The miracle that is Michael

If you're new to IHATH you will not know about my nephew Michael.

If you're old to IHATH you may remember a little bit about him.

I blogged on the subject of Michael in May of last year, in a post entitled I left mylar in the sky over Greenville.

It was about the fact that in the early spring of '10 Michael contracted a rare disease known as Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

At the time he got sick, Michael was a young, strong, hard-working, devout and devoted family man.

He was living the dream as husband to his beloved wife Marie and father to his adored son Tobias.

But Michael came down with a stubborn respiratory infection in late winter and, after a few weeks, one day discovered he could not walk.

Within hours Michael was paralyzed from head to toe.

For the better part of the next year Michael divided his time between stays in the hospital and a long-term acute care facility.

He's been home for a while now and, as you can see, he's having great success in rehab.

I believe my sister's eldest son will fully recover one day. Oh, he may not ever be exactly as he was before the battle with GBS, but I think he'll come close.

Because the kind of faith and strength and humility and determination he'll need have always been hallmarks of Michael's life.

As you can see, his fighting-sweet spirit and sense of humor have yet to desert him. Both will serve him well over the long haul.

I know he and Marie would appreciate your prayers.

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Somebody said that it couldn't be done,

But he with a chuckle replied

That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one

Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.

So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin

On his face. If he worried he hid it.

He started to sing as he tackled the thing

That couldn't be done, and he did it.

 

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;

At least no one ever has done it;"

But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,

And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.

With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,

Without any doubting or quiddit,

He started to sing as he tackled the thing

That couldn't be done, and he did it.

 

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,

There are thousands to prophesy failure;

There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,

The dangers that wait to assail you.

But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,

Just take off your coat and go to it;

Just start to sing as you tackle the thing

That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.

~Edgar Guest~

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Comments

[Sydney]

One of my very favorite poets - a fitting inspiration for such a difficult hurdle. My best wishes and prayers to Michael and Marie.

[kev]

Much prayer headed their way.

[Donnaa]

I certainly pray for him! He is quite an inspiration!

[Mari]

I remember when you posted about him earlier. I'm glad to hear he is progressing! GB is such a crazy disease. I know a few people who've had it; one who was a child and had a minor case. The other was someone who worked with me and ended up on a ventilator for some time. She too had a long road of rehab, but it now doing very well with only a minor limp remaining. I'll pray for Michael too.

['Aunt Amelia']

What a dear, brave young man...

~♥~

[Donna(Texas)]

Oh, Look at him GO!! How Wonderful for him and you're Right...He WILL be off and running on his own again someday soon! What a story!
Sending prayer!!!
(((HUG)))

[Debbie]

That's a terrible disease.

[irene]

Faith can move mountains, and your nephew is doing it... I shall remember him and his in my prayers.

[Bethany]

My husband had this disease when he was five. He was to the point that he was unable to feed himself and was in diapers again. He did recover, and after a year of physical therapy was able to function as before, but it definitely left some emotional scars with his parents. (I think he was too young to fully grasp what all was happening.) My hopes and prayers are with your nephew and his family, that he will recover.
The Hobbits daughter and Tow Heads mom

[Skunkfeddahs]

Never underestimate the human spirit.