Journal Update 12/22 From Kristi
Today we finally decided to get a bit festive. I decorated Zac’s room while he ate snacks and we both listened to Christmas music. First time I’ve felt slightly festive this past month. But it was sweet.
He tried out the Standing Frame, basically a chair that he gets strapped into and is lifted to a full standing position. Because he has been on his back in bed for the majority of the past month, his blood pressure is slow to stabilize. So he was able to come up to a 40-degree incline. Good start.
A therapist met with him to record his muscle mobility. Did you know there are 42 muscles in our hands alone? His hands have been active, but as she isolated each finger, none of them responded; His beautiful piano fingers, the fingers that were just mastering the song Clair De Lune. He is all wrists right now. Sobering. But this is when we continue to conclude, “Lord, You have the final word.” And indeed, “‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit’ says the Lord.”
He had a zoom interview with Ambar from News 10 in Medford. I was in awe as I sat back and simply listened to him retelling his story and the hope he has now. My favorite quote that he spoke:
“I would rather walk in the fire with God than walk in the world without Him”.
“So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:7
Journal Update 12/21 From Kristi
Today was a day filled with hope. Zac had his first class called Power Up in the Peak Center. It was awesome to see him have the opportunity to get back into something he was very familiar with: weight training. It was humbling to go from previously lifting 80 pounds to now lifting 10 pounds and still get a workout. But even though he is back to ground zero, the same determination is there. He is focused and always smiling. Little by little, progress will happen.
During the next class, he had his arm hooked up to electrical stimulation, therapy which sends low-level electrical impulses to specific muscles to stimulate their movement. The wrists were the target today. Though he has been able to move his wrists on his own with some limitations, It was great to see his wrists respond to the impulses and he handled the sensation well so he will be able to graduate to challenging other muscle groups later.
For the first time today he was able to fully sit up on the edge of a raised therapy table, legs hanging over the edge, with no need to use his hands for support. I almost wanted to cry. I was spotting him so I couldn’t snap a picture, but it was a beautiful moment.
His left triceps are strengthening and right triceps are beginning to fire. Lord, You are doing something big in him every day.
I’m humbled by some of the other patients here. The ones with trachs who will never breath on their own. The ones who can’t move anything at all. Now that his neck brace is off in bed, my boy can hug me goodnight. It is so wonderful
“So I will bless you as long as I live, in Your name I will lift up my hands!” Psalm 63:4
Journal Update 12/20 From Kristi
Today marks one month since Zachary’s accident. It is no coincidence that today is a Sunday - a sweet Sabbath rest. Sundays have always been a day when we become still and let the Lord refresh us when we honor the Lord with our stillness. Like Zac, his body is still. You could say it is at rest. And in that motionless constraint, his heart yearns to honor the Lord. Don’t we all secretly desire constraints at times? For when we rest, God is able to work.
I was blessed by a text from a friend earlier today, commenting on how Gabriel approached Joseph in his sleep. She quoted: “Sleep always signifies how perfectly passive is the receiver; God is the only one active now.” And then concluded that this is a great reminder to me to be still and let HIM do the work. Yes, Jesus!!!
We will be as still as You want us to be in order that YOU may do all the work!!! We were blessed to join our home church of Calvary Heritage as they streamed the Sunday service online. Our hearts were filled with joy when they all turned around and waved at the camera to say hi to us. Rich shared a beautiful truth that sunk deep into our hearts: “Jesus came from glory to infancy that we may go from infancy to glory...Zac was brought once again to infancy that God would be brought the glory.” (John 9).
We spent our afternoon listening to required educational videos about spinal cord injuries and taking a 15-page multiple choice test in order to qualify Zac to roam the Craig campus by himself. We were quite proud to turn in our completed homework by the end of the night!! (We have been limited to only our fourth floor, but now we can go on any floor by ourselves, cross the glass skybridge and go outside on campus!! - hey, it’s the simple joys! Haha) Tomorrow: we roam!!
Trying to keep ourselves occupied on this quiet weekend, Zac practiced mastering the joystick on the wheelchair, maneuvering between objects and somehow found out how to put it in turbo mode, which caused great belly laughing in both of us. He also graciously endured our selfie photo session in front of the Christmas tree.
As I was rubbing lotion on his feet this evening, he started to laugh. “I can ‘feel’ that,” he said. “Not in the sense of a normal touch, but nerves are certainly being triggered.” So I tested him, told him to close his eyes and tell me when he could sense me rubbing his feet. He knew immediately when I began to rub his left foot. He was slower with his right, but could still identify which foot I was rubbing. Wow, if only every day was Sunday. If only every day I would remember to rest. To be still. Lord, help me to continually abide in Your Sabbath rest. Let me keep resting, so You can keep working. Tomorrow the busy schedule begins. We are excited!
Journal Update 12/19 From Kristi
Being a Saturday, today was a fairly unscheduled day. Zac is limited to only 2 hours in the wheelchair twice a day (to protect his skin from sitting too long). So we took full advantage of his time in the chair to explore.
We wandered down to the therapy gym to find a variety of equipment to experiment with. He was very encouraged to begin to challenge himself. He rolled up to one familiar pulley weight set that he had used prior to the accident, only to realize he would have no grip in his fingers to hold the bar. No problem. We got creative and velcroed his hands to the bar in order for him to pull down on it. We felt pretty proud of ourselves.
The simplest tasks challenged him. He has lost a lot of muscle weight. But he pressed on. He told me later that he was examining his arms and thought of the verse, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Is. 40:8.
Amen, Zac. Our bodies will fail us. You have seen a withering of your body this month. Your muscles have faded. But God’s Word has never been more deeply abiding in your heart. You have been “strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man”. Eph 3:16. You are stronger than ever.
We will not fear these moments of weakness for God’s promises will not fail us. “For after you have suffered a little while, [Christ] will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:10
It’s already happening!
Journal Update 12/18 From Kristi
It’s been a VERY cloudy day today. Like a Hebrews 12:1 cloudy: “We are surrounded by such a great CLOUD of witnesses...” When I consider how in the world we have been able to survive this past month, there is no doubt we have had our head in the clouds. Our minds have been COVERED by the prayers of the saints. Our vision has been cloudy too. Just when the fog begins to lift and fear sets in, the clouds come back in and block our vision to see nothing but Jesus in this. We are so thankful for the encouragement of the saints.
So considering this cloudy day, I returned to my room to find mail had been delivered and the ministry cards that my brother had made up arrived. And the verse he posted on the cards completed the story...
“We are surrounded by such a great CLOUD of witnesses.... so let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”
I just sat on my bed with that beautiful card clutched in my hand and wept. “I feel so surrounded, Lord, by your saints. And now it’s time to run.”
And did I tell you I strapped on Zac’s Hoka running shoes today for the first time? The ones he would run 13 1/2 miles in? I tied them on to feet that can’t even feel them.
We are so incredibly blessed to be here at Craig. Zac got to stand upright today (almost). He was strapped to a tilt table and was lifted very slowly to a 60 degrees tilt (as to monitor his blood pressure). Standing upright for the first time in a month, all of his body weight flowed down into those running shoes.
“He lifted me up...and gave me a firm place to stand.” Ps 40:2
God is not just the Author of his faith - He is the Finisher. Zac is not just gonna run this race - He is gonna finish it.
#zacsHope is Jesus.
PS. He gets to take his neck brace off while he is in bed now. Yay!!!
Journal Entry 12/17 From Kristi
As I prepared this morning to see Zac, my heart did not feel very strong. I think I was looking at the waves and not my Savior’s face, and I started to sink. As I walked from my room at the family Hospitality House, down the snowy sidewalk, to the door of his room, I spent time reviewing Scripture verses and texts, bathing my heart, filling my soul. “Kristi, just take one step at a time, just like Zac needs to do. God will give u what u need for each moment. U got this.” Indeed, I am finding strength comes at the moment we need it, not before.
*deep breath* / enter into his room...and our day began.
Joyful. The day became joyful. As Zac’s team of 14 specialized servants began to minister to him, we were in awe of the resources the Lord has presented to Zac for his healing. “Do you like cycling Zac? We’ll get you on a bike! How about shooting guns? And we have some nice Crossbows here for you to try! Virtual Fruit Ninja and Guitar Hero...Are you ready to get back in the water? We have a pool and a state-of-the-art gym for you to press yourself as far as you want to go. You will have classes scheduled for you 8 am - 5 pm."
Zac had been enrolled to go to college. It looks like God just picked a different college for him to attend.
He especially enjoyed getting his first set of wheels today. A motorized chair with a joystick for steering. I had to walk fast to keep up. He thought that was amusing.
But beyond the busy schedule, the restoration of his body, there are so many broken lives here that need #zacsHope. For his hope, his joy, his motivation is Jesus. We understand, as with all things in life, there is a bigger picture here. Eternity at stake.
One step at a time, Lord. When I look down the road, I’m overwhelmed. When I look at today, His grace is sufficient.
Journal Update 12/16 From Kristi
“Behold! I am doing a new thing!” Is 43:19
We were touched to see the tears of the Mercy nurses and therapists who stopped by to say goodbye to Zac as we left. “This place will not be the same without you,” they told him. Zac had the opportunity to pray for one of the therapists and got a bit choked up doing so. Left a stack of coffee coupons for them with a big thank you note and #zacsHope web address. This is still their journey too.
Had to say goodbye to Rich; he has been a part of this journey from day one. What a tremendous blessing a godly marriage is. God is our firm Foundation.
Ambulance transport: 7 passenger Executive Leer Jet, VERY B.U.M.P.Y 30 min approach coming into Denver (all those air pockets!!) - imagine a cross between a Knott Berry Farm ride and the Blue Angels. I thought it would make me nervous but I actually liked bumping around in the sky. I guess when you know you are in the center of God’s will, the bumps are not as scary.
And then....we arrived!!!!!
Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Home for the next 3 months. Patients come here from around the world. Thank you, Jesus, for bringing us here. Zac got placed in a private corner room as his team of doctors, nurses, therapists, specialists all came in to introduce themselves. Such a sharp team, all ready to go into action.
This will not be easy. But God gave us an opportunity to have our hearts strengthened and ready. I do feel I can rest a bit more now that there is a team ready with Operation Boot Camp.
As I read to Zac from Luke 1, God’s truth just seemed to jump out at us. Both Zacharias and Mary were told God would touch them beyond their physical limitations: Elizabeth would get pregnant at an old age and Mary would conceive without a husband. Zacharias did not believe. Mary believed and said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to Your word”.
We can take one of two paths. May we say, like Mary, “We are Yours, have Your way in us.” The angel Gabriel added, “For with God, nothing will be impossible.”
Tomorrow the adventure really begins. We will meet many people who are dealing with physical limitations and each a story of their own. It’s about to get very real.
#zacsHope is Jesus
They've arrived!
And just like that they have entered the winter wonderland of Denver! They touched down and are at Craig now getting a first class introduction to the team and facilities.
Journal Update 12/15 From Kristi
26 days tucked away in Mercy, God’s abundant, sufficient Mercy.
Tonight will be the last night Rich and I can pray together with Zac. Craig will limit us to one at a time. I know the Lord has purposed this time at Mercy to strengthen all our hearts as we have been bathed in His Word. Every day has been a sermon.
Tomorrow is the day we head to the Promised Land. Giants? Yes. But God’s promises fulfilled? Absolutely.
“Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
The medical flight team arrives at 8:15 am to escort Zac and I by ambulance to Redding Airport for 9:45 am departure, 2 1/2 hour medical flight to Denver, Colorado, then 20 min ambulance transfer to Craig Boot Camp (rehab :)
It has been a sweet day. Passed out coffee gift cards and Zac’s web site to as many of the amazing nurses, therapists, and staff that we could find, encouraging them to follow his journey. They have all been such a blessing here.
Rich will head back to Brookings tomorrow. We are working on plans for Rich and the kids to come to Denver for Christmas so we can regroup as a family.
🏼 Pray the kids will have the opportunity to get in to see Zac. There is no guarantee.
Tonight this is our verse:
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Eph 3:20
Journal Update 12/14 From Kristi
This Scripture came to me via text early today: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart..... “. Ps 73:26
And then Physical Therapy came. I watched as Zac lay in bed on his back, floundering around, struggling unsuccessfully to get up on his elbows, his body so weak, unable to obey his wishes. I almost lost it. “Oh Lord! Be the strength of my heart...”
I scrolled through photos of memories from earlier this year. I saw videos of Zac last month in DC, running, jumping, goofing around.... and I started weeping.
“Oh, Lord! Be the strength of my heart...”
I had a 90-minute conversation with Craig Rehab today, explaining what we could expect. A physician, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a recreational therapist, a phycologist, a chaplain, a nurse, a clinical care manager - all assigned to oversee my boy. I was asked to describe Zac and I was suddenly overwhelmed with tears.
“Oh, Lord! Be the strength of my heart.”
My heart, so fragile. God’s strength, so strong. 2 Cor 12:10
So... on a lighter note... Zac is SO Funny. He continually mocks his weakness, making us laugh with him. His legs are very active. We poke them, rub them, cool them... and they respond.
Zac: “my legs are twitching around like frogs in a fry pan!”
I asked Zac about eating publicly in the cafeteria at Craig. He is already making jokes about being “among his peeps”.
Zac: “Imagine five of us getting a pizza and just all going after it with our [awkward] hands... we will be like a room full of gorillas.”
I touched his legs and both legs stiffened straight up for a moment. Zac: “Yeah, I felt that... I feel like a Chole dog stretching.” (Chloe is our dog back at home)
Zac regarding his paralysis: “One nice thing is that I don’t feel pain.” So I started scratching his highly sensitivity left middle toe.
Zac, “No, not the gnawing lizards!” (his way of describing the ‘feeling’ of touching his toe)
Trying to eat pretzels from a bag, he wrestled Forever to pull out ONE pretzel.
Zac: “You try to eat with T Rex hands!”
And then eats the pretzel: “I almost bit my thumb off!”
“Be careful!” I admonished. “You don’t have sensitivities in your fingers.”
“Yeah,” he replied. “And the pinky will be the first to go!” (He has the least amount of feeling in his pinky).
Suddenly I realize the day has ended and my flesh and my heart have not failed. God has been the strength of my heart..... and the joy of the Lord is now my strength.” Ps. 73:26/ Neh 8:10
Journal Update 12/13 From Kristi
The physical and occupational therapists love this guy. Today his PT was amazed to see the progress Zac has made since seeing him a week ago. His PT commented that though his injury is being classified as a C6 (the lower of the two vertebrae he broke), he is able to long sit on the bed with trunk control greater than a C6. “It’s because of this...,” I pointed to the wall and read the phrase we had posted. “God has the Final Word.” She smiled.
Zac rolled his wheelchair down the hallway with the OT to demonstrate his ability to move it. His OT was quite impressed. “You are doing things that some only learn halfway through rehab,” he commented.
Although every doctor and nurse, barista and janitor... every person we run into here seems touched with Zac, it seems we are only vaguely aware how people are being affected. It is not ours know; It is God’s story.
Zac has mentioned many times that he seems to be at loss for words right now. “Praise God that your mind feels blank right now, Zac. Praise God that you have no words to say. You are God’s workmanship. Because you are allowing your life to be an empty page, GOD is able to be the One writing this story. This is HIS story, not ours. “
His life is an epistle being written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God. (2 Cor 3:2-3)
Evenings are my favorite when both Rich and I play therapist to Zac. Rich works his upper body muscles. I stretch his lower legs that he can’t feel. Tonight I was scratching his middle left toe as Rich was helping him exercise his arms. He started laughing hard and suddenly flung his arm out, clubbing Rich in the belly accidentally. He said he felt jolts going through his body “like a bunch of lizards gnawing on his toes.” Haha, He is so funny.
In two days we fly to Colorado. Little did I know when I ran out of my house Nov 20, with only my cell phone and someone else’s flip flops, that I would end up in Colorado. What a ride. I’m thankful that God is directing this story.
Journal Update 12/12 From Kristi
In God’s economy, the days of silence and stillness are just as powerful as the days filled with miracles and emotions. “Be still, and Know that He is God.” (Ps 46:10) We often measure the greatness of our lives based on God performing big works. But we couldn’t be further from the truth. “Thank You for these times of silence. Lord. Keep me still that I may KNOW You are still God.”
Today was a quiet day. Perhaps our hearts are at rest now that the Lord has opened the door for us. Thank you for quiet days, Lord.
So this is what our days look like:
1) Arrive at hospital... temps taken... Yay! We passed the Covid test!
2) Enter Zac’s room to see him grinning while doing his best to eat breakfast on his own. (Don’t mind the egg he dropped in his neck collar).
3) Physical Therapists arrive to get him in wheelchair. They love him. Zac works to prop himself up on an elbow. Not quite yet. Assist. Tripod balance. Biceps look Great!! Slide board to chair.
4) Zac cruises down the hall, doing his best to pump the wheelchair even as hands don’t have full grip. (I give him an extra push from the back -shh don’t tell)
5) A visit to the coffee shop. Back to the room for lunch. Then a visit to the outside garden. 2 hrs are up. Back to the room.
6) Back to bed. Exhausted. Praise music goes on, nap time.
7) Dinner arrives. The Chosen movie. Last episode tonight. (You’ve gotta watch it!)
8) Praise music on. Rich helps Zac works out his arms: pump those biceps, find those triceps. I stretch his legs, bend his knees, rub his feet, tickle his toes. Wake them, Lord.
9) Then we pray together. Rich prays, I pray, Zac prays. Tucked in bed, we say goodbye. God is good and He has been faithful
One. More. Day.
This was a still day, Lord. But we know You are God!
Journal Update 12/11 From Kristi
I finally saw his tears for the first time today.
But that’s getting ahead of the story.
Today marks three weeks exactly since Zac’s “accident” - but is it even fair to call it that if “all the days ordained for us were written in Your book before one of them comes to be.” ? Psalm 139:16
Still, I know that perfectly balances with God’s heart towards us in Jer. 29:11, “thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
I was thinking all night that today marks three weeks here. Three weeks since God’s miracle began. I shared this verse with Zac when I saw him:
“be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people." Ex 19:12
I wonder, Zac, what miracle God is gonna be doing today?!
The miracle came just a few hours later when Craig Rehab in Colorado called to tell us they just signed papers that gave him admittance into their program and we have a medical transport now scheduled to take us to the Rocky Mountains next Wednesday!!
Craig was our #1 location for rehab - one of the TOP rehab centers in the country!! Last week, it looked like the doors had closed. This week, GOD opened them!
Zac and I took a moment to stop and thank the Lord.
And that’s when, after three weeks of being paralyzed, after three weeks of seeing his constant, steadfast faith, I finally saw his tears. And they came as he was thanking the Lord.
“Lord, it’s all so overwhelming,” he prayed. “Thank you, Lord, for what You have done and for what You will do.”
I love this boy. He was saving his tears for the Lord.
We talked about how God is answering the prayer that he and Daniel prayed the day they went surfing. They prayed they would be able to witness to people that day.
Watch out, Craig Rehab, #zacsHope is on its way!!!!!
c/o Zachary Abblitt
Craig Hospital
3425 S Clarkson St,
Englewood, CO 80113
Journal Update 12/10 From Kristi
Just when I don’t think the Lord can stretch my heart anymore...
Today... sitting at Zac’s bedside, watching him watch the movie The Chosen, as the crowd watched the paralytic lowered to Jesus’ feet... and Jesus healed him. Completely.
When the movie concluded we sat there in silence for a moment. I went to him and kissed him on the forehead. “That is your Jesus, Zac, doing exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think.” He glanced down at his feet and looked quiet and content.
Eph 2 seemed to be the new theme for today. “But God... rich in mercy..” and here we have been abiding three weeks in Mercy Hospital... “...for we are His workmanship” this is His story, Zac! We do not need to make sense of it, “created... for Good Works... that we should WALK in them.”
So Zac got time alone with Dad today while I took off to run a few errands. My first solo outing away from Zac. I quickly felt numb, moving in and out of stores around town, people all around me, doing their daily routine, and I began to feel like I was unraveling. I found myself quoting Scripture to steady my heart as I walked through the store, mindlessly pulling my items off the shelf. “Get me back to the fire, Lord.” I heard myself saying. “It felt safer there”.
Returning, I pulled into the hospital parking lot and a peace came over me. I made my way down the very familiar halls and then back into Zac’s room to see his smiling face.
And my heart once again felt steadfast.
Such a comfort in the fire! How can this be?
Because there is Another in the fire, standing next to me. And I tell you, once I entered back into that hospital room, I was so comforted in the overwhelming presence of God, just flowed over me, filling me with His peace and His calm.
“Zac, God is here in this room and it is palpable,” I told him.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fellowshipped with Jesus in the fire. But God also performed miracles in there too... they were WALKiNG around, not getting burned.
You wait, you watch, you‘ll see.
Journal Update 12/9 From Kristi
He made her cry today.
She was one of the first physical therapists to work with him in ICU. First to see how broken his body was. First to see how strong his spirit was.
When today’s new physical therapist came in to work with Zac, she was called back in to view Zac’s progress. And as she watched him moving with accelerated strength, she just stood back with tears in her eyes. “It’s God at work in him,” I told her. “Our God is doing this.”
Zac was being instructed by the physical therapist on how to move from his wheelchair to the higher bed. “Fear is what causes someone to look up at the bed.” the PT instructs Zac. “But your body will follow your head. Don’t look at the bed, just duck your head and make your move. You won’t get there if you are looking at the bed. You don’t need to see where you are going; you just need to know how to get there.”
Oh, Lord!!! You know our hearts so well! Fear is what causes us to look up at the mountain. Give us Faith to bow our head and press forward because we Know your Word! We don’t need to know where we are going; You are the Light to our path.
God is always on time. I know this waiting time here has allowed Zac’s heart to be strengthened in Spirit before Boot Camp. The daily revelations of God’s Living Word amaze us.
After PT, Zac spent time using his iPad to work on memorizing Psalm 139, listening to a Chuck Missler teaching, and watching The Chosen. Making choices to keep the soul fed.
Watching Rich help Zac eat his meals Crack Me Up! Zac has a fork, filled with food, strapped to his hand and his trembling arm raises it to his mouth... Dad instructs: “Raise your fork, imagine it’s a helicopter, every move must be precise, focus on control....”. Zac is shaking with laughter as he is working hard to focus on his dad’s instructions while eating one bite.
Thank you, Lord, for sustaining us with daily lessons from your Word. And humor.
Journal Entry 12/8 From Kristi
Sitting in the hospital next to my 18 year old boy, watching him sleep, believing God gives more, not less to us.... it is all beyond my heart to process. This is such a journey of faith. Our hearts are stretched beyond our limit, but then we find ourselves abiding in the infinite, and we find God is there, ready to carry us.
So exciting news! Craig Hospital in Colorado, recognized nationwide as specialists in spinal rehab, called us today and said they have a bed reserved for Zac, and if all of the right paperwork gets signed this week, we will be flying over there NEXT WEEK!!! Do you understand what this means?! This is GOD’s doing! Last week we were told this process could take up to SIX weeks. I remind Zac daily that doctors, nurses, and therapists speak in incomplete sentences; “finish their sentences, Zac. Add ‘God has the final Word!’”
Continue praying that all goes well this week in getting that contract signed.
Today we received a picture of deer scaling the side of a rocky mountain with the verse, “He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hill.” Hab 3:19. (Amen Jesus!!! I believe!). Why a deer would choose a rocky mountainside over a green pasture seems a mystery to us... why would anyone choose the harder path? Green grass sounds nice about now. But perhaps the deer knows something we are just slightly seeing... it is only in the impossible mountain that one can hide in the Cleft of the Rock.
Lord, strengthen our hearts to not fear the mountains. You are there.
The hospital chaplain asked Zac last night how he was processing all of this... “I guess I’m just not trying to overthink it,” he replied.
Oh Lord, thank you for not allowing anything but You to fill his thoughts.
I see Zac laughing with friends as they view his weaknesses. I believe he can do this because he is living in faith. He knows God lives in him and is working His power through his weaknesses. He does not seem afraid of them. But even if he does, more than being whole, he wants God to be glorified in his life.
He continues to inspire us - and he doesn’t even know it.
#zacsHope is Jesus
Journal Entry 12/7 From Kristi
A new (to us) spine and cord injury PT came in today... we’ve been hearing of him - energetic and very knowledgeable - and he gave Zac a whirlwind crash course of info and tips as he taught him how to move his floppy body from bed to chair and back again. He was inspiring but also wanted to give Zac a “reality check” (ie: “you will be classified as a Quad C6, but don’t let classifications stop you.. it’s just a classification“).
So hard to hear, and I find myself choking out a whisper, “But God, You are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. You have the Final Word.”
But we are reminded that God is already working miracles. This is the world’s medical perspective. As children of God, we are operating off a completely different realm, a heavenly one. Pray for us as we hold tight to this truth and not waver for one second.
As Spencer taught on Sunday, not even the believers believed Peter could be released, but God STILL did it. Even as they prayed, God was working. (Acts 12)
And just as Everest shared the previous Sunday, God is fighting for Zac... He holds His hand but also goes before him, taking the blows as He does the fighting. (Deut)
This afternoon, I placed an ICED rag on Zac’s thigh and his whole face “winced”... then he smiled. He said it wasn’t painful but felt his whole body jolt. Moments later, Zac felt me touch his middle toe!!!! This is HUGE!!! FEEL!! Who would have thot the word would be so beautiful?! I went around to his forehead and gave him a kiss. “God is doing a miracle in you. And it is just the beginning, Zach. You hold on... He’s just getting started”.
“With man this is impossible, But with God, ALL things are possible.”
Matt 19:26
#zacsHope is Jesus
Journal Entry 12/6 From Kristi
Finding a slight routine now as we wait upon insurance. Rehab is certain; insurance is slowwww. Weekends are long; happy tomorrow is Monday and we can start making phone calls again.
While working with PT (physical therapy - you gotta learn these terms with us ), Zac was doing strength exercises to learn how to sit up in bed from a laying down position. His biceps are very strong but triceps not fully firing... yet. It’s heartbreaking and fascinating to see him have to work for every movement.: “Right hook and roll, ok Zac, now use momentum to prop up on left elbow, bring left elbow up... good... stabilize in your shoulder, walk left shoulder around, throw right arm behind, pull with left biceps and walk elbow in, put right arm back pop up on left arm, tripod sit... find your center of balance... your body will follow your head... rest for a moment.... you doing ok?”
I love these PTs and Zacs focus. Powerful moments in the midst of his great weakness.
Tonight Zac used the word “feel”!!
I iced a wash cloth and had him close his eyes... asked him to let me know if anything changed... then I dropped the washcloth on his leg, his foot and leg jerked, and he started laughing, opening his eyes. “You felt something!!” I said. “ I guess,” he laughed. “Guess?! That’s awesome Zac!! What did it feel like?” “Like something tugging on my leg.” Awesome Lord!!!
Exodus 14:13-14 “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which HE will accomplish... The LORD will fight for you!”
Journal Update 12/5 From Kristi
Rich and I arrived at the hospital this morning to find Zac sleeping. The book of Isaiah was playing on his Bible app. As we sat there, watching his still body, Rich suddenly whispered, “Did you see that?! His left big toe just moved!” So we continued to watch him. Then his big toe moved again. Then he slightly moved his left knee. Then his left pinky toe twitched. Exciting, Lord!
Physical Therapy is always hard to watch but I love them coming in to work with him. They sit him up in bed as we watch his limp body struggle to find balance with his arms locked behind him as “kick stands”. (Such weakness, Lord, it grabs at my heart. But the perfect stage set for Your strength now to be displayed). He is focused, attentive, learning quickly...
At 4 pm, Rich and I stepped out for dinner together. First time in two weeks I left his side during the day. So hard to do, but he was happily propped up with popcorn, the Star Wars movie playing, and his Rubics Cube within reach if he wanted to rest his finger mobility.
We are constantly rubbing, stretching, moving his feet, knees, legs.... This evening he was a bit warm so I placed a cold washcloth on his thigh. His left foot gave a big jump. We all laughed. So we cold-shocked his right thigh and his right foot moved. Cold washcloth back on left thigh, his knee pulled up a bit. He still can’t feel and Therapists would tell us his body is responding in reflex. Perhaps. But we believe God is waking him up.
“...that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” 2 Cor 4:7