Sunday, July 10, 2011
Maggie Is Having Another Surgery ... Tuesday, July 12th
I am honored and humbled by all of your comments on the CALLING post below ... Please keep them coming as I work through what God is teaching me through you and HIS WORD ...
I struggle to write yet another post about MAGGIE having surgery... I am thankful we are in America with the best doctors on earth, yet my heart is weary and wants Maggie to get a break and be able to move on with her life ... My mother's heart wants closure for her w/ her outward wounds ... This will be our 7th surgery and this time they will be cutting part of her skull in half to move it over to the hole she has in her skull and then will use some titanium screws to hold them in place ... As always INFECTION is one of our biggest threats, so please pray no infection and pray her body doesn't reject the bone in the new place ...
Dr. Kelly and Dr. Tulapan will be her surgeons, so please pray for them by name also ...
I could say how nervous and anxious I am, but you all know that already because most of you have journey w/ us through all of Maggie's surgery ... And I appreciate you more than you know ...
Instead of focusing on the surgery, I want to share a w/ you how I have watched Maggie go from a wrapped tight in a cocoon hostage to a beautiful butterfly, who adores spreading her wings !!! She came to us scared, hurt, and alone ... We endured darkness like we had never known before during her first months home ... And yet in the darkness we saw the LIGHT OF THE LORD ... He showed us how to use his strength, love, and peace to help our precious Maggie ... Maggie is simply a princess - she loves fairytales, princesses, and barbies ... She is a child who adores make believe, yet understands things in reality better than most adults ... She is anchored in her family and she helps us all to appreciate that bond and love of family, because it is that precious to her ... SHE GETS IT ...
While we were in FL for the National Basketball Tourney again this year we went back to Disney because last year we missed meeting the princesses and it really upset her ... She has talked non-stop over the last year about going back ... Not a week went by when she didn't double check that we were going back and that she could see Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Ariel (they are her favorites) ... I almost got as excited as she did to see them w/ her ... There is an innocence about her JOY that is infectious ...
The day finally arrived ... We got up early and headed to Disney to stand in what we expected to be a LONG LONG line, but got there as soon as it opened stomachs all flutter with butterflies and excitement and only had to wait 5 minutes ... We walked into the room w/ Sleeping Beauty, Belle, and Cinderella ... Maggie's eyes went glassy and wide !!! I saw her starring at their faces and I just started crying ... It was a dream come true for her and a gift to my mother's heart ... I felt like we had come full circle ... It was fantasy meets reality ... It was seeing her with each princess and knowing that we had loved her so well during her dark days that she now FEELS LIKE A PRINCESS every day ... She is a miracle in our eyes ... They way she has healed on the inside as well as the outside ... Each day when she says, "YOU MY BEST MOMMY EVER" and I say back, "YOU MY BEST MAGGIE EVER" it is like God is reminding us of his GRACE AND LOVE ... He is the great healer on so many levels ...
She has gone from darkness to light both inside and out... We see her light shine everyday and it helps us to see our way as we travel towards the Lord's journey for our family ... It is also a privilege to watch her light the way for others ... Please know some of the scariest roads you take in life with the LORD can be the ones with the best blessings ... It is in those blessings that we get to see Jesus and WHO DOESN'T WANT A CLOSER LOOK AT HIM ... WHO DOESN'T WANT TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH HIM ... WHO DOESN'T WANT TO KNOW HIM BETTER ... so if you do then go where HE is !!!
blessings all ... thanks for your prayers for MAGGIE ... I will keep you posted ...
I struggle to write yet another post about MAGGIE having surgery... I am thankful we are in America with the best doctors on earth, yet my heart is weary and wants Maggie to get a break and be able to move on with her life ... My mother's heart wants closure for her w/ her outward wounds ... This will be our 7th surgery and this time they will be cutting part of her skull in half to move it over to the hole she has in her skull and then will use some titanium screws to hold them in place ... As always INFECTION is one of our biggest threats, so please pray no infection and pray her body doesn't reject the bone in the new place ...
Dr. Kelly and Dr. Tulapan will be her surgeons, so please pray for them by name also ...
I could say how nervous and anxious I am, but you all know that already because most of you have journey w/ us through all of Maggie's surgery ... And I appreciate you more than you know ...
Instead of focusing on the surgery, I want to share a w/ you how I have watched Maggie go from a wrapped tight in a cocoon hostage to a beautiful butterfly, who adores spreading her wings !!! She came to us scared, hurt, and alone ... We endured darkness like we had never known before during her first months home ... And yet in the darkness we saw the LIGHT OF THE LORD ... He showed us how to use his strength, love, and peace to help our precious Maggie ... Maggie is simply a princess - she loves fairytales, princesses, and barbies ... She is a child who adores make believe, yet understands things in reality better than most adults ... She is anchored in her family and she helps us all to appreciate that bond and love of family, because it is that precious to her ... SHE GETS IT ...
While we were in FL for the National Basketball Tourney again this year we went back to Disney because last year we missed meeting the princesses and it really upset her ... She has talked non-stop over the last year about going back ... Not a week went by when she didn't double check that we were going back and that she could see Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Ariel (they are her favorites) ... I almost got as excited as she did to see them w/ her ... There is an innocence about her JOY that is infectious ...
The day finally arrived ... We got up early and headed to Disney to stand in what we expected to be a LONG LONG line, but got there as soon as it opened stomachs all flutter with butterflies and excitement and only had to wait 5 minutes ... We walked into the room w/ Sleeping Beauty, Belle, and Cinderella ... Maggie's eyes went glassy and wide !!! I saw her starring at their faces and I just started crying ... It was a dream come true for her and a gift to my mother's heart ... I felt like we had come full circle ... It was fantasy meets reality ... It was seeing her with each princess and knowing that we had loved her so well during her dark days that she now FEELS LIKE A PRINCESS every day ... She is a miracle in our eyes ... They way she has healed on the inside as well as the outside ... Each day when she says, "YOU MY BEST MOMMY EVER" and I say back, "YOU MY BEST MAGGIE EVER" it is like God is reminding us of his GRACE AND LOVE ... He is the great healer on so many levels ...
She has gone from darkness to light both inside and out... We see her light shine everyday and it helps us to see our way as we travel towards the Lord's journey for our family ... It is also a privilege to watch her light the way for others ... Please know some of the scariest roads you take in life with the LORD can be the ones with the best blessings ... It is in those blessings that we get to see Jesus and WHO DOESN'T WANT A CLOSER LOOK AT HIM ... WHO DOESN'T WANT TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH HIM ... WHO DOESN'T WANT TO KNOW HIM BETTER ... so if you do then go where HE is !!!
blessings all ... thanks for your prayers for MAGGIE ... I will keep you posted ...
She engulfed Ariel in the biggest hug "EBER" !!!
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18 kind words.:
Oh Gwen, I got all teary seeing this. I will continue to pray for your precious girl. I am so glad she got to finally meet the princesses. My India works at Disneyland, here in CA, and she loves that she gets to "make magic" every day for little ones. Thank you for sharing these beautiful pics of your precious girl.
This post made me cry... what a princesss your sweet Maggie is... I am thankful to be able to follow your family's journery via the blog world! :)
Oh Gwen, I have chills and tears! What a precious post..what a precious princess! I just emailed you...I might have a partial answer to my question after reading this post! Bless your sweet hearts...I will be praying for Maggie and the surgery. Love you sister!
Incredible...so beautiful it made me weep with Maggie and for her...she truly is a treasured gift from the Lord.
Praying for her upcoming surgery....and for her family {hugs}.
Praying for you family and your sweet princess, Maggie! There will be an end to these surgeries, Gwen. Hang tight to the One that created your little angel.:)
Love, hollym.
Praying for you family and your sweet princess, Maggie! There will be an end to these surgeries, Gwen. Hang tight to the One that created your little angel.:)
Love, hollym.
Very sweet - your family will be in my prayers - Kristy French
I will always be your prayer warrior for sweet Maggie. Please continue to keep us posted. Extra hugs and continued blessings.
Oh, Gwen, what a princess she is!
You and your sweet, sweet Maggie will be in our prayers.
Blessings,
Robbie in Blackshear
I could hardly keep from crying. What a beautiful and wonderful transformation you have been able to see and experience before your very eyes all because you followed the Lord's call for you. Thanks for sharing. I will be praying for Maggie and for all of you.
Oh, the pictures with Maggie and her beloved princesses are priceless- but they are nothing without the story that goes with them- the one that shares her heart and her journey. I have prayed (and will continue) for the Drs by name, for peace for you and your family, and or a miraculous work of our Father to manifest in this surgery!
Praising Him-
JennStar
Tears. You said it...so well...and you LIVE it...so beautifully, Gwen! We are and will be praying Maggie along in her next surgery. As I read your post this pressed on my heart "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." (John 1:5) What an honor to love and pray for a true princess. Blessings, Gillian and family
She is definitely a BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS!!! I remember the day we met with you all. I prepared our children...although to be honest they didn't care at all.....they totally saw her and thought- nothing about anything except she was a child just like them!!!!
LOVE her huge heart!!! Our kids commented about her....knowing that she had had many surgeries and would have more. She must be soo brave. I said YES she is, and her heart has to be because just like you she has had to heal.....
She is a testimony to how the Lord can take us out of that darkness into a transformation beyond our wildest imagination- that is what a calling is....the transformation of our hearts- to step out and experience God in ways we never thought possible!!
Claiming "Jehovah-Rapha" in Maggie's behalf!
Maggie is definitely leading the way for our Luci in a very real way. I am praying for God to put a shield around her that nothing harmful can penetrate and that her healing will be speedy. Thank you for sharing her journey with us.
Tara
Hi Gwen,
This post moved me to tears. I am and will continue to pray for Maggie, you and the rest of your family and her doctors. Dr. Kelly does my daughter's surgeries as well and we are so blessed to have a great surgeon. Most of all we are grateful for our ultimate Healer. Hugs to you!
Blessings~
Jennifer
I will be praying for you and sweet Maggie. I want to share some encouragement for your heart though...
When I was born I was diagnosed with a rare medical condition and as a result I had to undergo over 40 major surgeries through out my child starting at 18 months. I am now a grown woman-22 years old and I am thankful that I went through such ordeals as a child.
When I was young, I used to absolutely hate the hospital and doctors that came with all my operations. I used to pray and ask God why he would allow me to have such a disease. As an adult now though, I am so thankful. Because of the pain I went though, I have such a deep compassion for hurting children and a desire to minister to them in their pain.
Take heart dear sister! God can use this painful and scary season of life for Maggie- to raise her up into a mighty warrior for hurting children around the world. He can heal your beautiful little girl and make her stronger than ever before!
Praying!!!
Praying for the docters who will perform her surgery and wishing your little Princess a speedy recovery...