ROBBIE TAKES HIS FIRST STEPS...AGAIN
Greetings and good Friday! As you can see from the video above, we are very excited to share with you that Robbie is now walking again! He has been able to pull himself up and stand for about a week now. The last couple of days, he’s been able to walk with a walker a small amount. Today in P.T., he excited everyone in the room when he walked about 30 feet (we counted 25 steps). He couldn’t wait to get home and show his mom and sisters. As you can see, tears of joy were flowing once again. It is a surreal experience to witness your boy’s first steps a second time. We praise God for His continued healing work and we thank you all for your continued prayers. Robbie is scheduled for botox injections on April 29th and he is doing everything he can to improve to the point where he won’t need them. Pray that he wins this race!
We had a great time in Little Rock and Searcy earlier this week. Our first stop was at Central Arkansas Christian where his Uncle Carter (a.k.a the infamous “pink panties” uncle) is President and where his Aunt Becca was waiting for us. Carter did not know we were coming and was out running an errand so Becca helped Robbie get set up in Carter’s office chair. He turned around facing the wall and you couldn’t even see him. Robbie got a big kick out of turning around and saying, “Hey Uncle Carter!” and surprising his Uncle by pulling himself up by the desk and giving him a hug. Carter and Becca then took us out to none other than Taco Bueno. Robbie will be even more excited to see his uncle next time because Carter keeps promising him “Big money, huge!” when he sees Robbie walking.
The next stop was to see Robbie’s “friends” (as he calls his therapists and child-life people) at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. We knew they were all stationed in different places since we’ve been there but we were hoping to find them. Robbie went rolling in on his motorized wheel-chair - nerf-gun in hand, cocked and ready. As we were waiting for the elevator, Kristi (his “fun” physical therapist) came walking out of it and was quite surprised when a nerf-gun bullet hit her before she saw what was coming. After some hugs and smiles, she then proceeded to help Robbie sneak up on Andrea (his “sweet” occupational therapist). He was also able to sneak up on one of his favorite nurses, Jeff. When Jeff got shot with the nerf-gun he said they were still finding those bullets around the hospital. Robbie was also able to see Chris, his speech therapist. The only one he missed out on was Jana with child-life.
We spent the next couple of days enjoying family in Searcy. We also attended the morning chapel service at Harding University. While in the hospital, we were blessed with the prayer offered up by the students and during chapel. They also did a special service where all 5,000+ students were filmed saying “We Love You Robbie” and the DVD of that was given to Robbie in the hospital. He was excited to be able to go in person - just to share his thankfulness for the prayers. It very touching to see how touched Dr. Burks, the president of Harding, was when he introduced Robbie to the Benson Auditorium crowd. Some student skipped class just to hang out with him afterwards. Here are a couple of pics of him having a “sword” fight with two of them. He also got to see “Ms. Cindy”, one of the amazing prayer warriors who would come and sing songs over Robbie that he just loved.
We got back Wednesday night and we are heading back out to the HGM camp in Oklahoma where we will spend Easter Weekend with the team we will be with in the future.
Again, thank you for your continued prayers and PLEASE PRAY THAT ROBBIE’S ANKLES HEAL QUICKLY ENOUGH THAT HE WILL NOT NEED ANOTHER BOTOX INJECTION ON APRIL 29. At the end of this update, I’d like to share with you the lyrics from a song by Sara Groves. He is Risen! ...indeed
Grace and peace,
Ken
It’s been a hard year but I’m climbing out of the rubble.
These lessons are hard; healing changes are subtle. But everyday it’s…
Less like tearing more like building. Less like captive more like willing.
Less like breakdown more like surrender. Less like haunting more like remember.
And I feel You here and You’re picking up the pieces;
Forever Faithful.
It seemed out of my hands, a bad situation, but You are able.
And in Your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars and more like character.
Less like a prison more like my room. Less like a casket more like a womb
Less like dying more like transcending. Less like fear, less like an ending
Just a little while ago, I couldn’t feel the power or the hope.
I couldn’t cope, I couldn’t feel a thing.
Just a little while back, I was desperate, broken, laid out, hoping you would come.
And I need you and I want you here. And I feel you.
And I feel You here and You’re picking up the pieces;
Forever Faithful.
It seemed out of my hands, a bad situation, But You are able.
And in Your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars and more like character.