Class of 2017

A June highlight was prom for the class of 2017. Lydia attended so that she could share the evening with her friends, and celebrate their high school graduation with them.

(Lydia is pictured in the front row, kneeling in far left royal blue.)

Lydia will likely not graduate until 2019, but she is progressing well towards graduation, and she is enjoying school.

This photo is so remarkable to us, because it is taken in front of the very sign that in 2012 posted:

Lydia Herrle 

Class of 2017  

We believe!

Thank you WO, for keeping the faith with us. Thank you for welcoming Lydia into your fold and caring for her, encouraging her and celebrating little steps with her. Together, we believe!

Spring 2017   Happy Easter!  May HOPE and new life be springing up around you.

Today I came across a camera card with photos from 2014 that Lydia had taken. She took hundreds of photos! I looked at many of them, and what I saw, reminded me of where Lydia was, and made me so thankful for where we are today. The photos were mainly blurry, out of focus, with no apparent subject matter or focal point. They were taken at odd angles, or even upside down.

These photos were taken at a time of great difficulty and setbacks - a stage in her recovery that lasted over 2 years.  At the start of 2016, we began to notice changes in Lydia.  She started having more "good" days.  Her brain seemed to not be so noisy.  She was less overwhelmed. These good days stretched into good weeks, and then months. Something had shifted within her, and she was able to be calm again. (There were no medication, diet, schedule, or caregiver changes that could account for the improvements we saw.) There were still fluctuations in mood, and emotion, but they were manageable. Something had shifted, and another part of her brain had healed. Praise God! Thank you to the many who continued to pray for Lydia, and us, and to care for us, in this most difficult and exhausting phase of her recovery.

The photos I saw today mirrored what she must have been seeing at this time. She could not focus on anything -  everything was blurry, and distorted. Thankfully, she has only few and faint memories of this difficult time. What a mercy!

Praise be to the God of hope, for we are seeing progress and growth again in Lydia's brain development.  In the last 15 months, she has been able to attend school quite regularly. Her brain has calmed and she can focus on cognitive tasks, on others, and on herself. She is becoming more independent than she once was - although still not independent like her brothers or her friends are! She can also communicate and is capable of rational thought again. And, most notably, she is often joyful!

This May, it will be 5 years since May 17, 2012, when Lydia stepped off the bus, and life was forever changed for her, and us.  Many, many times since then, I have read Isaiah 35, for hope and encouragement.

Isaiah 35 (NIV)

Joy of the Redeemed

35 The desert and the parched land will be glad;
    the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, ² it will burst into bloom;
    it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
    the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
    the splendor of our God.

³ Strengthen the feeble hands,
    steady the knees that give way;
⁴ say to those with fearful hearts,
    “Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
    he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
    he will come to save you.”

⁵ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
⁶ Then will the lame leap like a deer,
    and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
    and streams in the desert.
⁷ The burning sand will become a pool,
    the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
    grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

⁸ And a highway will be there;
    it will be called the Way of Holiness;
    it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
    wicked fools will not go about on it.
⁹ No lion will be there,
    nor any ravenous beast;
    they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
¹⁰     and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
    everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
    and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

 In our home, we are grateful to be at a spot where gladness and joy have returned, and sorrow and sighing are fleeing away. In the days, and years ahead, we will keep looking to the One who can make a desert burst into bloom. Happy spring!

Fall 2015

This fall has seen Lydia involved at Waterloo Oxford District Secondary School – the local high school in our area – the one she had always planned to attend when she was in elementary school. Lydia’s entry into our community high school was been very warm and welcoming!  Lydia sees many friends, and she is getting to know many more, along with the staff, and faculty.  She is happy to be a WO Crusader!

It is with such fondness that we remember Waterloo Oxford’s outdoor sign that read, right after her accident: Lydia Herrle, class of 2017.  We believe!

The collective faith and encouragement of this community to Lydia, in her recovery, is beautiful.

She tries to be at school three days a week, for about 3 hours at a time, with her personal teacher.  They do cognitive tasks in an effort to increase focus, memory and decision making abilities.   These abilities have been greatly hindered in the past year and a half.  They are also working on Coop together.  Other days are quieter and have therapy sessions with her OT and SLP.   Resting daily continues to be an important part of her recovery.  She fatigues easily and does not have compensatory ability.  When she is tired, her brain shuts down.

Leaving Rockway Mennonite Collegiate was not an easy decision, but one that became evident as Lydia continued to decline, and could no longer focus on academics or even attend classes.  Even with supports and modifications, she struggled to keep up with her advancing peers.  The amazing community at Rockway cared for her and encouraged her, and we are grateful to them for their role in her recovery.  Whenever we hear or sing, Run to You by Pentatonix, we think of her grade 10 music class and their amazing performance of this song.

Set backs are hard.  We were informed at the start of her recovery, that her progress would not always be upward and onward, but that it would include set backs, as different parts of the brain rewire.  We were prepared for them in our minds, but so unprepared for the length and depth of the hardships they could bring.  Lydia’s trajectory of healing and recovery has changed significantly in the past two years.  Things she could do independently post accident, she can no longer do.  Some days, she cannot memorize, or communicate succinctly, keep a train of thought, or handle commotion and stimuli.  She is often anxious and unsettled.  She suffers, and we are at a loss to relieve her pain.   So often in the past couple of years, it has felt like the tires spin, but there is no traction. 

Our journey has taken us to hard spots of loss and pain, and has kept us there longer than anticipated, and it has changed us.  Our family is changed.  Our marriage is changed.  Our hearts are changed.  Yet, we are not without hope.  We are still tucked tightly beneath the wings of the Almighty God.  He loves us and holds us in every step of this difficult journey of recovery.  He has not promised us freedom from challenges, but rather, His presence with us at all times.

Thank you for continuing to pray for Lydia, and for us.  Please pray for calm and peace for her mind; for endurance and strength; and for joy in the midst of sorrow.  Thank you.

Sweet 16

Sweet 16.  That milestone birthday marker, has been bittersweet.  While we are so thankful to have Lydia with us, to celebrate her, who she is, and her part in our family, we have also had to swallow many lumps, and fight back tears, at the many difficulties she continues to face each day, and the normal teenage experiences that are out of her grasp.

One week before that tragic day in 2012 that changed the trajectory of Lydia's life, I had picked her up after school from track practice, and we had driven home and stopped into our Farm Market at the front of our farm.  When it was time to head home, I asked Lydia if she wanted to drive the car down the lane.  With bright eyes and a huge smile, she got into the driver's seat.  She very cautiously followed instructions and drove the car home.  I have revisited that memory countless times in recent weeks.  I'm so glad I gave her that short moment of "grown up" responsibility and greatness.  And sadly, I wonder if she will ever be able to drive.  Will she have the mental capacity and awareness to safely operate a motorized vehicle?  We hope and pray that her brain injury will continue to heal.

Lydia has made some inching progress in the past few months.  She still struggles greatly with mood regulation and bipolar symptoms, racing thoughts, anxiety, sleep disorders, and concentration.  2014 was a very challenging year  - admittedly a harder one than 2012.  Lydia suffered many set backs last year.  As we turned the calendar to 2015, we began to see glimmers of hope.  More recently, she has been able to attend school, with a teacher or support worker.  We are so grateful that her school community accepts and encourages Lydia in her journey of recovery.  For much of first semester, she was absent from school - working with teachers or therapists from home, as she was able.  Now, in second semester, she is taking Art, in addition to continuing her choral music course. This is a small step, but still one to celebrate!  She so wants to be a part of school life, and spend time with her peers!  She also wants to join every sports team, and every club!  This is the old Lydia asserting herself, and the new Lydia has trouble accepting her limitations, and living in the reality of them. 

She is learning to dribble a basket ball, and like we did when she was little, we cheer her on when she progresses from being able to dribble 5 times without fumbling, to 15 times, and so on!  She tries very hard, and it is heart breaking, as parents, to see it be harder to master these skills this second time, than it was the first time.

We try to encourage Lydia to embrace who she is being recreated to be, to accept that she is different than before, and to trust God with the plans that He has for her.  We commend her when she uses the abilities that she has to make a difference.  She has a big heart (and smile), and in her slow, articulate manner, she often goes out of her way to encourage others, and to bring them cheer.  She inspires people with out even knowing why.  These are hidden gifts in this difficult journey that we need to discover, and treasure.

In uncertain times, we stand on the certain truth that God is faithful; that He will never leave us or forsake us; that He is for us; that He loves us; and that He who began a good work will carry it on to completion.  We rest in Him.

We invite your renewed or continued prayers for Lydia.  Thank you.

For decades, we have loved the hymn, It Is Well With My Soul, by Horatio G. Spafford.  We have sung it in worship services and funerals,  at home with guitar, or piano, or in the car, reminding ourselves of the peace that is ours when we trust in Jesus.  The first verse begins:
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.


Bethel Music has a beautiful song based on this old hymn.  May it have you singing too.  And may it be well with you.

It Is Well - Kristene DiMarco & Bethel Music - You Make Me Brave
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNqo4Un2uZI

Lyrics: Grander earth has quaked before Moved by the sound of His voice Seas that are shaken and stirred Can be calmed and broken for my regard Through it all, through it all My eyes are on You Through it all, through it all It is well Through it all, through it all My eyes are on You It is well with me Far be it from me to not believe Even when my eyes can’t see And this mountain that’s in front of me Will be thrown into the midst of the sea So let go my soul and trust in Him The waves and wind still know His name It is well with my soul It is well with my soul It is well with my soul It is well, it is well with my soul Written by Kristene DiMarco © 2013 Bethel Music Publishing (ASCAP). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.

There is a steady refrain that has been on our lips and in our hearts for the past several months since we last updated the blog.  It is an unexpected song for this stage in the journey, but one we have come to realize may be a part of our lives forever.  It is from Les Miserables:
There's a grief that can't be spoken
There's a pain goes on and on ...

Grief. Loss. Pain.  These have been the dominant forces moving through our lives.  Lydia has become acutely aware of her many losses, and she is overwhelmed in dealing with them.  At this point in her recovery, she cannot comprehend, even sometimes, remember emotions or behaviours that she has exhibited.  She can be angry at times, intensely so.  Other times, she feels great sadness, and despair, facing the future and feeling like she doesn't have the strength for all of the hard work her recovery asks of her; seeing her peers and knowing she can't keep pace with them; longing for the ease with which her younger brothers can learn and master new things.  Add to all of this, the normal hormones of teenage life, and the fragility of her recovering brain, and you get a sustained, turbulent condition.

One medical doctor from Holland Bloorview Children's Rehabilitation Hospital explained to us that a normal teenager's emotions will swing, like a pendulum, from 4:00 to 8:00 (if you picture an analog clock).  With a brain injured teen, the pendulum swings from 1:00 to 11:00, and back again, sometimes with extreme speed.  Rational thoughts, and emotional regulation are difficult for Lydia at these times.

Due to the fragility of her recovering brain, when one part of her brain struggles, almost every other part of her brain is compromised.  Consequently, her speech is slower, her stability and balance have suffered, (she falls a lot more, and can require support when walking), her cognition is impaired, and her processing speeds and attention span are significantly reduced.  She has regressed in all areas of her recovery as a result of the emotional turmoil in her brain. 

We knew that setbacks would be a part of her recovery, but to experience them so profoundly, and so daily, even hourly, has been devastating. 

Lydia was not able to complete her school year at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, but has worked with her teacher and therapists at home, since April.  She has almost finished all of her required elements, and, understandably, she has lamented the need to do work in the summer when others don't have to.   She is taking a break from school and therapy in August.

Lydia loves to sing. Loudly. She is also currently enjoying lots of different arts and crafts projects.  Her enthusiasm is boundless when it comes to music.  Ours is not a quiet household!

What will September bring?  We don't know.  We wait and see.  And always, we hope and pray.

The word of God comforts us.  Notably, the imagery of Isaiah 35, with the Lord making a way in the wilderness, and streams in the desert, encourages us. 
Another favourite is Psalm 27:13, 14  Yet I am confident of this, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord.  Be strong and take heart, and wait for the Lord. 

We invite you to pray for healing.  Please join us in asking God to bring full recovery to Lydia's brain, to take her through this stage of recovery, and to keep us all in His care.

We were told at the start, that this would be a long journey of recovery.  We truly had no idea how long.  We are understanding more, each day. 
In March, we watched a video of a local woman's courageous recovery from her catastrophic brain injury 13 years ago.  Our eyes were opened, and our hearts softened as we dug in for a longer journey than we had anticipated.    You can view Connie's recovery :
http://vimeo.com/85821825

Happy birthday, Lydia!

“So how is Lydia doing?” we are often asked.  We are humbled by the support and care that we continue to receive.  Thank you.  She is doing well, considering how extensive her injuries were, and how much recovery is needed.  She still has a great, heart  warming smile, and a readiness to share it with others.  She is continuing her studies in grade 9, with her support teacher, at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, and doing well there.  In the past several months, her recovery has been more focused on the recovery and healing of many emotions.  She has hard days, and good days, and we are learning to stay in each day, and not jump ahead to the future.  “This too, shall pass” is an axiom that James and I have often shared with one another, in the various difficult stages of parenting that we have encountered over the years.  This expression reminds us of the temporal nature of things that seem long and hard.    Lately, I have been challenged to remind myself that it is not merely a matter of biding time in a hard situation, and waiting for it to pass, but rather, to acknowledge that God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, and He knows and holds each stage.  He knows the beginning, the middle and the end.  He will hold us and keep us in every stage.

We celebrated Lydia’s 15^th birthday with a family trip to Ottawa.  We attended question period in Parliament, and afterwards enjoyed a wonderful visit with our MP for Kitchener Conestoga, Harold Albrecht.  In the House, he spoke of Lydia’s miraculous recovery, and reminded us how far she has come.  He reflected back on Lydia’s “when I am 14” list of things she hoped to be able to do by herself by the time she turned 14 year old – like eating soup!  He then wished her a happy birthday, and said  “we can only imagine the things you will be able to do when you are 15!” 

If you have a moment, enjoy this minute long update from our genuine and caring Member of Parliament. Harold works for and cheerleads many causes in our nation.  We are touched by his ongoing support and prayers for Lydia.  

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152075134668929&set=vb.37417553928&type=3&theater

Lydia, our determined warrior butterfly, has already begun her “ when I am 16 list” of goals she hopes to reach.  Her list sounds a lot like many other teenagers, “ I hope to drive….”.  We have cautioned her that it may be awhile before she is able to do that.  But who knows what a year will hold?  We can always hope.  

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you all.  May the light of Jesus shine upon you.

We hope that as 2013 draws to a close, that you are able to find yourself in a spot of gratitude and peace.  We have learned much of these two invaluable traits in the past year.  We live by moments, days, weeks, and now years, of trusting that God has plans for us that extend beyond our capacity to understand, and by resting in His care for us. 

This past year has been hard.  It has had highs, and many lows.  Living with someone with a brain injury is very challenging.  We have been adjusting to our new normal as a family.  Often, we are stretched to care for Lydia's many physical, and emotional needs.  She is currently at a spot in her recovery where she is grieving her losses.  Anger is a part of grief, and she struggles with how hard her life is.  And it is hard.  We wish it wasn't, but it truly is.   It is the testing ground of our faith:  Do we trust that God is taking care of us, even when we can't see his work, or understand his plans?   We call out to him regularly.  We seek his grace for each stage of Lydia's recovery.  We ask the Holy Spirit to counsel us, and to comfort us in our sorrowing. 

 

Thankfully, some days, there is an ease and peace at home that we are all thankful for.

Lydia can laugh at herself, and her smile is genuine and warm.   Good humour can abound!  Lighter days, allow us to catch our breath, and regain our perspective - always on the One who cares for us, and never leaves us. 

 

We are often asked, “How is Lydia doing?”  “She is doing well for someone who is recovering from a traumatic brain injury” is our standard response.  Or “She has come a long way, and we are so thankful, but she has a very long way to go, too.”  Both of these answers speak to the truth that is ever present in our lives:  we are on a very long journey of recovery with Lydia.  We are thankful for the progress she has made, and we face the future with hope for continued improvements.  We pray daily for more recovery, strength, and rest.  But this weary mother must confess that the journey is long and the path is not well marked.

 

We do not know what 2014 will hold.  Lydia will continue to work on her therapies and school.   She will keep trying to learn to run, and this winter will see her on the slopes at Chicopee, learning to ski again in Chicopee's assisted skiing program. She is a determined learner; our parental hearts cheer her on when we see the sheer effort she gives towards her recovery. She will keep working on her singing voice, and we will try to sing the journey together, one moment, or hour or day at a time.  May you do the same, whatever your journey may be.

 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  (Romans 15:13) 

 

 

September, that back to school month, has flown by for us, as we have three children back to school, each in a different school.  Lydia is at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, and loving it!  Her specialized educational needs are met in partnership with the school and her private rehabilitation team.  This means that she continues to receive Speech Language Therapy,  Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy, in addition to being enrolled in courses at Rockway.  Her daily attendance at Rockway is supported by a private Rehabilitative Certified Teacher or a Rehabilitation Support Worker.  This partnership has worked very well, with strong communication between the Rockway and Therapy teams.  We are so delighted for the progress that "back to school" means for Lydia.

Lydia has been very tired, with all of the cognitive strain that school puts on her.  She needs rest, and once again, night time rest is interrupted; her mind processes and won't shut down to allow her to rest.  She has two different capacities, and personalities: one that is positive, joyful and lively, when she is rested, and the other that is overwhelmed, despairing and challenged to do even small simple things, when she is tired.  Please pray for restorative rest each night.

 

We have acknowledged many times that this journey is bittersweet: joy and sorrow are intermingled.  We are in a season of sorrow that is sparked by Lydia's awareness of all that she has lost.  She knows what she used to be able to do, and grieves that her life is so hard now - a daily struggle to relearn, and learn anew. 
Her recovery and healing continued over the summer, but she still has difficulty with coordination and balance;  her gait is unsteady, and learning to run has proven to be very challenging.  Remarkable improvement is noticeable in her fine motor skills.  She is able to print and the tremor in her hand is considerably less.  Progress is being made, just at a slower pace than previously.

When someone dies, there are grieving rituals, and time given to mourn.  When someone suffers a significant loss, or disability, there is no time allotted to grieve.  Life continues. 

More than ever, Christ is the solid rock on which we stand.  All other ground is sinking sand.  We give to Him the weighty cares of this journey.  We ask Him to provide for us, and take care of us, day by day. 
James and I are feeling the strains of caregiving: the physical fatigue, and the emotional weightiness of this present journey.  And yet, we are grateful, that we can hold one another, and acknowledge the pain together.  We grieve and pray together.  We thank God that he has knit our hearts closely together. 
We hold to the promises of scripture, that He who began a good work will be faithful to complete it (Phil 1:6) and that He will strengthen us and help us and uphold us with His righteous right hand (Is 41:10).
Sometimes we recite Isaiah 43, inserting our names, and holding to the hope that scripture brings.
1 But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, (Lydia),
    he who formed you, (Lydia):
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
² When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;    the flames will not set you ablaze.
³ For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

^{Your continued prayers and support are appreciated as we walk, upheld, in faith.} 

 

100 Huntley

We have had many asking us for the link to our appearance on 100 Huntley Street, so here it is.  Our visit was memorable.  The folks there are so kind and genuine.  As the show is broadcast live, there is no opportunity for editing or second takes.  Lydia prepared for the show, but, understandably, she found herself quite nervous.  Thankfully, she enjoyed the opportunity.
http://www.crossroads360.com/100huntley/video/0XJJebVZJnc#.Ud3RkFRws2w

As promised, here is Lydia's speech that she gave at her grade 8 graduation in text form. 

 

I can do anything.  I have learned this truth this past year.  I have been on a hard journey of recovery.  I could have died, but God gave me a second chance to live, and life is a precious gift.  I am doing my best to live fully, to treasure the life that I have been given.   

I want to share the hope that I have.  I want to ignite a flicker of hope in others, reminding them that anything is possible.   

I spent 2 months in a deep coma, at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, where I could not talk, or walk, or even move on my own.  From July until October, I was at Holland Bloorview, a children’s rehab hospital.  In August, when I was at home visiting my family, on my dad’s birthday, I spoke my first sentences.  This past school year, I have spent at home with therapists, teachers and support workers, and I have relearned how to walk, balance, think and communicate.  I am recovering.

Our attitudes are very important.  They shape us.  They have a huge impact on life.  It is important to not face each day with a crummy attitude.  Instead, put on a smile, be thankful, and face each day with hope and strength.   

“Life is 10% what happens to us, and 90% of how we react to it.”  We can’t control everything that happens to us, but we can control our attitudes. Expect the unexpected - something totally out of the ordinary, and when that happens, you’ll be ready to embrace it, whatever “it” is.

Over the last year, I have gone through many mixed emotions.  There were times at night, when I felt like giving up, but God gave me hope.  In the morning, I awoke with a new perspective, renewed faith, and determination.  When hard times come your way, when the unexpected happens, do not lose hope or give up.  Have faith, a positive attitude and you’ll find strength for each step of your journey.  Thank you for encouraging me in mine.

One last note, before I sign off, possibly for the summer: Lydia and I will be guests on 100 Huntley Street on Wednesday July 10, in the morning.  We will be sharing about our experiences this past year: about a loving and faithful God who can hold us and care for us, in every situation, in every moment.
Until we blog again, remember Romans 12:12:  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Grade 8 graduation

Many times, we find this journey to be bittersweet.  Sorrow and joy flow together.  More often, there is joy, delight and gratitude - a sweetness to savour.  The graduation ceremony for the grade 8 students at Baden Public School was a wonderful celebration on Friday evening.  Lydia was able to walk across the stage, and receive her diploma.  The audience spontaneously clapped and cheered as she did so, even though we were saving our applause for the end, due to the number of students graduating.  How beautiful to be cheered on by this community that has journeyed deeply with us.

Lydia gave a speech at her graduation ceremony, sharing some of the lessons she has learned this past year.  She wrote it herself, and practiced it a lot at home, and with her speech language pathologist.  The standing ovation she received tugged at our hearts.  I have been told by many, "there wasn't a dry eye in the audience".  It was powerful.  Here is a link to her speech.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xYAzcX43Z0
I will post her speech in printed form in a separate blog, for those who would rather read it.

In the car, after graduation, Lydia asked me, "Do you think I would have received an award if I had not been hit?"  Her mind had wandered the same path that ours had during the ceremony.  How might her grade 8 graduation have looked if this unasked for incident had not entered our lives last year?
We pray regularly to be kept in the present - to not dream a different future, or cling to the past, but to be thankful for each day, and praise the Lord for it.  In Lydia's grade 8 homeroom graduation book, she shared her favourite quote: Psalm 118:24  This is the day that the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. 
He is faithful.  We entrust our hearts to Him, who gently holds us.
Over the summer, Lydia will have some time off, but will continue with therapy and school.  She is keen to keep pressing on: to regain, relearn, and in some cases, learn for the first time.  She wants to catch up to her peers.  While we have been told that she will have lifelong implications to her injuries, we have not shared this with Lydia.  She is determined, and she keeps working hard.

In September, Lydia will go to high school with a new member of her team, an educational rehab specialist.  She will attend some classes with her new teacher, as well as receiving individual instruction in other subject areas.    Therapy will continue, sometimes at the school, sometimes at the therapists clinics.  We are so thankful for the progress Lydia has made, that permit her to renter school already.  Our educational rehab specialist has told us that often she does not become a part of the treatment team until 2 or 3 years post injury, in cases where the severity of the brain injury was as traumatic as Lydia's.  We praise God for his healing work in Lydia.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
We also thank you for your continued prayers.  We are so touched to have people we don't know approach us and tell us they have been praying for Lydia.  Thank you.

May 17, 2013 has been a wonderful day of remembering and being thankful for all that we have been carried through in this past year.  Truly God has been gracious to us, and cared for us every step of the way.  Two favourite songs that we sing are Never Once (did we ever walk alone) by Matt Redman, and Not For A Moment (were we forsaken) by Meredith Andrews.  We are thankful that Lydia continues to recover and make progress.
Just this week, as I was vacuuming her school/therapy room, I was struck by how far she has come.  In the spot where her hospital bed used to be, there now stands an elliptical exercise machine.  Lydia is very keen to learn to run again, and the elliptical is helping her towards this goal.  She does "run", mostly forward, but sometimes sideways, and she has difficulty stopping.  With her balance difficulties, she moves awkwardly, but always full of joy and zeal.  A friend today, who saw her run, remarked that she looked like a frolicking calf!  How that blessed our hearts to remember the promise of this scripture in Malachi 4:2, that was given to us a week after her accident.  Even when she was motionless and unresponsive, we were encouraged that "this was not the valley of the shadow of death" (which we had wondered if it was), but that (Mal 4:2) "the sun of righteousness would rise with healing in its rays, and (Lydia) would go out and frolic, like well-fed calves"!  So we praise God for our frolicking calf!

This week, some great stories have been done in the paper, on our church website and on the news about Lydia's recovery.  We invite you to view them.
http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/935332--lydia-herrle-recovering-and-optimistic-one-year-after-collision
 http://www.waterloomb.org/stories/sustained-and-strengthened
http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=929482

And as always, we thank you for your continued prayers.  Whatever you face, we pray this blessing of
Romans 15:13 over you.  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

spring greetings from the Herrles

With the beautiful spring weather we enjoyed today, winter has surely passed, and it is time to update you on the progress that Lydia is making.  We thank you for your continued prayers.
We have had a good winter.  We have enjoyed family time together.
Lydia continues to work hard, with a joyful spirit and keen determination.  She has moments where she gets discouraged, but they typically don't last very long.  She is more steady with her walking, and her balance is improving.  This summer will not see her return to soccer - not yet!  First, she needs to be able to balance on one foot, in order to kick the ball, and she needs to relearn how to run!  She also needs to regain much strength and endurance.  Her swimming has improved incredibly over the winter, ( it's been great therapy ) and she no longer needs a flotation belt to complete her laps in the pool.   
Lydia's schedule has remained steady through the winter, with continued treatments from her OT, her SLP, and her PT.  As well, she receives home instruction in math and language from two tutors, in addition to weekly visits from a music therapist.  She has not been able to return to school yet, but she is making gains in her cognitive function.

She is able to sustain her attention for about an hour, and does not need the same amount of sleep, as previously.  She still rests regularly, but now about 20 minutes of quiet is all she needs.  Her night time sleep is still regularly interrupted with wakeful periods, where her brain is working over time.  Every night, she prays for a full night's rest.  We invite you to join her, and us, in these prayers.  All of her abilities are hindered when she is tired.
In January, Lydia's Occupational Therapist taught her to make macrame bracelets, to help with her fine motor control.  This activity has been ongoing therapy for Lydia, and she is quite industrious.  She has taught her siblings and her cousins to make them as well.  She also enjoys the art work she does as part of her OT sessions.

We continue to know the mercy and strength that the Lord provides for us daily.  We have enjoyed some new songs this winter, to lead us in worship, and to usher us into the deeper peace that only the Lord can give.

Check out Meredith Andrew's Not For A Moment, and Over Me, or Kari Jobe's Come to Me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD0cvWImVjA&feature=player_detailpage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig6rCWg2iNo&list=PLDB752AFAE88F63B7&feature=player_detailpage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvzznNAcL24

Psalm 25:1,5

In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Saviour, and my HOPE is in you all day long.

 May your hope rest firmly in Him each day.

This may be a lengthier blog entry, but it will be the last one for quite awhile -  possibly until spring, 2013.  Life for us on the farm, follows the seasons.  Winter is often a season of quiet, and rest, as we withdraw, and "hibernate" a bit.  Our lives have been racing at hyper-speed since summer, and while we are grateful for the miraculous progress that Lydia is making, we are looking to regain our sense of family life.  We have been so blessed to share this journey with you, and to feel upheld by your prayers, and your practical care for us.  Thank you for your generous hearts, for your many encouragements of us and Lydia, and your faith in our amazing God.
 
Rest assured, if something very noteworthy should occur, we will certainly share it with you.  But as we walk this journey, our lives are becoming more predictable, and it feels some days, like we have found our new stride of "normal" - normal life with a child with special needs.  We are thankful to be at a stage where Lydia is progressing, and daily routines are possible.  We are also mindful many times, that our journey could have been different, and we could be mourning our first Christmas as the Herrle4.  Thanks be to God that Lydia is with us, recovering, and that we are all together, at home, to celebrate Christmas.  May you gather with your family and friends, and be filled with wonder, that God's love for us caused Him to enter our world as a baby.  Emanual.  God with us.  What a gift to celebrate!  And may your new year, 2013, like ours, be filled with hope. 

In some ways, every day has moments that are noteworthy, to be grasped, and treasured, but we will hold them in our hearts, rather than share them in the blog.  We had the pleasure of attending a Steve Bell concert this past weekend.  Steve spoke about his Mom's health challenges .His words "to not look longingly to the past to find the beauty that was, because you will miss the beauty of this present moment", seemed especially poignant for us.  Our new life is demanding, and challenging, and is stretching us to see different beauties than we would have expected, or experienced, had out path not been altered.  But there are such moments of beauty as we trust God, and seek His plans and His pace for our lives.  We are grateful to God for His divine work of re-forming Lydia, and each of us.   

We had a team meeting last week, with Lydia's therapists, teachers and case managers, to discuss Lydia's progress in the past two months that she has been home, and to chart a path for the next several months.  Her home therapy and school schedule is working well, and will continue unchanged for months to come.  Lydia has an excellent team to care for her and guide her through her therapy and recovery.  We thank God for these professionals in our lives.

Continuing, significant rest is  important for Lydia, as her brain recovers and rewires.  She often has three or four rests during the day.  Lydia works so hard, every day, to get better.  Mostly, she is determined and strong, but some days, she is weak, and discouraged.  Your ongoing prayers for her recovery, and her peace amidst her limitations, would be appreciated.  We regularly remember the words of Liz Murray at WE Day in November to not "let what you can't do interfere with what you can do".  We focus on what Lydia can do now.

Many of her "when I am fourteen" goals that she set for herself in October, she has realized.  She is able to brush her hair and put it up.  (She wants to learn how to braid again.)  She is able to walk through the house unassisted, with the exception of up or down stairs, dress herself, go to the bathroom, and brush her teeth.  She calls when she needs us.  Lydia is able to do all of these activities independently, but they fatigue her, so often we assist her with them to conserve her energy for more important learning or therapy. 
 
A most fitting end to our regular blogging journey would be to worship our loving, faithful and great God for the things that He has done.  He has provided for us and sustained us -  often through you.  (Do you know that we still regularly receive meals each week?  What a practical and wonderful help to us.).  He has met us and cared for us,  as we have sought Him and hidden ourselves in Him.  We have known the peace that passes all understanding.  He has loved us tenderly and given us grace for each moment.  We praise Him for His healing.   We worship Him in every season of our lives.  He is here.  He is with us  always. Never once have we ever walked alone.  To Him be the glory in Christ Jesus.


 

We have had a good week.  Lydia had several days where she was happy and rested.  (We appreciate your prayers for restful sleep during the night, and would ask that they continue.)
Lydia enjoyed a short visit with another grade 8 class at Baden Public School, and she has one more class to visit with next week, and then she will have seen her former classmates and peers at school.  Lydia's list of people she would like to see, and places to visit far exceeds her capacity!  Inch by inch, we progress along.

On Saturday, the Herrle family participated in the St. Agatha Christmas parade. Lydia's cousins carried a banner that read "Thank you for praying for Lydia".  An uncle drove the golf cart that Lydia and some cousins sat on for most of the lengthy parade that winds through St. Agatha, and Lydia walked the home stretch.  Aunts and siblings helped us to share cookies with those gathered along the parade route.  There were moments of tears and cheers, as folks cheered for Lydia.

As we enter the Christmas season, we will attend some Christmas concerts, and family dinners, but this season will be quieter, and low key this year.  Lydia will keep working on playing Joy to the World on the piano, and to exercise her singing voice with Away in A Manger, and Silent Night.  Jesus will continue to shine as the brightest light in our lives, and we will quietly celebrate His gift to us, in entering our dark world 2000 years ago.  We will remember and be grateful for His deep and abundant love for us.  We have hidden ourselves in Him often, and found serenity and security in the shelter of His wings.  The future is uncertain, but His love is steadfast.  We rest in Him.
May you do the same, this Christmas.

http://vimeo.com/17866556

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
Music by Rowland H. Pritchard / Lyric by Charles Wesley
Come Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee
Israel’s strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every loving heart

Born Thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a King
Born to reign in us forever
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone
By Thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne

Last night, Lydia and some friends, along with our family, entered a "Thank you for praying for Lydia" float in the New Hamburg Christmas parade.  It was fun, festive and frantic!  Lydia began writing her memoir about it today, so I don't want to give any details away.  It had comical and heart warming moments for us all. 
This Saturday, we plan to participate in the St. Agatha Christmas parade.  Events like these, take a lot out of Lydia, so she has to rest for most of the day.
We are settlilng into our new normal - routines of therapy, rest and school for Lydia; and as a family, learning how our together time needs to be shaped in order to accommodate Lydia's special needs. 
We are grateful for the incredible prayer support we have received.  We would appreciate your continued prayers, specifically for rest for Lydia.  Some days, she is tired, but can't find sleep or the quiet space of rest.  Her brain is over processing, and analyzing; buzzing with thoughts, but not rest.  Like any of us, when we are over tired, she then struggles to do her therapy, to concentrate when it is required, and to feel well.  We pray for rest and renewal.

Lydia had her first classroom visit at Baden Public School on Thursday.  She was able to spend the last block of the day with her home room, 8B.  She was so excited to go!  She wore her cheerleading hair ribbon in her hair, and jumped for joy in the office upon arrival!  (Her jump is supported, and doesn't entail feet leaving the floor, just legs bending and straightening rapidly.)  She received her planner, and a class photo was taken.  Lydia loves school, and longs to return, but unfortunately, she is far from being able to return for regular classroom instruction. 
She was surprised and delighted to receive the Student of the Month award for her class.   The attribute of the month for November is Hope.   The students in her homeroom class voted her to be the classmate who best embodies the attribute of HOPE.  How beautiful is that?  Her award is proudly hung on our fridge.
In Lydia's music therapy this week, her teacher brought a recorder for her to try.  She figured the recorder was a good stepping stone to the flute, an instrument Lydia began to play in grade 7, and hopes to return to.  We would have never thought that Mary Had a Little Lamb on the recorder, could bring tears to our eyes, but it did, as she played it proudly for us on Saturday morning.  She called Grandparents on Saturday to play the tune for them too.  She has taken her recorder with her, or had it close at hand, to play for all therapists and teachers who come to see Lydia.

On Saturday, we were excited to have the writer personally deliver to our home, several copies of Most Magazine.  Remember the aestheticians and the photo shoot, earlier this month?  They were for this special feature in Most Magazine.  The photography, the story, and how beautifully they are shared, moved us greatly.  Thank you to the team, whose artistic talents collaborated wonderfully.  For those who do not receive Most Magazine, you can view it online at http://www.mostwaterlooregion.com.  Just click on the current issue tab on the far left.  Our story begins on page 24.

We battled with discouragement at times over this past week, as Lydia would ask, "Why is it so hard for me to eat?  ... to brush my teeth? ... to do my hair?"  She is aware of her limitations and frustrated by them.  We encourage Lydia (and ourselves too) by talking about things that she wasn't able to do before, but can now.  We try to get perspective by considering that she has only completed 25%  of her recovery. (This is based on  the 2 year projected recovery time frame for a brain injury patient.  The most significant gains are made within this time frame.  However recovery continues for years. )  
Perspective also returns when we give thanks to the One who gives us all, and when we turn our hearts to Him, trusting in His ways, His timing, and His provision for us all. 
Phil 1:6 ... being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you, will be faithful to carry it on to completion until the day of our Lord.

The opening line of a song that often steadies me, is God I look to You, I won't be overwhelmed.  Give me vision to see things like You do.  Amen 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=CR5IoWH9OiI
God I Look to You by Brian Johnson, sung by Jenn Johnson, from the album "Be lifted High"

God I look to You
I won't be overwhelmed
Give me vision to see things like You do
God I look to You
You're where my help comes from
Give me wisdom, You know just what to do

I will love You Lord my strength
I will love you Lord my shield
I will love You Lord my rock
Forever all my days, I will love you God

Hallelujah our God reigns
Hallelujah our God reigns
Hallelujah our God reigns
Forever all my days Hallelujah

Blogging less frequently

We have had a good weekend.  I am feeling better; not quite 100%, but much improved.  Lydia rested well, and is ready for another full week of therapy and school and rest.   She works so hard.  She has always been very disciplined, and we see that trait in her again, as she gives herself fully to her tasks each day.  She is now regularly tieing her shoes by herself!
Today, she went to the University of Waterloo School of Optometry for a complete eye exam.  She has suffered some impairments to her vision.  She will need reading glasses, and she requires some visual therapy to help with muscular control.  We are hopeful these difficulties can be overcome.

On Sunday, at our home church, Waterloo Mennonite Brethren, we shared our stories of how God has been caring for us, and the power of prayer.  James and I spoke during our worship services. Lydia shared via video.  The video, entitled Warrior Butterfly, beautifully captures Lydia, speaking about her journey with Jesus.  It is a short but powerful clip.  http://www.waterloomb.org/stories/warrior-butterfly

For a few weeks now, we have pondered for how long, and how regularly, we should continue to update you on Lydia's progress.  The blog has been an efficient way to share our journey with the many who pray for us, and who care about Lydia's recovery.  We are ever so grateful for your prayers and support.  It has been overwhelming.   
Often, the blog has been cathartic to write - a sort of "on line journal".  Just as often, it has felt divinely inspired.  We have heard countless stories of how God has used the blog to draw people to Himself, and to encourage them in their faith.  To Him be the glory in all things.  We have trusted Him for his guidance, and He has been so faithful.  We will continue to trust His leading with the blog.  We are certain that He will help us to know when it is time to stop.  For now, we plan to update you weekly. 
We are thankful, that 6 months after the accident, Lydia is doing as well as she is.  She still has a lot of recovering, relearning, and resting to do.  We wait, we hope, and we pray for her full recovery. 
We celebrate the gifts that God has graciously given to our family.  We have been forever changed by these intimate faith experiences. 
Romans 15:13  May the God of hope, fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of theHoly Spirit.
Talk to you next Monday!
 

Lydia is still feeling the effects of Wednesday's excitement at WeDay.  She is tired and needing to rest more.  It seems to be that in the days following a big event, she is particularly tired.  While she is progressing in her capacity, it is still very small, compared to what it once was.
When we look at a calendar, we can't believe that tomorrow, November 17, marks the 6 month mark in this journey.  Where has the time gone?  Half a year!  We are grateful for the provision, love and support we have received, over the past half year, and we know that it will continue, in different ways.  God has met us powerfully, and we have known the peace that passes understanding.  Our hearts are forever changed, forever drawn deeper into the intimacies of walking by faith.  But, the journey is long, and the journey is hard.  Yes, there is peace, and there is joy, and beauty, and hope; but it is still a difficult path to walk.
I have continued to suffer from a sore throat and cold this past week.  I need to take a break from many things - blogging is one that I have chosen to rest from for a few days. So, may you have a good, and restful weekend too.

Lydia had a very full day today.  This morning, she went to Baden Public School to meet with her new principal, and vice principal.  She let out a whoop of delight, as we rounded the bend in Livingston Blvd, and she could see the school.  How she longs to return to school!  She received a welcome back card, signed by many grade eight students, which she enjoyed reading today.
Later today, she had an appointment with the Wheel chair seating clinic at KidsAbility to finalize the details for ordering her own wheel chair.  We are currently renting one, and while she is making great strides in walking, (pun intended!), she will need a chair of her own for distance mobility for some time yet.  She was measured up and sized for a chair that will be made specifically for her.
Lydia understands the need for the wheel chair, but, she struggles with it.  She does not want to appear different.  She sometimes asks that we not park in the reserved handicap parking spaces.   She does not want to be pitied.  She asked that we not take her chair to WeDay, yesterday, but realized the need for it, as the short walk to our car, with a sore knee, was painful.  Once in the car, she asked that her chair be taken along to WeDay.  One day a while ago, she uttered a heartbreaking statement:  "I guess I'll have to get new friends - ones with disabilities like me."
We deduce from these reactions, that Lydia views people with disabilities as segregated, different, not normal.  Does this perception stem from some of her experiences, or from her notions about individuals with disabilities from before?
Since Lydia's entrance into the world of the differently abled, our perception has changed too.  We have seen such a vibrant faith in Lydia, and a beautiful tenderness and sensitivity.  She walks more intimately with Jesus now than before.
James 2:5 speaks to us:  Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:  Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world, to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
So maybe our able bodied culture views those with disabilities as poor, in the eyes of the world.  But we have seen richness that is great.  We have a friend with CP, and he knows what it is like to live with disabilities, and yet, he has a heart and spirit that are incredibly connected to God.
Lord, may we know your love, and hold your view of all your children - abled and differently abled.