"From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger." Psalm 8:2 NIV
Tears have flooded my eyes on so many occasions because of Braylon... his struggles, his triumphs and my own pain. The older he gets the harder the task at hand is and some days I don't know how I get thru. BUT God knows just when to swoop down and show me His strength as well as his compassion. Yesterday my family went out to eat like we normally do on Tuesdays. Only this Tuesday was extra special and it wasn't just because kids eat free. As soon as our food came, Jamael handed Braylon a french fry to eat and when Braylon grabbed it, he threw it down on the table and said, "HOT"!! He began to blow on the french fry to cool it off. Jamael and I looked at each other realizing that that was Braylon's first recognizable word!!! We knew what he said and he knew what he meant! God is so good! His first word may not have been mama or dada or even bubu, but he said it and I am so thankful! I'm sure more words will come when Braylon is ready... I'm even sure there will many days will I'll say "Can you just be quiet for a minute, B?" LOL! But boy, I can't wait for it. Braylon lost the area of his brain that controls his speech. It is completely gone... empty, just fluid, but yet we are so wonderfully and fearfully made that he is beginning to use sounds to make words and understand meanings. Imagine what we could do having our entire brain working if only we had the faith and desire of Braylon!! Wow!
This Saturday, May 1, is Pediatric Stroke Awareness. Please take a moment to say a prayer for Braylon. He has come so far, but still has a very long journey ahead. Consider making a donation to CHASA in Braylon's name (the link is below). Childhood strokes occur just as often as childhood cancer and brain tumors, but very little is known about it. Plus recovery from a stroke is a life-long issue for many, including Braylon, because of the lack of knowledge to correctly diagnose this. A child would be diagnosed with a stroke quicker from an adult doctor than a pediatric doctor, because even the doctors don't have the neccessary info about Pediatric Strokes. Please consider helping a charity that can change the lives of many.
