Journal

Wednesday, February 14 2007 7:41 AM CST

VALENTINE'S DAY- LUKE'S 4 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!!!


Join us today as we CELEBRATE Luke's 4 year anniversary from his surgery!!!! Thank you all for continuing to keep Luke and our family in your thoughts and prayers!!! Luke's brain tumor remains stable and all other deficits from the surgery and radiation have leveled (his hearing loss is stable, diabetes stable, he's getting glasses for his vision loss and we continue to do drops and tape his eye closed). He is doing great in 1st grade and is playing basketball at the YMCA. He still has that great sense of humor, loves playing jokes, loves teasing Payton and loves Sports!! He is still into dirt biking, skateboarding and is being brain washed by Damian weekly to love the Dallas Cowboys. (He named his new fish "Cowboy" and Payton named hers "Romo":) You'd never know the path he's been down or the daily struggles he faces. God continues to pour his abundant love and mercy on us!!
We cling to and claim daily -Luke's Life Verse- Jer 29:11!!!!

Thank you again for your prayers. Attached is the journal entry I wrote last year on this date. There's really not a better description of that day and the LOVE we felt!!!

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!!!
Amanda

2006 Journal Entry
Tuesday, February 14, 2006 8:20 AM CST

Three years ago today, Damian and I traded a romantic Valentine Dinner
for
spicy curly fries in the hospital cafeteria. We traded fine chocolates
for
the waiting room vending machines peanut M&M's, we traded butterflies in
the
stomach over romance for butterflies in the stomach over a report from a

surgeon. We weren't able to call each other with valentine wishes but
instead waited on a call from the operating room that Luke's surgery was

complete. We traded a movie date for a ventilator and instead of
whispers in
each others ears, we whispered (and screamed) prayers to our FATHER!!
You
may think this wasn't a very romantic day for us but what is romance??
Webster says romance is a love affair with EXCITEMENT, ADVENTURE and
HAPPINESS. Sounds basically like our day!! I remember journaling that
morning telling GOD what an awesome day for Luke's surgery to be on-
Valentine's Day- and how appropriate for HIM to continue to pour his
LOVE on
Luke by answering my plea for my baby to not only live through his brain

surgery but it be successful. That evening I prayed with relief feeling
more
LOVE than I had ever felt on any other Valentine's Day. It may not be
your
definition of a romantic day but it truly was.

Three years have come and gone. Luke is now 6, doing great in
kindergarten,
passionate about skateboarding and quoting Napolean Dynamite, begging
for a
"motorcross" motorcycle, is a great artist, loves church,loves
aggrevating
his sister and most importantly a sweet spirited boy who loves Jesus and
his
family and truly is a miracle. As I watched him leave for school today-
Valentine card box under one arm and a print out of the dirt bike that
he
wants under the other-I was overcome with memories of how only three
short
years ago he was undergoing brain surgery almost at the exact moment. He
has
been through a tough journey but ....WOW!! God is good.


Luke's tumor remains stable. He still suffers from his eye not closing
from
the paralysis, it is a constant battle with eye drops, ointment and
taping
it closed. He is such a trooper!! His diabetes (insipitous) is really
not a
problem-he is thirsty alot and drinks alot (if you see a crazy woman and

child running through Wal Mart that's us trying to find the bathroom.=)
His
hearing loss remains the same. His motor skills are amazing-it's hard to

believe we were told there was a chance of him not walking you should
see
him skateboarding on his half pipe. That should make a neurosurgeon
smile!!
He is thriving in school and LOVES his teacher, Mrs. King and loves
making
his friends laugh! (yes, usually with more Napolean Dynamite quotes=)

We continue to treat everyday as a Valentine celebration!! We continue
to
trust God for a complete healing for Lukey. Our next appointment at St.
Jude's is May 1st. Thank you all for your continued love and prayers.

Wishing you all a Valentine's Day filled with GOD's LOVE!!
Share your love... who know's what three years will bring.

Stop NOW and Pray for Luke!!

In His Grip,
Damian, Amanda, Payton and Luke

Jer 29:11

Read Journal History

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Hospital Information:

St. Judes
332 N. Lauderdale
Memphis, TN 38105

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