Ouchie!

Just when i posted that Jere is well, Jere bit a good portion of his skin off his left big toe, leaving it bigger, swollen and raw. It is so painful looking at it.

I'm waiting for an appointment from kkh to refit those Dennis Brown shoes as they've become too small and made his heels red.

So while the shoes was off, he couldn't resist his toes like most babies, brought it up to his mouth and bit it!

Before you guys start to ask, lemme tell you about the conversation between sis and me.

michy mich says: Jere bite his toe till bleed...so poor thing
Gladys says: huh? how come like that?? no feeling one meh ? u better check

Well, this thought already crossed my mind when i saw his toe last nite. I was praying in my heart. God build and rebuild those nerves so that Jere would have sensation. i was warned at Jere's birth that Jere had little sensation hips down due to his open neural tube defect. When they tickled his foot at birth, there was hardly any Babinski reflex. It was only at his full month celebration that we noticed there is a slight slight reaction to the stimulation which when i first saw, i was "Did you see that?"

Yes, I gave him all the teething toys there is.
freeze it, clipped it to him, everything! if he can throw it, he would.
same goes for those hard teething rusks. it goes straight to my cocker spaniel, bonnie. Kinda scary how he bit his toe!

Let's just unite in prayers and pray that God builds and rebuilds those nerves affected in the open neural tube defect that Jere regains his senses from his hips down, especially his feet and of coz also the nerves that help with his urinary and bowel movement.

Amen!

How's Jeremiah?

Everyone has been asking especially since his MRI, 20th March 2007

Well, i would say other than the fact that the neuro surgeon still suggesting surgery, all is well.


Jere's generally happy. He loves to make cheeky eyes which goes by the cue "BEAUTIFUL EYES"
Check him out!







He's crawling in Glenn Doman terms but probably not in yours :P
Glenn Doman pioneered the field in child brain development and founded The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential. I've read some of GD works thanks to Laura, a good friend, a mother, a wife and best of all also an instrument of God who have reached out to us in every way.

Jere is bearing weight on all fours and rocking back and forth. Undergoing physiotherapy both public and private. Public that is in our dear government hospital which is much more affordable but the queue is horrendous. You can wait 6 weeks to 2 months for the next session. So we sprinkle the public sessions with private sessions at tanglin shopping centre which the place itself already suggests how steep it can cost. Yes, it cost more than four times but if it is going to make him walk, what's all this money spent? And a kind soul, a yoga instructor who shares the same birthday as Jere has reached out to us to try to see how can yoga help Jere stretch and maximise whatever muscle tone he has.

Somewhere between Mar 27 - Apr 11 okie, i'm not sure when but in that period coz that's when my dear helper went on home leave and my dad became the main caregiver for Jere. Jere learnt to clap his hands when Ah Kong went "cha cha pong cha cha pong! baby tiew tan gong!" try saying that in cantonese. Also, Jere learnt to raise his hands in praise when you say "ALLELUIA! PRAISE THE LORD! AMEN!" I'm not kidding!

Last saturday, my dad who was diagnosed with colon cancer in Jun 2002 and been thru a whole lot... yes, encountered death on several occasions and survived gave his testimony during the healing mass at St Michael's Church. He finished his testimony with "ALLELUIA! PRAISE THE LORD! AMEN!" Jere raised his hands. I should have brought my camera... but... oh well.... I promise photos next time! Our helper, Ros was sure amazed when she saw what her dear little charge has learnt in her absense. She could not get over it and kept saying "ALLELUIA! PRAISE THE LORD! AMEN!" juz to see Jere raise his hands in praise!

Last week, that is about the 3rd week of April, Jere is pushing himself to a sitting position. Praise the Lord!

Will update more soon and I promise more pictures of the little angel!

Do keep praying for the water system in his head and spine that God would unblock the channels and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) would circulate properly and drain off and not collect and create pressure. Please also pray that God would build and rebuild the nerves that have been affected by his open neural tube defect so that his hips down would function normally. This would mean his anus muscles, his ability to release urine as according to the drs, the nerve that controls the opening to release his pee is affected. Also pray for the strengthening of his legs and especially the straightening of his right foot to be normal which is the reason why he is on dennis brown boots.

Thank you all and God bless

Walk by faith and not by sight

The doctors all say... this, this and this is what holds for spina bifida children. I do not believe all of them would suffer the same consequences. Many a times at the hospital, the doctors give me a "she must be a little mad" kind of face. They tell me of all the consequences if I do not take certain steps and yes, I appreciate their professional advice but I also know and trust that the Lord, my God will heal Jere.

We are walking the road less travelled. Even Dr Y, Jere's urologist says she does not know what is to come for she has not had such a management of case before.

We choose to walk by faith and not by sight.
Indeed, it seems most unnatural for us to walk without looking where we are going which seems to be the scenario right now as seen by most and most illogical, yet that is precisely what Paul says isn't it? Isn't that what we Christians must do? "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). Yes, I do not know what's gonna happen and what lies ahead but I choose to believe that God has plans for Jere. Plans to prosper and not to destroy. God will restore Jere to perfect health.

The more steps we take, the more comfortable this walk will become, and the more confident we will be of the destination of our walk. As I walk this journey, I have learnt to give thanks in all situations, to count the many blessings and to let Him lead. And ultimately that's what faith is all about.It is "the assurance of things hoped for" (Hebrews 11:1).

Nothing is impossible and I can do all things through God who strengthens me(Philippians 4:13).

One day, the doctors will know we are not mad. They will see our God and believe. They will see our God, a merciful and loving God and realise what we were doing. Happy are those who do not see and yet believe!

Thus the name of this blog... a mother's journey in faith.
I choose to walk by faith and not by sight.

The hymn below so ministers to me.

We walk by faith, and not by sight;
no gracious words we hear
from him who spoke as none e'er spoke;
but we believe him near.

We may not touch his hands and side,
nor follow where he trod;
but in his promise we rejoice;
and cry, "My Lord and God!"

Help then, O Lord, our unbelief;
and may our faith abound,
to call on you when you are near,
and seek where you are found:

that, when our life of faith is done,
in realms of clearer light
we may behold you as you are,
with full and endless sight.

Cutting Teeth!

Yes! our dear friend cut his first 2 lower front teeth on the 4th Feb and last month cut the upper two and he's so keen to use them that he bites me when I nurse him. OUCH!Give him a smack and he grins at you.

Check out how he brushes his teeth in all earnesty!


I remember Kor Kor Nat did not have his tooth till he was 13 months and my mum was asking me did i feed him proper... how come no teeth?

Dr suggests surgery AGAIN!

As I said we went for a review after the MRI scan and yes, the neuro surgeon suggests that we do the shunt op again! and another what third ventricular... all these medical terms juz drive me crazy....
Still I have no peace and still I say NO!
I totally appreciate his professional advice but i also totally believe my God will work on Jere. Yes, everyone pray for Jere AGAINST the shunt op! Prayers are powerful. Every prayer uttered will be answered.
When we were outside the MRI suite waiting for Jere to come out of his scan some 2 weeks ago... we saw this boy Jeremy waiting to be pushed in. He was shaved bald and i could see a scar on his head with a tube running all the way from the head to the behind of his ear to his neck to his chest to his gut area. At that time, Tim and I looked at each other and immediately prayed against a shunt op for our dear little boy.
NO! We shall have NO SHUNT! GOD HEALS! AMEN!
I believe that God can heal even at the last minute and God will work on Jere. AMEN!

Promise to update

Well... many say... no news is good news....
not really... juz that i've been too busy trying to juggle that i did not have time to post. and of coz when there is good news, i will never fail to bring it! coz why??? when there's good news we've gotta share it right?
anyway....
Our dear helper has went home since a week ago and i wouldn't say it's a mad house...
i'm totally enjoying my kids and my home but time's juz not enough...
rushing my work everyday.
Thank God my parents can help to take care of jere and thank God my dear husband tim took 3 days leave last week.
well.. this week's my turn to take leave...
pray i finish my work....

gotta go...
i promise to update... whether there's news or not... i promise to update.
thank you all for your prayers... keep praying...
jere's gonna have a review with the neuro surgeon later for his MRI done a week and half ago.