Journal Entry 5/13 From Kristi

Great news: Zac was approved 4 more weeks of rehab here at Craig, placing us here until June 11th. This continual extension on rehab here at Craig amazes us and blesses us. As God continues to provide for our practical needs, we hold on to this as hope for God’s provision in Zac’s physical needs. It reminds me of my favorite song:

“He giveth more grace when our burden grows greater,

He sendeth more strength when our labors increase.

To added affliction, He addeth His mercy;

To multiplied trials, He multiplies peace.

For His love has no limit.

His grace has no measure.

His power has no boundary known unto men.

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again. “

How generous our God is to lavish Himself upon us in the midst of our hardest trials. Daily, I wake up overwhelmed. Daily, He rescues me quickly by the comfort of the Truth in His Word.

Mother’s Day was sweet. It was a rainy day and we stayed back to listen to Spencer preach the Sunday service online. So blessed.

Zac presented me with a Moms Day Card, written on the back of an envelope, the only “paper” he could secretly find. I cried when I saw it; 5 precious sentences that took over 30 minutes to write, for his fingers can barely hold a pen, but still beautifully scripted, representing the healing God is doing in him.

We ended the evening by playing a board game with the family back home vía video. I am so blown away by my four amazing kids, each growing closer to each other through this journey that we are all on together. Their strength and love for Jesus continually renews my own.

Zac continues to improve with rehab. It is a slow, patient progress though. He was able to stand for 5 minutes this week wearing leg braces with no additional support from waist up. Yesterday, in the Exoskeleton (“walking pants”), he took 740 “steps” in 40 minutes. (when he initiates a step, the exoskeleton takes the step for him). All the while, Zac focuses on sending messages to his legs to take the steps.

In Occupational Therapy, he continues to use electric stimulation to help with finger flexion and extension. The repeated motion is to “stimulate” his muscles to remember how to move. Then the stimulation is turned off and he practices on his own, concentrating on the muscle, willing it to move. His right hand has sight finger movement. His left hand has none.

It fascinates me to note the value his therapists put on Zac THINKING about moving his muscles, even without seeing them respond. The understanding is that his Thinking still sends messages to his injured spinal column with the hope that some messages will pass through and manifest themselves with movement below his injury level.

Zachary has to discipline his mind to retrain his muscles to move.

Through every trial, there is a continual battle in the mind. Oh, that I would continue to learn from my boy - that my thinking on God’s Word would send messages past my injury area of fear and be manifested with muscles to walk by faith.

*Sigh* I have so much to learn. Maybe God is extending Zacs time at rehab until I learn all my lessons. lol.

God is so good and we feel so blessed to be walking strong by His grace.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in You.” Is 26:3