I'm Joni Eareckson Tada and I am so blessed to have you as my friend...
That’s the truth, and I'll tell you why you're such a blessing: you have sent some of the sweetest, most heartwarming, most God-glorifying, Christ-centered letters and cards of encouragement to the disabled people and their families I’ve mentioned this week. You should see our mailroom! I can’t wait for Noreen and Jane; and then there’s Chuck and Debbie and their special needs kids; then we’ve got Diane and David with autism; and then Carren and all the others… I cannot wait for these families to spread all these cards and letters out on their living room floor or on their kitchen table and have their socks blessed off! But I have one last family to tell you about that I’d like you to write …
The story starts with a 12-year-old boy in a wheelchair named Dylan (that’s DYLAN) who has spina bifida. In August of last year, right before Family Retreat, Dylan had to undergo surgery to reinsert rods in his back in order to correct his scoliosis – his posture in his wheelchair was that bad! This 12-year-old is no stranger to surgery; he originally had the rods put into his spine several years ago, then he had to have a second surgery to do more adjustments on his spine. Then months later, one of the rods literally began to wear through the skin on his back and so it was pack things up, head back to the hospital to undergo a third surgery to make the rods shorter.
But the story doesn’t end there. A short time later, the doctors discovered an infection in his back so, once again, there was yet another surgical procedure to clean the rods in Dylan’s back. It meant having a pick-line inserted so he could take some pretty strong antibiotics three times a day for a whole month. But that’s not all. A few months later when everyone’s hopes were high, Dylan’s family received the news that another infection had cropped up elsewhere along the rods – this time, the doctors decided to remove all the rods and hardware out of Dylan’s body; start over. It was a long and arduous eight-hour surgery. Dylan was particularly concerned about the timing of this surgery because he so wanted to attend our Joni and Friends’ Family Retreat… would Dylan come through it okay? Would there be more infections to battle with, more surgeries to struggle through? Well, thank the Lord, this little 12-year-old boy, his mom and dad and sister were not disappointed – he came through the final procedure just fine and the new rods were a much, much better fit. Dylan’s mom and dad, Darrell and Helen, (that’s spelled DARRELL) and his sister Carrie (CARRIE) were able to attend Family Retreat after all – and everyone had a great time. Wheelchair games… rides on the hay wagon… fun times down by the swimming pool… and just being with his family, especially during the times of morning worship.
Twelve-year-old Dylan is a kid who thrives on encouragement and Darrell and Helen, his parents, could use a little encouragement, too, even Carrie, his sister. So would you be willing to write this family a note today to cheer them on? Again, that’s Darrell and Helen and their 12-year-old son, Dylan, and his sister Carrie. Just send your note in care of Joni and Friends, P.O. Box 3333, Agoura Hills, CA 91376. And I want to say a special thanks to all of you who have written cards. You, my friend, have a true Heart for the Disabled. And that means you have the favor and blessing of our great and wonderful God!
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
© Joni and Friends