One year ago yesterday, Samuel was in the hospital. We didn't know why. He was unsteady and falling over all the time, lethargic, and was losing weight rapidly. He was sick and the doctors had no answers. They told us he was fine.
He wasn't fine. I look back at photos and words from last January and I want to cry. The fear in my words makes me choke and I hate seeing his face when he's in so much pain. He was slowly getting sicker and sicker and he would wake up with rings around his eyes. In the mornings, my mom would weigh him and we would all gather around, hoping that the numbers would go up rather than down.
He was in and out of the hospital for a few weeks. January 2011 was one of the hardest months I've ever gone through. I cried daily and would pray hourly. The uncertainty was crippling, but more so than that, the knowledge that Sam was being dismissed again and again by doctors who claimed he was fine when he was anything but that hit me hard. Some of the things they said make me so sick to my stomach. But my mom pushed and people prayed -- hard -- and God worked.
And that's when we found out he had Celiac Disease.
The rest of 2011 was a whirlwind and a roller coaster in the most literal sense of the word. Food took on a new meaning and our family changed. Slowly, but surely, God worked on our hearts and in our lives in profound ways. Healing came, not only to Samuel's body, but to all of us and our hearts. He blessed us beyond measure throughout that difficult season.
We were filled with a peace surpassing any understanding and a strength that was not our own. It's hard. It's really really really hard. He can never have gluten. Any slight contamination could cause his weakened immune system to go back to square one. Gluten is everywhere -- in the strangest, oddest places. Living gluten-free in a world that's not nearly gluten-free enough is difficult. It's so hard watching him when he knows he can't have something.
Yet, through it all, God's used Samuel's story. He's blessed our family and we've been watching Celiac Disease Awareness grow. In the midst of the hard days, when Sammy was too weak and tired to do anything, and in the days brimming with health and joy, and all the days in between. We're praising God for Sam's life and praying for a greater awareness so that no one else has to go through what Samuel did.
This little boy, who last year, was sick and growing weaker, is now thriving and growing stronger. He's healthy and full of energy. He runs around and has sprouted several inches. He's gaining weight and eating and absorbing nutrients. He's laughing and playing and full of life.
And I am so thankful.
Below are some links my mom compiled about Celiac Disease. They include some posts about Sam and his story and our family's journey on her site. I encourage you to read and share. Thank you so much, friends!
To learn more about Samuel's story with Celiac Disease please click HERE to read his one year post orHERE to browse all past posts. For some initial posts please see these -->> Celiac Disease Journey, Dear Mom of the Little Boy with Celiac Disease What I Learned. For more information regarding Celiac Disease please go to www.celiac.com. For an excellent resource for parents of children with Celiac Disease please visit ROCK {Raising Our Celiac Kids}
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