Hello,
Today, I arrived in Virginia, and I am staying with the Olsons. It is so good to be here in the place where I made so many friends.
I have already talked with Vedat today, and he is doing really good. He was playing a video game with the resident doctor and was rushing to get off of the phone with me to get back to the game.
My last visit with him was on Thursday when we went shopping with Morgan and Liam (the children of my host family) and the two Child Life Care people who are Vedat’s close friends and who have worked with Vedat since he has been in the hospital. We had a very fun time and great success in finding the things that we were looking for.
We were looking for sneakers and we were in a shoe store. We found some “fancy” sneakers, shiny style, and Vedat couldn’t decide which color to get. So, finally, the big decision came down to get a pair of sneakers and a pair of sandals or two pair of sneakers of different colors. The Child Life Care guy helped me decide that we should go for the two pair of sneakers.
When Vedat heard that we decided to get him both pair of sneakers, he was so excited. He asked the Child Life Care guy to lean over as if Vedat is going to whisper some secret to him. And then Vedat gave him a BIG kiss on the cheek! I was so pleased to see that bond between Vedat and his therapist, and in the moment of this great excitement, he chose to share that excitement with the therapist instead of me.
I was so thankful that the Child Life Care folks were with us as they were really helpful in picking out the things that will be useful for this next period of Vedat’s therapy and stay in the hospital.
I regret that I forgot to carry the camera with me so that I could record this moment for you guys to see.
That same day was the first time that I saw Vedat’s new wheelchair. He was proud to present its exciting features which include lights on the front wheels. These lights flash brightly blue and red when he pushes himself along. The wheel chair is designed in a way that he must push himself as it has no hand holds for someone to push him. His having to push himself along is a big part of this therapy in getting stronger and being independent. This is where his older roommate’s handling of his wheelchair challenges Vedat to imitate him, expand his capability and be “cool” like his friend.
Another special thing that happened was when Vedat got a present for his Mom. He had been saving his money for that purpose, and he found a nice watch and a ring for his Mom. I was very thankful that Vedat gave me those presents as he and I are both hoping that I will be able to see his Mom soon. It is great to see that he is excited about the idea of me meeting his Mom and brothers for the first time.
As we finished with our outdoor trip, the last desire that Vedat had was fulfilled in our dinner together where he had “what?” Popeye’s chicken, 7 chicken legs! And as we were getting ready to eat, Vedat asked if he could say a blessing for the food. He thanked God for that day and all the gifts that he received and recognized the friends that God had given him.
Finally, when the time came to say “bye,” Liam, Morgan, Vedat and I said a prayer for him. And then it was time for us to go. I am thankful that we didn’t have a dramatic goodbye and that, although there was a sense of a sorrow at leaving because we both knew this was my last visit. There was hope that we will see each other again as this is a friendship that God ordained and will last much longer than the year that he and I have spent together in the USA.
Since our shopping and Popeye’s day, I called Vedat yesterday. And I called him today. This is because I told him I would call him every day so we would stay in touch through my week in Virginia and when I go back home and until I see him again in Zagreb Airport. Today, he told me that I don’t need to call him tomorrow. It is nice to see that he is adjusting well to me being gone.
To keep up communications between Vedat and me and his family, we have set up a plan where he can use the hospital computer to write to me and I can write to him, as well as send pictures. The Child Life Care people are intentionally working with Vedat in keeping him in touch with his family as Vedat is making projects to send to his Mom and brothers. I am thankful for this help because this will also help me to keep in touch with Vedat once I am back home. We are also developing plans for telephone conversations with Vedat both while I am here in Virginia and when I go home.
I know that many are concerned about how Vedat is physically progressing. So, I will try to briefly update you on his progress. Vedat’s appetite is better, and he is gaining weight. He is getting stronger. But please understand that recovery takes a lot of time and effort for small improvements. He is able to move his right leg more than before and it seems that it is coming back more and more. His left leg is taking more time but is improving slower. And the range of leg and foot movements varies from day to day.
His brace that is connected to his halo is supposed to come off in the next week or so. And then he will get a new brace without a halo but with a chin rest. He will wear that new brace 23 hours a day, and the plan is for him to wear this brace for the next 6 months. His pain is almost completely gone. Now he is at the point where some days he does not have pain at all, which is confirmation of the healing that is taking place.
As his body is healing, I am thankful to see that his heart and his emotions are healing too. Vedat’s nurse affirmed this week that he saw special signs of Vedat’s moving forward toward a higher level of emotional well being and maturity.
Please continue to pray for Vedat’s healing and the transition that he is going through because of my departure.
I hope that this brings you up to date and answers your questions. I plan to post another entry soon that will cover additional information.
As I said, I am getting ready to go back home to see my Mom, my new born nephew, and friends. I am thankful for this opportunity to visit in Virginia with you.
Please continue to pray for this big transition in my life and in the lives that have joined with mine during the last year and will continue in the future. Please understand that while I am anxious to go home to my family, I am dealing with a lot of emotions at leaving Vedat who has been the complete focus of my life for these many months. There is also a lot of reflecting on all that God was doing in my life through the last year and what plans He has for me for the future.
Looking forward to seeing you in the Church tomorrow.
Be blessed.
Here we are..
We are still on our journey and things are getting to be more normal than ever after the surgery.
Since the last time that I wrote there are a couple of things that I would like to write about.
It is so hard not to think about the tragedy that happened at VA-TECH and the reality of the world that we live in.
The world needs the gospel and a living God who is Love.
I will soon be 23 and it is just so hard to think that someone my age would be capable of doing something so bad and that people my age would die.
That is terrible, but I know that you are probably also surrounded with those same thoughts so I won’t continue. We will together continue to pray and ask God to comfort all that are involved and it seams like we all are.
As it is for Vedat and me, we are doing good and things are changing.
A week and a half ago, we had our dear friends Agnese, Doug and Steven here and they where a blessing to both Vedat and I.
It was nice for me because I was not at the hospital all the time they where there.
I was able to do some of my things as there is always something to do..
Soon after they left,Bill came and we had a “goal conference” where we talked about all kinds of things.
Vedat was there too, and has received a lot of affirmation and encouragement from his therapists and doctors.
They where telling us what was going on and what is their plan for the future.
The bottom line is that they are happy with how he is recovering and because of the big shock that Vedat’s spine has experienced he is going through a slow and long recovery.
Because of that, they want to keep Vedat in the hospital for another 3-4 months.
continuing the physical therapy and constantly trying to make progress in his recovery and ability to walk.
I know that a lot of the people are interested about that and at this point he is not able to walk, but the good news is that he is having progress in the movement of his legs and he is very excited and has hope.
His right leg is stronger than the left one, but the left one is progressing, too.
The last news that I know, is that he was moving his right foot and the muscle from the knee down, and his toes on the left foot.
The reason why I say that I don’t know exactly, is that there are a lot of people that are asking Vedat about his feet so I don’t want to be one more doing the same.
The nurses are not always there when the doctors come to examine him so they don’t always know about every change unless it is radical.
The other good news is that he is better emotionally.
That is the answer to our prayers, God is good.
Vedat has moved from his room to another room and became a roommate with this other boy that was in the hospital before and was Vedat’s roommate then too.
That has changed his social life and I can see how that is good for him and is making him see other kids that are sick (this boy is in the wheel chair) and how they are moving forward and not loosing hope.
That is just a praise and a blessing.
Now things are very different with all that has happened, because Vedat is very familiar with everybody in the hospital and it is getting to be like his home.
(I know that it is hard to believe that)
I am also not visiting him as often as I did, because he doesn’t need me there and he is not shy to say it.
Sometimes that is not too nice because he is my ministry here, so it gets meaningless when I see that he doesn’t need me anymore.
In some way, that is normal and he is a kid that attaches and detaches very fast.
A part of it is just his culture.
God is bringing me to the completion of my ministry here and changing it to something else.
In the past few weeks, I have been sharing that thought with some of the key people in this whole story and they have only affirmed what I received through prayer and peace in my spirit.
God is good and He is really preparing the way for me to leave and everything is slowly separating.
I can feel that in my heart and see it in reality.
Vedats relationship with me has changed a lot.
He has built relationships with the people that work with him all the time in the hospital. He has a similiar trust with many of his caregivers like he had with me.
I have to admit that sometimes I get sad, but only for a moment because I realize that it is good, and all that means is that he is maturing.
God gave him some very nice people that are constantly there around him. They are the team who does all the therapy, and some of the main people are men.
You who know more about the whole story, know how much I wanted that for him.
The doctor’s will have him in the hospital as long as he is making progress probably until the end of July. Then they will want to see him again in November for a week or two of therapy with a stay in the hospital.
The final appointment will be in March 08 and that is when they will be wiling to let him go home (to Montenegro).
We will see and continue to pray that it will go as fast as it can go.
Vedat is very excited about the idea of him leaving the hospital when it is time, and going to live with a new family.
He didn’t complain any about me not being there ( that was a surprise ).
We talked about everything and it is clear to him that his needs have changed and that he doesn’t need me as he did before, but a different care and support ( more of a male figure, not just because of the emotional part but also physical help ).
Actually he likes the idea of me going home before him and making some things ready before he comes back.
He already gave me instructions on what to do..
It is just amazing to see how kids adjust fast, and a big praise how God is taking good care of him.
I know that I have put a lot of new information here but it is still in the process of being sort out and taking place.
I just wanted to give you an update and let you know how are things here and the direction of our next step.
God is faithful in caring for us and providing a special and personal care that we need.
This weekend JoAnn and Craig are doing a cookout for me and my friends from Chicago (Bob and Carol) will be here and Laura and Adam (the couple from here that is helping us out too).
I am looking forward to that and am happy that as much as I am having those special moments with the people that I care for, Vedat is having fun too.
Just today he went to the downtown Chicago aquarium and had fun there.
God is good and faithful, he is the Father and the Savior.
I love Him and I love you.
Please pray for us as we are trying to complete this transition of me going home and Vedat having a new guardian.
Pray for the wisdom in all the details and technical things that need to take place.
Also, for the team that is involved in working on the documents and making decisions about the new family and guardian.
We pray for the family and the new guardian that God would bless them abundantly as they are wiling to take care of his Kingdom and that they would see His hand clearly in the call that is before them.
Please pray for my family, friends and me, to be patient and still as we are waiting for my return.
For all relationships that have been changed in this time, and everything new that will take place once I am back home.
It is amazing to see how God is big and how he has given me all of you and opened a world for me that was not there before.
I praise Jesus, my friend and the one who made all this possible by His death on the cross and glorious resurrection.
He did it unselfishly just for us-lost people.
He is to be praised and adored above all.
Love you.
Vedat in the physical therapy room with the Tom and Jerry characters that he drew on the shirt
This is the system that they use with lifting him up and putting him on the tread mill where a physical therapist is moving his legs
Vedat playing air hockey, very serious- can’t afford to loose (during the visit with the Welch family)
Out in the hospital playground, on the special wheel chair swing
Us on the walk around the playground, Vedat didn’t want to go so he was protesting by pulling his jacket off, but afterwards he was glad we went (you could tell by singing)
Liam and Vedat having dinner together
This is during occupational therapy, they are all cooking and then eating together
