Category: Wheelchair

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.

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

Mother’s Day: A day that florist prepare to work extra hours fulfilling orders. A day that restaurant owners know that they will be busy with reservations. Jewelry companies advertise giving your mom or wife that special piece of jewelry to let her know you care.

So many mom’s hope that on this day her husband and children will suddenly realize how important she is to them. How much she does and sacrifices for them. We hope that somehow they have had an aha moment and want to surprise us with gifts and acts of appreciation and love. We ‘drop’ hints about ways they can surprise us. We see our friends on Facebook being spoiled with lavish gifts and trips and hope that we too get to show everyone how loved we are.

The truth is a lot of time we end up disappointed.

Being a mother is the most challenging job a person will ever have. And once we become a mother, it is a lifelong sentence. But it is also the most rewarding. Our joy of being a mother doesn’t come from gifts or words of appreciation. It doesn’t come from a husband that shows his appreciation on a day that is supposed to be celebrated for all that we do. Our joy comes from watching our children grow. The pride we receive when we see them act with love and kindness towards others. When they step out into the world to follow their dreams. Act with strength and courage when faced with life’s trials and tribulations.

I woke up today and went to church by myself. I picked up lunch and brought it to them. I took a nap, which I never do but decided that I was going to take the time for me today. I didn’t get lavish gifts or words of praise. After the year we had, I had hoped that my family would suddenly want to show me how much they loved me… but they didn’t. Next year will be the same. After a little while of feeling sorry for myself, I remembered that Mother’s Day is a commercial holiday. Our appreciation doesn’t come from gifts or material items. It doesn’t even come from our husbands or our children. Not in the way that we sometimes think that it should.

I hope that all of those moms who feel unappreciated today know that they are loved and valued. Your value isn’t in the gifts you receive on Mother’s Day. It doesn’t come from a husband who appreciates your worth. Your value is in doing the hardest job imaginable. Every time you have prayed and cried for your child. Those times when they were sick or hurt and you wished more than your next breath that you could take it away from them. For every sacrifice you have made so that they could have what they needed. God chose you to shape the next generation. He chose you to be a mother. What better honor is there than that? That ladies, is your value.