We’re leavin’ on a jet plane…
but I’m sure that we’ll come back again! We are 30 minutes from leaving the hospital, and what a journey this has been for our whole family! We said from the beginning that ANY improvement will make this trip worth it, and we got that! No matter how small, improvement for Brayden is just that, improvement! A year ago, we would have NEVER pictured ourselves ever coming to China. Now, we cannot imagine our lives if we hadn’t. We have met so many wonderful people that we will never forget. We have experienced in four weeks what some will never experience in a lifetime. We were warned about China being a third world country. We were told this was probably a hoax with only the placebo effect as results. None of this could be farther from the truth! The staff here has been amazing. As a matter of fact, a few doctors in the States could learn a thing or two about bedside manner from these folks. There were times that we were so scared, but the staff went out of their way to improve and help us through the difficulties. We saw with our own eyes Brayden look at things and toward things that he would have never even noticed before this trip. I don’t think seeing Brayden look at his reflection in a mirrored elevator is the placebo effect! As far as this city, it is full of life and amazingly beautiful landscape. Yes, there are poor neighborhoods. Yes, there are some very weird smells. Yes, people stare and yes it is a bit annoying. However, we have learned that they are just very curious. We have also learned that a smile is a universal language, and it does wonders for building relationships. The patients and families that we have met here are such fantastic people. We are all here to change our loved ones life. Some, like us, want to improve the quality of life while others are here because this is absolutely their last chance AT life. It doesn’t matter if you are a laborer or a senator, everyone here becomes friends.
This experience has really changed our outlook on life. At first, four weeks seemed like an eternity to be away from home. But, when you stand back and look at the big picture, four weeks is such a small time when the result is a lifetime of improvement! If you set your sights on only the small things in life, all of the big things, the really important and wonderful things will pass you by. Not only have we been changed by our experience in China, we have really opened our eyes to all of the truly amazing things going on at home. People that we don’t even know are following our story and supporting us. A friend told me that he was thinking about us and all of the wonderful support that we were getting back home, and the saying “It takes a village” came into his mind. Not that it really takes a village to raise a child, but it certainly takes one in order to get through such a journey as this. We have learned from this that without the love and support of friends, family, and even complete strangers, we could have NEVER gotten through this journey. We will never forget the outpouring of kindness.
For parents, children, or siblings reading this who are even considering making this trip because you have a loved one that could be helped, don’t let doubt or fear keep you away. Even if you don’t get results, you will have tried. But what if you do get results- how amazing!!
Before I go, I ask my close friends and family to remember how very blessed we have been with the outpouring of donations, prayers, and support in our time of need. There are a lot of people in our area suffering right now, so we hope that you will continue to pray for them and be ready to pay it forward if given the opportunity. We will be in the air at 9:15 pm your time on Tuesday. We will be on US soil in Chicago by the time you leave work on Wednesday!! The time here has really gone fast! Let’s just pray that the flights go well and we are able to have a home bound trip that is free of any headaches!! Thank you all so much for all of your support, prayers, e-mails and comments. It has certainly made our trip much easier knowing that all of you are pulling for us back home. We will never know all of you or be able to thank you enough, but please know that each of you have helped change Brayden’s life in ways we never thought possible. We can’t wait to see you all in just a few hours!!
Be not afraid, only believe. Mark 5:36
Our last bit of love from China- Jason, Lorie, Brayden, and Brylie
8 comments May 14th, 2008
