Thankful

Today I am most thankful that Zack is sleeping peacefully in his favorite jammies on his vintage Star Wars pillow case. (He inherited from his Dad, who earned it when he was 10 by no longer wetting the bed. Zack was lucky to inherit it, because he has yet to earn it.)

Yesterday we had to take Brently to the childrens hospital to have her eyes checked. While we were waiting for her eyes to dialate we walked around the 3rd floor of the hospital which is where the inpatient rooms are. We saw lots of kids who would be spending Thanksgiving and who knows how much longer there. I was so thankful that both of my kids would be coming home with me. Zack has been so lucky to only have had to spend a few nights in the hospital here and there after surgeries.

We have a tradition of throwing pennies in the fountain at the front of the hospital and making wishes as we leave. I gave the kids extra pennies to make wishes for the kids who would not be able to come out of the hospital to wish for themselves. By the time we got to the car Zack wanted to say a prayer for the kids who would not be able to leave and to also tell Heavenly Father how thankful he was that he didn't have to stay. We also prayed for our eb friends, we always pray for them and pray for many of them by name. One family that we prayed for was the Laio family, they have 2 boys with eb, but they have done something incredible that you can read about here. I only know their mom through email, but she is amazing. She promised her son Jake who is Zack's age that she would find a way to help him, and she has. She inlisted the help of a bone marrow specialist and both of her boys have undergone bonemarrow transplants for their eb. She has spent most of the last year and a half in the hospital with her boys. The transplants are very risky and can have very severe consequinces. Eb has been thrown in to the spot light like never before because of her. Because of her not only is the University of Minnesota moving forward with research, but 4 other universities are looking into trying to use bonemarrow and stem cells to cure eb. Theresa has never asked for anything from the eb community, she is not looking for fame or recognition for what she has done, she is usually very quiet. But today on an eb support group she asked for prayers for Jake, the transplant has taken a toll on his lungs. I know that prayer has brought about miracles for Zack and I know that it can bring about miracles for Jake.

If you want to learn more about Zack, go here.
Or if you want to learn more about EB, or Epidermolysis Bullosa go here.