Four months ago life was rather difficult.  We were in a bleak, dark place with Josiah. He wasn’t eating, he was barely sleeping.  He was beating himself up. We were precariously close to another hospitalization it appeared.

All these weeks later, I’m elated to tell you, we survived the storm.

With many answered prayers, a tremendous amount of assistance from an incredible support staff and divine intervention in the form of huge blessings (which have greatly improved our lives), we are in a much better, joyful place.

Today, Josiah is a different kid.  He’s sleeping, actually SLEEPING…sometimes for 10-12 hours a night. He’s eating really well and rarely has any self injurious behavior.  He now wears underwear, helps make cookies and smoothies (some of his favorite snacks), does chores around the house and is most often agreeable to trying new things and venturing out to unfamiliar places.

Less than 2 weeks ago, for the first time ever, he wore dress pants, a dress shirt, dress shoes and cummerbund to the Tim Tebow Night to Shine Prom.  He rode in a limousine with his ‘date’ (a sweet, wonderful woman who was a virtual stranger moments earlier), walked past throngs of cheering people and entered a crowded, unfamiliar environment filled with bright lights, loud music and hundreds of excited prom goers he did not know.  He stayed for close to 2 hours.

That most definitely is not my son.

I’ve been witness to this gradual transformation over the past few months and even I’m amazed by it all. This kid, who for much of the past few years has been resistant to most everything is now embracing new things with delight.

At OT today, he crawled up into a lycra swing, completely enclosed himself inside and allowed his therapist to spin him.

On Saturday, he enjoyed a Mardi Gras parade followed by dinner at a Seafood restaurant with one of his amazing caregivers and her family. Sunday, he attended a birthday party, actually climbing inside an inflatable bounce house and through the obstacle course all by himself.  Are you kidding me?  I am stunned.

That’s a jam packed weekend for this boy.  A few months ago, attempting even one of these activities would have been impossible and full of frustration for everyone, most especially Josiah.

Yet, here we are with this ‘new’ Josiah, now 15 years old, taking on the world with a willing spirit, renewed gusto and a big smile plastered across his face.

Praise God!

I’m not sure exactly what precipitated such an about face with our boy. I don’t know why we are seeing such marked growth all of a sudden.  But I am grateful.  So incredibly grateful.

If you are walking a similar path and in a difficult place right now, please hear me when I say, don’t give up. Hang in there. Surround yourself with compassionate people who will listen.  Get some sleep. Stay the course no matter how difficult it may become. Pray, pray again and pray some more. Never lose hope.

Our kids are amazing and they are worth it. They will undoubtedly astound us, if we continue to push the boundaries with them.

Josiah’s whole world is opening up now.  Wait til you see what’s next.