We celebrate

September 18, 2013

Diagnosis Day

It's been 5 years since learning that Victor is visually impaired with a neurological condition that not only affects his optic nerves but also his behaviors and could someday cause pituitary issues as well.

So today we celebrate.

We celebrate the friends who have walked this journey with us, who have cried with us but who also understand my need for laughter so full-on belly laugh with us as well!

We celebrate the siblings who love him so well and the extended family members who seek to understand him and who accept him as he is, tantrums, bad words, and all.

We celebrate the wonderful doctors, therapists, and instructors who have come our way. And for the few we didn't like, we celebrate that upon their "firing" we were given amazing replacements, better and more knowledgeable than we could have asked or imagined. We celebrate those who were with Victor until he graduated from their program, and most especially those who have stayed in touch.

We celebrate the amazing team of educators and specialists who love on Victor at school.

We celebrate the peers who see Victor as just another friend. We celebrate the parents who see Victor as a learning opportunity for their children, not as a bad kid who might teach their child inappropriate words and behaviors.

We celebrate the miracles of sight.

We celebrate the Braille skills he has learned.

Fishing for letters in school. 

And yes, there are Braille

letters on those cards. 

I checked. 

We celebrate the orientation skills he has learned and that as of yesterday, he is ready to begin using his cane in the real world.

We celebrate the safety and protection God has over this child who is not afraid to try anything, even with only a pinpoint of sight out of one eye. I'd say that just one trip to the ER for stitches in 5 years with this child, is nothing short of miraculous.

We celebrate the improvements, sometimes small, in focus, regulation, anger management, verbal outrages, and physical attacks.

We celebrate his loves - drumming, beat boxing, music, Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, Dolly Parton, the Beatles, his rabbit, his chickens, finding eggs, listening to stories, Sunday School, jumping, spinning, swimming, his big friends who love on him, his siblings, Baby Olivia, movies Sing and Cars, cats...

We celebrate the sweet and loving moments. We celebrate the hugs and kisses and kind words.

We celebrate Victor.

Most importantly, we celebrate a God who made Victor with a purpose. No part of Victor is a mistake. No unanswered prayer is without a greater plan. We celebrate faith.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, 

but on what is unseen, 

since what is seen is temporary, 

but what is unseen is eternal. 

2 Corinthians 4:18