How's Aggie?

Aggie has not had a single seizures since her brain surgery in July of 2009.
She receives regular MRIs, and so far every one has come back normal.
She will  continue to need frequent MRIs until she is tumor-free for ten years.

Ten years.

That is a long time to stare at her head and wonder.

The shadow has not completely disappeared.  I forget about it completely at times, but never for long.  I still get nervous when her eyes look tired.  I call her out of her daydreams. I hold my breath  when she climbs trees, and I remember how fragile is this season of health and life.

Sometimes, out of the blue, my old injury acts up, and I am taken right back to the days of seizures and sadness.

I shall lie down and sleep in peace, 
for you alone, 
O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8

Her tumor was an oglioastrocytoma (a WHO Grade II tumor.) I googled the word once, and I refuse to do it again.

When the doctors speak of her prognosis, they seem uncomfortable, and I know they simply do not have much information to give us- it is extremely rare to find a tumor like this in a child.

I remember reading that for some reason, children who present with seizures first as a result of this kind of tumor seem to have better odds.

No matter.
I am no longer able to take comfort in odds.

Today, Aggie is healthy.  She thrives in school.
She plays on the monkey bars.
I love her dearly, and today, love is easy.

Should she return to weakness, I will return to weakness right along with her.

I'll wrestle, and I'll fight, and I'll hate every second of it.
I'll doubt, and I'll sulk, and I'll cry out to God in anger and fear.

But He will hear me. He will carry us through the next season of weakness. Aggie and I, we will be his children:

Weak and Loved.

We are weak, for now, but loved for eternity in Christ Jesus.

Weak and Loved

More of the Story
Snippets and thoughts that are not in the book!

 Her head: Thank you God for innocent mommy joy!
Seizure that don't look like seizures: This is what her early episodes looked like.
The one where I spill: Why it's hard to share her story.
on receiving grace and casseroles: I am a charity case
My note to your guilty feelings
An Unexpected chance to fly
Her song: She is a sermon to me.
MRI day and MRI results
Sister love and epilepsy How did seizures change life for the other kids?

Compassionate crafting Thinking of others with epilepsy
Aggie's heart for people and buddies
 Returning thanks at Cleveland Clinic
A mama with special needs - because I have a child with special needs, I am a mama with special needs
To Aggie on her eighth birthday 9/25/12

Photos of our Journey

Aggie in bloom

 July 2012

Freedom!

(I can hardly believe I can let her do this!)


Aggie telling Lorraine to put on her "brave face" 2011

Sister love-

leaving for Cleveland

Aggie and Curious George

Testing at Cleveland Clinic, July 2009

(It was so nice that George could get tested too! His EEG was normal.)

 

Aggie and Eldon

Testing at Cleveland Clinic, July 2009

Aggie has had ENOUGH

Testing at Cleveland Clinic, July 2009

Aggie and Dr. Bear

Ready for surgery

July 15, 2009

Goodbye daddy

July 15, 2009

"You can leave now," she said to the doctor who saved her life.

July 15, 2009

Aggie and mom, recovering

Check out that scar!

Sister tea party (Gummy worms and water- yummy!)

Aggie heading home three days after surgery,

full of bruises,

sleeping under a blanket of Grace and Scripture.

  

The Aggie smile returned.