Our twin children, Noah and Alexis, had been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when they were 20 months old. Noah had an MRI that showed brain damage in his ventrical area (PVL) and Alexis was diagnosed under the assumption that they both lost oxygen while in the womb. Alexis had undergone three MRI's with no damage found, although she was much more physically challenged than Noah.
Their function and abilities started to improve after years of therapy. However, Alexis started to show signs of regression around her 5th birthday. I was praying for specific guidance from God about something completely different when He led me back into research for Alexis. Alexis had lost the ability to walk, chew her food, swallow and talk by 11 am. She would tremor for hours at a time with her eyes rolling up into her head, it was as though she was no longer there and we could no longer reach her.
God led me to an 11 year old article that was put in the midst of current research materials on Cerebral Palsy. This article was centered around a young girl who suffered from a disorder that was termed "Segawa's Dystonia" (now termed Dopa Responsive Dystonia). One of the common threads in this disorder that separates it from Cerebral Palsy is how the patients function better in the morning or after sleep and as the day goes on they become more debilitated. That was Alexis. For years we would ask her neurologist why she was able to "function" in the morning and would then lose all her abilities during the day.
My husband and I emailed the neurologist out of the University of Michigan that evening. By 6 am the next morning he had responded. Through a series of miraculous events we were in his office 5 days later. Alexis started on the medication, Sinemet, and was then able to walk and talk like a typically developing 5 1/2 year old. She had a breathing problem where she would snort and struggle for breath, she could only say one word at a time and then she would take several breaths to say another. The first day on the medication she was talking non-stop, got into a car on her own for the first time in her life, could sit up for lunch, chew and swallow her food, played on a play structure, slept through the night for the first time in 5 1/2 years and was able to experience many more "firsts". We witnessed cognitive ability that we never knew existed because it had been trapped inside her low-functioning body.
God blessed us with this angel for a daughter and then provided this miracle of new life for her body. He then led us to another source to discover that Noah had the same disorder. Several neurologists told us they would not put Noah on the medication, Sinemet, as it is known for causing stomach problems and Noah had thrown up every day of his life. After alot of prayer, God showed us that the medication would stop Noah's throwing up. The neurologists explained why that was impossible. They must not have known that all things are possible with God. And so it was that we pushed to start Noah on the drug against medical advice and he no longer throws up every day, is progressing at an incredible rate and has been a medical miracle that no one can explain. Our God is so much bigger than medical knowledge or understanding!
I would encourage anyone who has children with medical disorders or has personal challenges to seek God's wisdom. If you don't know Jesus, call to Him and ask Him to come into your life. He will give you the strength to endure anything and will give you new life.
God has guided our family through many trials and challenges. He has always given us strength, peace and comfort to run the race He has set for our lives. He has also guided us to many answers for new life and growth for each one of us. His plans for our lives have been far greater than any dreams we could have ever imagined on our own!
To view before and after video of God's miracle, click on:
mms://thebeerys.com/media/godsmiracle1.wmv