Diagnosis day

September 18, 2013. I sent the Good Doctor to the pediatric ophthalmologist with Victor that day. He called me on the way home,

"The doctor says Victor is completely blind."

I never did like that doctor but I'm not sure if it's him or his message.

But here we are, 3 years later.

That doctor didn't know the power of prayer because around 1 year of age he showed signs of light perception and a year later he held a book to his face and told me which one it was.

And then we learned that blindness was the least of his troubles.

So now we pray for breakthrough in behavioral issues. And while the day-in-and-day-out is wearying and looks like we've made no progress, we have.

When he chooses to to bang his foot rather than his head, we've made progress.

When he responds to someone's hello not with a yell but with a quiet and polite, "I really don't want to talk right now," we've made progress.

When he allows us to comfort him after a fall rather than hitting us and yelling, we've made progress.

When he says, "Yes, Mommy," and follows through with my request rather than defiance, we've made progress.

We are exceedingly thankful for the number of wonderful people who have come into our lives because of Victor. And on my good days, I'm thankful for the lessons I am learning through Victor's diagnosis. Love, grace, joy, patience, and compassion have all been cultivated in this journey as has empathy for others walking a similar journey. And if this is what it takes for me to become more like Jesus, then this is the path I will walk.

Happy Diagnosis Day, everyone!