Everyone has a bad day here and there. Any mother and father knows there are days when we think we will never survive another like this one. Kids screaming and fighting and other things go wrong like the roof leaking, a bill you can't pay, a fight with your spouse, an appliance goes up and we say " God doesn't give you more than you can handle". At that moment we think God must think we can handle a lot. Well...
This is a story about a family dear to my heart. Many years ago a young woman named Wendy started getting her hair done by me. We shared a mutual friend. She got married and had a beautiful baby girl named Rebecca. Like all married people they had a rough patch and then along came another perfect baby girl, Riley. The second of what became three girls. Riley was just as well behaved and easy as the first but over time things just didn't seem right. Turns out after many tests that Riley has Angelmans syndrome. Riley doesn't speak and it was a struggle to learn to walk along with many other things. Thankfully Wendy and her husband Jimmy were just blessed that Riley didn't suffer from the health problems that plagued so many with the same syndrome. Until.. the seizures started and then long stays at the hospital. Finally after trying many things Riley once again was healthy and thriving and more adventurous, even learning to roller skate with assistance. Wendy never let Riley's condition slow her down, never uses it as an excuse to stop enjoying life. She is definitely the root of the saying " When life throws you lemons, make lemonade. " Always upbeat even when her own health wasn't the greatest. Wendy takes her kids to the beach, they play sports, she takes them in the pool. She is just a great mom with three great kids.
A few days ago while unpacking from a beach trip Riley wandered off and fell in the pool. Wendy found her just a couple minutes later and along with her oldest daughter performed CPR and Riley is on a ventilator at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Imagine how a parent must feel. This was a horrible accident that happened to good people. I am sure this leaves this family wondering... why them??? Haven't they been handed enough to deal with, enough for a lifetime?
I beg you to keep Riley in your prayers. Pray for this family to stay together whole here on earth. And also the next time you have a bad day remember this story. Don't think about it as being luckier than them. Think about the strength, love and courage they have and strive to have the same in your own lives.
God Bless Jimmy, Wendy, Becca, Riley and Mackensie King
Riley is God's little angle here on earth. She always made me smile when I saw her come into the salon. Roller skate....Wendy you are amazing. Your in my prays.
ReplyDelete