Category: God Is Good

God is Good Enough 

by C.C. Hasty, posted in Blessed, God Is Good, Heaven, Mom, Prayer, Uncategorized, Wheelchair

Yesterday we were at the point of taking Jackson back to Vanderbilt. He literally could not stop coughing. I was diagnosed with a sinus infection and was afraid his had turned into one too. Seems like no biggie, but Jackson’s lungs are comprised due to his spinal cord injury. A sinus infection and congestion can quickly lead to pneumonia. 

Lately, God has reminded me of the faith I used to have. Some of you are thinking, “Used to have?” You see, I believe in laying hands on the sick. I believe in speaking in tongues. I believe in angels and demons. I believe in dancing and shouting and praising a God that has Saved me. Some call it Pentecostal. Some may even call it crazy. Somehow along the way I lost it. It’s not that I stopped believing, I just lost my fire for God. Let’s be honest, we all lose our way at different moments in our lives. Something happens and we pull back from God, even without realizing it. It can be something traumatic, like losing someone you loved. Or something simple as being busy in your day to day life. 

So last night as I was desperate for Jackson to feel better, I immediately thought, “I need to ask our friends on Facebook to pray for him.” And God said, “You do it.” But….. it takes lots of prayers! Not just my prayer. It takes an army of prayer warriors. I am a simple mom. My faith isn’t enough. “Yes, it is.” Don’t you love how we sometimes argue with God? Cause surely I am not the only one who does this, right?!? 

So I did what God told me to do, I laid my hands on him and prayed aloud for his healing. I felt God move through me. Even then I didn’t believe that Jackson would be healed. Not that I don’t believe in God, or His miraculous healing. I didn’t believe in myself. I didn’t believe that my faith was strong enough. That I was good enough for God to use. But God only needs the faith of a mustard seed. 

I’m sure you all know where this is going. Jackson WAS healed. And not later. Not the next morning. IMMEDIATELY. This baby had coughed every single minute for two days straight. He coughed the entire time I was praying for him. The minute my hands left his body, he stopped. He has not coughed a single time since. 

God had to make me see that yes, I am good enough. I am more than enough. I am His child. My faith, even when it feels small and helpless, is enough, because it isn’t me that has the power to do anything. I never did and never will. It is Him. And as long as we believe in Him, He can and will do amazing things through us. We just have to step out in faith and let Him take the lead. 

Love and blessings, 

C.C. 

Another Monkey Gone

by C.C. Hasty, posted in Blessed, God Is Good, Mom, Uncategorized, Wheelchair

We made it through surgery without a hitch, although this time was harder for him. Before, one moment he was watching his brother Joshua play a game on his iPad in the backseat of his brothers car, the next he was in the hospital at the mercy of doctors and parents making decisions for him. He didn’t have a choice. He didn’t have advance notice or time to be afraid.

 Every day before his surgery he would look at me once a day and simply say, “Monday.” That was his way of letting me know he was scared. Jackson is such a brave kid. I sometimes forget that he is only seven with a normal kids fears. As we arrived for pre-op his little body started to shake. His father and I both wanted to load him up in the truck and take off. But we knew we couldn’t. I was able to calm him down by crawling in the bed with him and playing games on his iPad. My philosophy has always been to keep yourself busy so that you don’t have time to dwell on the bad. So that’s what we did. 

10 minutes before surgery they brought him the “happy” medicine. He was all grins and giggles then. Not a care in the world. The hard part then started for us parents. The waiting….. When your child is in surgery, even if it is considered routine or minor, every second feels like a hundred. This surgery wasn’t considered minor. He had an incisional hernia repaired. There was danger that his bowels could be injured, and in Jacksons case, he only has half of his bowels left from the damage caused by the seatbelt during the accident. 

When the phone finally rings your heart skips several beats. Is it good news? Bad? Hurry up and answer already!! And if you’re not the one taking the call it’s pure torture. You try reading facial expressions to gauge their reaction. Listen to voice inflections. Anything to determine what the listener is hearing. Time stands still. In this case, the news was great. Jackson did well during surgery and was in recovery waking up!

The entire day I didn’t feel well but thought it was anxiety and lack of sleep. By the time his surgery was over, there was no doubt that it was more than anxiousness. I was running a fever. We discussed if I should stay or go and decided that at that point I had already exposed Jackson (remember me crawling into bed with him during pre-op). By that evening my husband was running a fever and by the next morning Jackson was too. Jacob didn’t feel well Sunday evening and had unknowingly given us all the flu. Wonderful, right????? Sometimes I wonder why things have to be so difficult for us. Surgery was enough to deal with, but now poor Jackson had to deal with having the flu on top of recovering from surgery. 

The difference between moms and dads: when moms and the kids are sick at the same time, we still take care of everything. When dads get sick, they can sleep through a nuclear war. So by the end of the week it is no surprise that everyone else is on the mend and I am still sick. That’s just the way it is for us moms. No one ever thinks to take care of us too.

This surgery was a monkey on our back. Now it is done and over with. At some point Jackson may have to have another hernia repaired but the doctor thinks it will be a long time if ever. He will also have to have spinal surgery to put more rods in his back to combat the Scoroliosis. Again, this will hopefully be after his bones have fully matured and several  years down the road. For now, Jackson can live life without having this surgery looming over him. We are thankful for that. We are looking forward to him healing and being able to swim this summer. 

Did I mention that this kid missed half the school year and still made an A and C on his report card?!? This kid rocks!!!

Love and blessings, 

C.C. 

Basket Case

by C.C. Hasty, posted in Blessed, Brothers, God Is Good, Graduation, Mom, Uncategorized, Wheelchair

I have spent the past couple of days planning for Jackson’s surgery and Alex’s graduation. How can one do both emotionally and not be a basket case? The answer is simple: by the grace of God.

9 months ago our boys were life flighted to Vanderbilt.  We didn’t have time to clean the house, make sure the laundry was done, the pets were taken care of. Pack bags. In fact, for several days we only had the clothes on our backs. After multiple surgeries and several months later, we were all finally home together. This time, Jackson’s surgery is planned. We know how long the recovery should take. We are not naive to be oblivious to the possibility of complications. Of course we are not happy that he has to be put to sleep and cut open again. But we don’t have a choice. We knew from the beginning that the surgeons were creating surgical hernia’s that would someday need to be repaired. We didn’t care. We wanted him to live. As much as we worry for him, we also know that God is the one in control. I say it all the time I know, but it is so very true. Since that day on the side of the road I have learned that He is always in control, not I. It isn’t ideal for my husband and I to miss a week or two more of work, but God provided for us before, and I have to believe He will do so again.

While planning to be in the hospital with Jackson, I have also been planning for Alex’s graduation. I still can’t believe he is old enough to graduate. He is my baby. He has had to overcome so many obstacles this year to make this happen. More than most adults ever experience in a lifetime. I am so very proud of who he has become. I was amazed at the strength he had during and after the accident. His love for his brothers and people in general. His heart is so very pure and true.  Last week he met with Pastor Randy and I could see God working and putting everything together. He has a purpose and I know that he will do mighty things for the kingdom of God. And so does he. I can’t wait to see it.

I am not a basket case because I am blessed. I am blessed that my son, despite every opportunity to throw up his hands and give up, will be graduating high school. I am blessed because our boys are alive, and even though Jackson has to have surgery, we know that he will be okay. No matter how bad my day is, I can always look back on what I experienced on August 16, 2015 and find hope and gratitude in God for what He did then and continues to do. He really is an awesome God.

Love and blessings,

C.C.