Greetings! Danny is scheduled to have his gallbladder removed Friday morning at 9am. We have to be there at 7am. Yuck! We were impressed with the surgeon when we met with him on Tuesday and I am at peace about it. Danny listened intently to all the information the doctor gave us about the procedure. Danny even said 'no' when the doctor asked if we had any questions. Danny cried and understandably so. I can't imagine the frustration of having to go through another procedure, see another doctor or have something else be wrong. I'm sure he is asking 'how much more?'

Danny is getting more difficult to handle. Last night, he was extremely upset. The neurologist is encouraged and says this is all a good thing, but it is quite difficult to watch. Danny was urgently trying to tell us something, but the words that came out made no sense. He mumbled nonstop and fought with us whenever we needed to do something for him. It took me and both his parents to get him dressed for bed because one person had to restrain his right arm while the others got him ready. I started crying a bit because nothing I did would calm him down. I can't imagine the frustration he is dealing with internally.

While the staff at Shepherd Center prepared us for this stage of recovery, I didn't realize it would be this hard. It's not just the physical fight that Danny gives us, but it is so frustrating emotionally not to be able to help him. I have to keep telling myself that the man pushing me away, pinching me, squeezing and scratching my arm, yelling at me is not Danny. He reaches for Corbin, but I can't let him touch him for fear that he may hurt him. Do you know how hard that is not to let Danny touch his own son? Not to let Danny feel the softness of his skin or tickle his toes? I pray that the Lord will give Danny and Corbin a special bond, even more than most fathers and sons because Danny is missing this amazing time.

I try to paint a realistic picture of what our lives are like right now. I'm not going to wrap it all up in a pretty box and place a beautiful ribbon around it. If I were to do that, I wouldn't be honest with you or myself. Yes, this sucks. Yes, you all probably can't imagine how difficult it is, but I guarantee you too would rise to the occasion if something like this were to enter your own life. You don't find out how strong you are until you're placed in the fire. Burn, baby, burn! We stand on the promises of the Lord as written in the Word. Today, I have been blessed by the two verses below:

I Peter 1:6-7; 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

James 1:12; 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

I have continued to print and read the emails to Danny. He responds by crying as I read them aloud to him, so please keep them coming. Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and words of encouragement.