Storm Ahead – A Testimony of Faith and Trust in God

Last Sunday, March 16th, we were at Sam’s with the kids shopping. Abigail was not feeling well and therefore was lying down in the main part of the shopping cart. While Rachel and I were getting some drinks off a shelf, Abigail stood up in the cart, lost her balance, fell backward out of the shopping cart and landed squarely on her head and back. I saw it happen in what feels like slow motion and still shutter at the sound her head made against the concrete floor – ‘BAM!’ You could tell immediately that she had some type of concussion. She was bleeding from her nose and even threw up blood in the car while we rushed her to the hospital ER. She was very slow in response during her examination. They put Abigail in a neck collar and also did a CT scan and took x-rays of her neck, back and chest to see if anything was broken. The x-rays showed nothing in her neck or back was broken, but the CT scan showed that she had suffered a temporal skull fracture behind her right ear. She was blessed to not have any brain swelling or damage. We were transported by ambulance to Children’s Medical Center for continued examination and observation since Children’s has a pediatric neurology department. After several hours in the critical care room, we were moved to a room where we spent Sunday night and Monday night watching Abigail get no sleep, having a hard time focusing and throwing up as a result of the concussion and fracture. We were not getting many answers from the doctors as to what the next steps were going to be…were they going to do more scans and tests or just keep her for observations. At one point we were even told that they could not find the original CT scan from the other hospital. Rachel and I were confused and frustrated with where things stood. Fortunately, we were surrounded by our family, friends and church that provided a great comfort and support. Tuesday morning came and we were finally taken for another CT scan which also revealed the skull fracture but also showed some blood behind her ear canal. We were then told that Abigail would remain in the hospital until she was able to eat and drink without throwing up and also be up and active. I share all this detail in order to show how God worked within Rachel and I during this time. There were several moments during these days that showed us how much we need to and do trust in God to take care of everything in our lives. He wants us to have faith in Him that he is taking care of every detail and that we are truly in His hands. One moment Rachel had was when Abigail was getting her initial x-rays at the ER. She clearly felt God tell her to trust Him and that Abigail was His child and that He would take care of her. Rachel said she realized she had to let go and truly put Abigail in His hands and it brought a tremendous comfort to her to know He was in control. Another moment was when Abigail was being transported by ambulance to the other hospital. I was following in our car and I was overcome with thoughts of what could have happened: What could have happened to her neck and back when I picked her up off the floor, What could have happened if there was brain swelling, etc. God immediately erased my questioning by telling me “but none of those things happened and I am taking care of her.” There were several of these types of moments. On Tuesday, it was pouring rain. I had gone home to get a few things for us and the rain was coming down hard, the streets in our neighborhood were flooding and the local golf course was completely under water from flooding of the creek that runs through it. It was a great representation of the storm Rachel and I were going through at the hospital and reminded me of two of my favorite songs that I have come to lean on during difficult times:

Casting Crowns - "Praise You In This Storm"

I was sure by now

God You would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

I remember when

I stumbled in the wind

You heard my cry to you

And you raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on

If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls

I barely hear You whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord

The Maker of Heaven and Earth


Mercy Me - "Bring The Rain"

I can count a million times

People asking me how I

Can praise You with all that I've gone through

The question just amazes me

Can circumstances possibly

Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed

Long before these rainy days

It's never really ever crossed my mind

To turn my back on you, oh Lord

My only shelter from the storm

But instead I draw closer through these times

So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace

Bring the chance to be free

Bring me anything that brings You glory

And I know there'll be days

When this life brings me pain

But if that's what it takes to praise You

Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of

The dark clouds that may loom above

Because You are much greater than my pain

You who made a way for me

By suffering Your destiny

So tell me what's a little rain

So I pray

Holy, holy, holy

Is the Lord God Almighty

Tuesday night rolls around and Abigail had spent most of the day with covers over her head because lights hurt her head too much. We are eating dinner when Abigail asks if she can have some chips (first time since we were in hospital she showed any interest in food). She even wants to watch some TV, so I put on Ratatouille. To this point, Abigail has hardly talked since being in the hospital. Out of the blue, she perks up and says while watching the movie “hey, this is the part where they make the omelet and they try and toss it and it goes out the window” and she starts laughing. Rachel and I look at each other and then look at her. A glimpse of our Abigail was back. She spent the rest of the night talking and being active and ate some more. We knew at that point, she had made it through her own storm and was on her way to recovery. We were cleared to go home on Wednesday evening and she continues to get better each day. She has to be very careful not to hit her head for the next month or there is a very good chance we would need to go back to the hospital. We also have to be cautious of meningitis since her fracture has tiny air passages through it and is susceptible to the virus. We will see an ear specialist in a month to see if there was any long term damage to her ear since the impact was so close to it. We praise God for everything he has done for Abigail and us. We thank everyone who has prayed and supported us during this time. It has been a great testimony of how God is in complete control and how we need to surrender to Him on everything and have faith that he will take care of us.