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Born at 2.59 P.M. on January 8th weighing in at 9.9 ounces. Almost three, almost ten but definitely a sight to behold! Amanda Kathleen . . .
Joy!
Eating so much! Getting so big! And red hair just like Big Momma and Aunt Ruby and Grandmommy too. . .
Joy! Joy!
“Mommy, she said Mommy!” I jump around, decide to call everyone I know, pull the video camera out . . .
Joy! Joy! Joy!
Crawling, standing . . . was that a step! It’s about time! She’s one-year old. Everyone tells me she hasn’t learned to walk yet because I carry her everywhere. Nevertheless, she’s walking now, just look at her . . .
Joy! Joy! Joy!
Give her a book to read and she flips through it as though she’s taking it all in. She gets to a page with a dog on it and she barks. Okay, she sort of growls and moans like our Siberian Husky, Ralph. It’s so funny to hear her though!
Joy! Joy! Joy!
Four years old and you want to learn how to read! Your wish is my command.
Joy! Joy! Joy!
Home for Christmas, Amanda has a headache, a horrible headache. She wants to go stay with Ma instead of staying at the hotel. Headache gets better.
Joy?
Next morning I have to wake Amanda because she just keeps sleeping. Once she’s awake, I notice she can’t control her left hand, arm, left side of her body. And she's left-handed . . .
Joy?
As the days pass, Amanda doesn’t get much better. Not much worse either though. The doctor hasn’t been able to nail down what’s wrong with her so I guess that’s something.
Joy?
Amanda can’t stand on her own. When she speaks, she sounds like a tape that is dragging, her words drawn out. Yet she is still as bright as ever and asks me about something that happened over a month ago, remembers it with clarity. I have this to hold on to until God gives me more.
Joy!
Back home in Iowa, Amanda’s regular doctor sends us to the Children’s Hospital in Iowa City. Ten minutes after we walk in the door, God gives me more to hold on to. Dr. Afifi gives us the names of three things Amanda might have. Schedules her for an MRI the following morning!
Joy! Joy!
The verdict is in, the brain scan shows bright white areas on the brain where an “out-law” antibody has attacked the myelin coating. Amanda is given steroids to suppress her immune system, three times a day, intravenously. We’re told she’ll be fine in a couple of days.
Joy! Joy! Joy!
Amanda celebrates her 5th birthday in the hospital. Her left pupil is no longer dilated bigger than her right, her speech is normal. Dr. Afifi comes in to do his standard evaluation. He walks with Amanda out into the hall and tells her to run to the other end.
She does just as he asks and then races back as well!
Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy!
Seven recurrences later with two bouts of optic neuritis and we’re still rejoicing. Her vision is better than it was before the attack and Amanda’s pediatric neurologist has determined that Amanda will be coming off Avonex, a drug used to treat Multiple Sclerosis, in less than a year. Amanda is now in the seventh grade and a Duke Scholar. There is never a time, since her attack, that I’ve told her to slow down and start walking. Moreover, I have never cherished more the words that come out of her mouth.
Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy!
There is joy in the Lord!
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