One Year Later and Still Giving Thanks

I wrote a blog a year ago giving thanks for how God made it possible for my newborn granddaughter to see.  Many of you expressed your support for Madelyn.  I thought it was fitting to give an update on how Madelyn is doing.

Madelyn was born on July 15, 2014 with bilateral cataracts.  Because the cataracts were so dense and were located in the center of her eyes, she couldn’t see anything.  When she was only a few weeks old, she went through two surgeries--one on each eye to remove the defective lenses.  She’s been wearing contact lenses ever since. 

Those were difficult days, but we saw the hand of God again and again.  First, He placed us with a loving and kindhearted surgeon.  Then He directed us to a longtime friend who was not only a physician, but his specialty was a perfect fit for taking care of Madelyn’s eyes.  We were truly blessed!

Madelyn is now almost a year and a half old.  If you didn’t already know, you really couldn’t tell that she suffers any kind of vision deficit.  In early October, we took Madelyn to see the fireworks at Oglebayfest.  She literally grinned from ear to ear as she watched.  From time to time, she looked over at me as if to say, “Do you see what I see, Pappy?”  It was a reminder to me of how far she’s come in just a year’s time.

There will be surgeries ahead.  When she’s a little older, the surgeon will have to replace the lenses in both of her eyes.  But we’re trusting God for that too.

In the meantime, I give thanks. Psalm 136:1 says:  “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.”  Be sure to remember all that God has done in your own life this year--big and small--and then give Him thanks!