Sigh of Relief

We are breathing a little easier these last few days. Since my last blog the situation is now in the past, it would be easy to ruminate on how we have been wronged in so may ways, but our family has chosen to practice Harold 3:16, and take the high road, move on and forgive. We have been through too much as a family to let something like this destroy us.  

Kourtney is doing well. Mornings are the worst part of the day as they are greeted with "a hangover" from the pain medication she is getting. The tears come easily, and with that comes a lot of anxiety on how she will get through her day of school. The rollercoaster of emotions every morning wear us all down, as Todd and I both have to negotiate with her. In many ways it would be easier on all of us to give into her. We have come up with guidelines for staying home, if she doesn't have a fever, and if she isn't vomitting. Once she starts moving and facing the day she perks up and is back to her resilient little self. She loves her new school and happy to be there.

Shaelyn and I are taking off today on a overnighter in Bainbridge WA for a skipping tournament. It is daunting for me to drive on my own especially in the torrential downpour we have had for the last two days straight. I am looking forward to spending some one on one time with Shae, and do some shopping for her 12th birthday that is coming up next Saturday. (  I love that my girls have inherited the shopping gene ). Todd and Kourtney are going to have a date at Kourtney's school play.

Once again we are reminded that Kourtney's unexpected full recovery was a promise to our family that God still wants to accomplish amazing things through her. We know the "bumps" along the road is a deterrent to this, and that is why we chose to face each day and each situation with boldness and courage.

HIGHS and LOWS

It is difficult to describe this last week.  It has been highlighted by some soaring highs and some crushing lows.  

Once again we have been blessed in unbelieveable ways once by everyone at Kourtney's new school.
As well I had the privilege of being a part of Angela's baptism, and was part of the cheering squad to support the rest of her family,  Scott, Jordyn and Jenna as they took a step of faith with Baptism as well.  Todd and I were thrilled to see the many staff members from ACS in the congregation to support the Visser family. We definitely feel that Kourtney is in the "right" place. Kourtney feels the same way; she doesn't cry when she has to leave for school, her stomach problems have settled down, and the heart palpitations are gone.

Just when we thought life has settled into a "better than new" normal, we have been blindsided, once again, by a major set of events. To preserve the integrity of everyone involved, I will not and cannot go into any detail. We believe that it is an "attack" on our family but  once again we feel "protected" in so many ways that we can't even begin to describe how we know and feel that God is looking after us. As a family we have chosen to claim Ephesians 6:12. 

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, 

against the powers of this dark world 

and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Please hold us even higher in our prayers this week.

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It takes a village

"It takes a village to raise a child." I have heard this saying over and over again, and in many ways felt resentful that the village (Abbotsford) has not taken this on...........until recently.

Kourtney was greeted warmly in her new school, not just by the educational assistants, and support staff but by teacher's, principal as well as the students. I don't think we fully "understand the undertaking" that went on to get Kourtney established in the school but we "appreciate how the team scrambled not just to accomodate Kourtney but to receive our whole family with open arms. I know that what they accomplished in 6 days generally takes months and months of planning. Thank-you ACS.

The first day of school, the plan was for me was to spend the whole morning with Kourtney at school. I had a meeting with the educational assistants (EA's), Kourtney chose to go to her English class. After the meeting, I went with her EA to her English class. Kourtney looked at me and whispers something about being "lost". I panicked thinking she was "lost on her assignment" and the the mother bear took over. She then looks again at me and I came closer, and she whispers to me "get lost". The look on my face was one of pure delight and I said ok "see you". I asked the EA if she was ok with Kourtney on her own, and she said of course, and I exited doing a little bit of a happy dance. It thrilled me to see Kourtney want to be independent again.

Todd  has been thrilled to be working with a staff and a school that is willing and able to use to help Kourtney make use out of her iPad. All her text books, and assignments will be done on her IPAD. In the 1.5 years in the public high school, not once were the team able to get Kourtney up and running so quickly in technology. It frustrated us to no end that no one seemed to care or take this on as a reasonable and best option for Kourtney.

Kourtney managed to hold up ok. She is only taking two classes, but every day is different. Some days she is there in the monring, some afternoons, some mid mornings and so it goes. We want to preserve her strength and decrease the amount of stress on her body.

All in all we still see signs of improvement, even with her strength. She is using a walker to get around the house and are praying that eventually she can use it a school to get around. We ask you to continually pray for our family. We can not survive on our own strength and know that the only way through this has been the prayers of "His people"

She is off

Typical learning session; Mr. Lewis, Kourtney, iPads and Lexi

Well, Mr. Lewis pulled it off! Kourtney now

has officially passed Science 10!  Mr. Lewis said goodbye to our family on Friday and Kourtney is returning to school on Tuesday. As much as this seems like a no brainer for Kourtney to become a part of civilization again, I have very mixed emotions about it. While Kourtney deals with anticipatory pain issues, I have anticipatory issues about Kourtney getting worn down again. 

We made the decision to change schools. A part of me (OK, all of me) wanted to keep Kourtney at the high school where she was going. It would have made the transition back easier on both Todd and I. But Kourtney could not go back to that high school where she felt betrayed, friendless and found no place of refuge. Although we don't expect the grass to be greener, somehow switching her to a smaller, private Christian school seems to be better fertilizer to make the "grass greener". Kourtney made the choice of school she wanted to go to, hopefully this will give her some motivation to get out of bed in the morning and face the day with courage. I also have to keep in mind that Kourtney's pain is way better controlled, she has uninterrupted sleeps and her body is so much stronger. We have "safeguarded" this semester by enrolling Kourtney in two classes, English and Math. Everyday will be different as far as times she has to be at school, and although it is a scheduling nightmare for our caregivers, it will allow Kourtney to have some "sleep in" days. Although we are not going through a crisis now, it many ways we need just as much prayer as we did a couple of months ago. It is the daily grind that wears us down, and although there have been many positive changes, the bottom line Kourtney still has EB and that in itself says it all.

We did manage to go to Kelowna for two nights. Kourtney was able to go shopping and wasn't as worn out after it all. She led worship with Todd at my brother's "church". It was a sweet moment for us as it was 3.5 months ago when we were in Kelowna when we first noticed that there was something really not right about Kourtney. So, for her to be back there doing what she loves most was reassuring to us that she has indeed become well again. But once again it is about balance . . . . . if we all could lead a life of balance, how much better our lives would be.

Aegrotat Standing

It is not very often that somebody goes to the wall for Kourtney. Over the last 3 weeks there has been a Hospital Homebound teacher who has been coming in and teaching Science 10 to Kourtney. He is a retired teacher who earns extra money by coming into kid's houses and teaching them while they have been sick. His age and demeanor first made Kourtney uncomfortable, but  she realized that he knew how to teach and to make her understand science and so the relationship began. It is quite the site to see; Kourtney and Mr. Lewis sitting on the couch with their iPads, with Lexi snuggled up beside Kourtney making sure this strange man doesn't get too close to her beloved Kourtney.

With the first school semester ending the question was how are we going to get Kourtney to pass her Science. Mr. Lewis was very adamant, along with Kourtney's science teacher, that she should just finish up the chapters and not have to write the provincial exam. The school counselor stepped in and indicated that Kourtney had to write the final provincial exam. I shook my head and once again validated how people cannot think outsisde of the box for our Kourtney.  I had nothing to give;  no more fight; whatever will be will be.

(DA DA DAH - hear the bugle sound of the Calvary) Step in Mr. Lewis! He was outraged with the rapid response he received from the school coupled with the lack of consideration for Kourtney's situation. This man was ready to go on the warpath and beat down the door of the Ministry of Education.  He immediately emailed the principal and the process began for Aegrotat Standing (a special set of circumstances for which Kourtney qualifies whereby she will not to write the exam).
This all "went down" while I have been in a gravol induced coma for the last 3 days due to the stomach flu.  I didn't send an email, I didn't have to talk to anyone!  Mr Lewis did it all.  Wow! It was so nice for someone to be in our corner for Kourtney fighting for her.

We still don't know the outcome of this but it sure does feel nice not to have wasted emotional energy like we have done so many times before . . . even if it is denied. I have a feeling that Mr Lewis will stop at nothing for Kourtney.

All in all Kourtney is doing extremely well, she has conquered her fear of the stairs, areas of skin that have not healed up in years are healed, she is sleeping well and she continues to put on weight. It still feels surreal  that she has come this far in such a short period of time considering the prognosis she was given. She even walked into Costco the other day......a huge feat for her.