Tender Moments

Most of you know of my dear sweet sister Katie. She changed our lives 15.5 years ago; all of our lives, for the better. She has taught us and many untold lessons as she entered our family circle, lesson's I'm sure she doesn't even know she has taught. Well, today was yet another surgery for her...a repeat of a surgery attempted 7 years ago. The worst surgery I can think of anyone having. A lower jaw distraction. Horrible. Painful and heart wrenching to watch. I tell people that during the last attempt, it was the only time I was GLAD I didn't live close to home.

As I sit about a thousand miles away I have those same emotions, those same feelings of helplessness and complete sympathy for her. I YURN to take the pain away. I can't help but this of Heavenly Father knowingly letting his Son suffer because it needed to be done. The reality of that hit me pretty hard this time. Katie needs this done so she can eat and breath on her own, without medical intervention as she has her entire life.

The hardest part is knowing as they took her back she begged Mom and Dad not to go through with it. She knows what pain is like. She knows what this surgery is like and what person in their right mind would want to go through with something like that again? What courageous and valiant parents I have! My Dad mentioned how he could completely empathize this time, due to his own experience having to get his leg amputated. He could feel her fear and he couldn't contain his emotions.

This picture captures that tender moment as Katie clings onto our Daddy's arm. If you'd like to follow along her blog is here.

Please include her in your prayers. This is the first of several surgeries this one being the easier of the distractions. LOVE and prayers!!