspiring dancer I've ever seen.
WHat an AMAZING post!
wow, thank you so much for sharing her story! God truly is great!
Bless you for sharing this precious story.
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