Happy Canada Day!  We have reflected many times how we are fortunate to live in Canada, and have access to excellent medical care.  God keep our land, glorious and free!

Today was a good day with Lydia.  She was not agitated, and seemed to be in a lighter stage of her coma, as she was responsive and awake often.  We shared with her a photo slideshow of her friends, and she regularly looked at the computer screen.  How much she is able to see, we do not know, but she was focused in the right direction.

She no longer has her NG tube, so her face is clear of medical tape and tubes.  (How sweet she looks!)  She is feeding well from her G tube, and she is almost up to her full amount of feeds.  Her core and neck muscles are strengthening.  She is able to better hold herself upright in her wheel chair.  We went outside twice today, to enjoy the warmth, and listen to the birds.  Lydia enjoyed a couple of freezies too!  We hold them to her lips, causing them to melt, and then we encourage her to swallow.  She is improving!

We tried to coax some sounds out of Lydia, but we did not get any today.  Patience in all things.  We are working to develop some communication systems with Lydia: blink once for yes, and shake your head for no.  She will be non verbal for many months, so we are finding other ways to communicate.

 

For Lydia's thirteenth birthday, we asked friends and family members to share their thoughts or encouragement with her as she enters the teen years.  A friend reminded us today of the poem that her Grandma H shared with her.  It was a poem that she received from her Sunday School teacher when she was thirteen.  The words ring true:

 

God hath not promised skies always blue,

Flower strewn pathways all our lives through:

God hath not promised sun without rain,

Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

But God hath promised strength for the day,

Rest for the labour, light for the way.

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

 

We are grateful for the love of God to carry us and light the way for each day.  We give thanks for today.