THANK YOU - FROM KAREN'S MOM BARBARA
Many of you know that every time we talked over the
past 3 months since Karen acquired the halo I have
asked for prayers for her neck. The implication from
the doctors from the beginning was that there was the
possibility that when the fractures in the neck
vertebrae healed there might still remain damage to
the ligaments in that area, and Karen would not be
able to hold up her head. That situation would
require an operation to fuse the bones in the neck
together permanently, and Karen's head would be
stationary in a forward position -- no turning left,
right, up, or down.
The news is good. The news is a miracle! And the
miracle happened because of the prayers from you and
the thousands of individual people from neighborhoods
and churches around the country and world.
The news is good. The news is a miracle! And the
miracle happened because Tim had the courage 3 months
ago, when Karen couldn't speak for herself, to tell
the doctors to go for it with the halo even though
there was only a 5% chance that wearing the halo would
have any effect on these ligaments. The alternative
was to fuse the neck bones then, in May , and
permanently lock her head in a forward position.
What courage that decision took! Now the halo is off
and it appears that with therapy over the next weeks
(months?) Karen will have a functioning neck that will
turn left and right and tilt up and down pretty much
at her discretion, just as yours and mine does. Tim
is such a fighter. He just never gives up.
The news is good. The news is a miracle! And the
miracle happened because Karen has had an outstanding
group of doctors, nurses, therapists, and technicians
at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis that have
treated her with superior medical expertise, respect,
love, and encouragement. When spirits were down these
people even offered spiritual encouragement that could
make all of us braver and keep our hopes moving
forward.
The news is good. The news is a miracle. And the
miracle happened because my baby Karen is different
from anyone I know. As I sit here and look for words
to describe her they all seem insufficient.
Courageous, brave, believing, hopeful, dependable,
caring............ It is impossible to adequately
describe her. If you know her, you certainly know
what I mean. Karen has been a good daughter, mother,
wife, sister, friend, companion, and human being in
the truest sense of the word to me, her family, and a
thousand other people over the years.
The news is good. The news is a miracle! And I thank
you all for your prayers and support for Karen since
May 5, 1999. Without you what would we have done?
Please still be there for her.
The news is good. The news is a miracle! KAREN
DESERVED A MIRACLE AND SHE GOT ONE!
THANK YOU GOD!!!!!
And now, on to the next challenge.
Love to you all,
Barbara, Karen's mother
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Last Updated: 08-22-1999
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