Hayleigh: Homecoming #2

Last Sunday December 15 was Homecoming #2 for Hayleigh....her first visit back to our church since September 29.

Our pastor spoke during his sermon about 'peace' even in times of stress and chaos using Joseph, Mary's husband, as an example.  He then interviewed Hayleigh at the end of the service.  I thought she did a beautiful job expressing her thoughts about what had happened to her.  I hope you have some time to watch the full video....



Here is the link to the video in case the embedded version doesn't work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nSKlgBgXEM

One minor correction....Hayleigh's last conscious memory was that Friday night (October 4), but she wasn't fully sedated until the next afternoon when the doctors put her on the ventilator.  Also, it isn't clear in the video but on the 2nd helicopter flight her teacher was not allowed to ride with her so she really was alone when she arrived at the second hospital.

Many of my comments echo what I wrote in the following blog post from November titled "At The Foot Of The Bed"

http://tsfga.blogspot.com/2013/11/hayleigh-at-foot-of-bed.html

Rachel cried when she read that post.  I think it is the best summary of our experience.

Hayleigh is now attending school full time and will be working hard through the holidays to make up work she missed during her absence.

There is no way to thank you enough for your thoughts, prayers, encouragement, gifts, cards, and acts of kindness during this time in our lives.  From the deepest part of our family, thank you.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.

God bless,

Andrew
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Update October 4, 2014

Hayleigh just sent out this note to the 'Hayleighs Helpers' Facebook group which was set up to support her and our family last year:  

"A year ago today was the day I started getting extremely sick.  I don't think I would have survived without all of your support and prayers as well as the incredible care of my doctors and nurses. 

So, I wanted to take today to thank all of you for what you did to help me and my family.  Thank you for the hospital visits, the cooked family meals, the encouraging notes, the funny video messages, the decorations in my room….but most of all, thank you for caring.    

Now I am walking, talking, and back in school!  My doctors told me recently that I am back to the baseline level of health I was at before I got sick.   

If you didn't get a chance to see my interview several weeks after I got home, here is the link:

http://www.tsfga.blogspot.com/

I told my story in that video, and my dad filled in the parts where I was too sick to remember what happened. 

I will never forget what you did for my family and me.  Thank you! 

God bless, 

Hayleigh"

We are very blessed to have our daughter back.  Her doctors have referred to her recovery as 'amazing' and said things such as 'God has something special for you to do as very few people fully recover from what you went through.'  

Her schooling is going amazingly well.  Rachel and I have noticed her energy and commitment level to her work are stronger than we have ever seen.  In short, she is maturing into a young woman, and we can't wait to see what the rest of life has in store for her!

As Hayleigh noted, thank you for all you did for our family during our time of trial last year.  Thank you especially for your thoughts and prayers.  Words cannot adequately express our gratitude.  

May God bless each and every one of you.