Deep Breaths

Today, my every thought and prayer is with my friend, Lynnette and her beautiful daughter, Brooke. Brooke is scheduled for surgery today – a tracheotomy. A tracheotomy is a surgical procedure that creates a temporary or permanent opening in the trachea. Brooke’s tracheotomy will create a permanent opening and it will help with her breathing problems.

Brooke is only 9 years old and is dual sensory impaired (deafblind). She has been through a lot in her 9 years, but she has faced each challenge head on, and reigned triumphant in spirit. Her smile is contagious, and everyone around her can’t help but smile also. Her laugh is to me the laughter of angels – so pure, so honest, so happy.

There are no words to describe how difficult it is to be a mother and have to make a decision such as this. Brooke’s entire quality of life is going to change – some good, some not as good. Mothers already have so much to shoulder when it comes to raising a child, and it seems almost unfair that they would be faced with these kinds of decisions. But we are – every single day. The only way I can personally make sense of that is to believe that God knows that we mothers are strong enough and wise enough to handle the decisions.

So Lynnette and Brooke, today I will be praying – for a successful surgery, for an easy recovery, for Brooke’s understanding of her mother’s love through all this, and for Lynnette’s peace of mind that she has made the right decision. Both of you, take time to heal and time to grow even closer as mother and child. I love you both.

The tie which links mother and child is of such pure and immaculate strength as to be never violated. ~Washington Irving