Diagnostic Pediatrician

We wanted to bring everyone up to date on Libi. We had the opportunity to finally take her to a diagnostic pediatrician. We have not had Libi "officially" diagnosed up to this point. Everyone involved in her care felt that before an accurate assessment could be made we needed to give Libi the opportunity to progress in her new environment. And progress she has! Upon her initial evaluation she presented at about 4-5 months of age, both physically and cognitively. Her recent evaluation showed that she has progressed to 9-10 months, with some areas still remaining more delayed than others. We rejoice in what we have seen the Lord do in her!

With that said, we had been prepared to hear that Libi's challenge was not Cerebral Palsy. Several specialists have questioned that diagnosis. This appointment we had was prayed over much. The thing that we pleaded with the Lord most was that He would give the doctor His wisdom so we would understand Libi. We want to know that we are providing what she needs to be the best Libi she can be.

The doctor we saw is a specialist in Cerebral Palsy. He felt certain that Libi does not have Cerebral Palsy. What challenges Libi physically is a condition called Hypotonia. It affects the muscles and causes them to be very weak. It is difficult to increase strength in them. As the doctor said, "She will not be pumping iron." To what point will her muscles strengthen? No one can answer that question but our Great and Powerful God. I love that!! I love that He knows her full well.

Then there is what challenges her mentally. It was the doctors opinion that Libi is globally delayed. That is a politically correct term for retarded, or mentally handicapped. The doctor explained that while Libi has made great progress you would see that same progress with any child that has been adopted from an institution. Overall she is 32 months and at best, functioning as a 10 month old. It is just such a large gap, that factored with everything else, it is clear that she does not have "normal" brain function. Will she continue to make progress? Yes, Libi will continue to make progress, but just like her physical development there is no way to have an expectation of where her mental development will peak.

Where does that leave Libi? Well, it leaves her right where we want her, with all the potential in the world! As we have said so many times before, we believe that God will heal Libi. We believe His healing will be complete. We believe we will see it here on the earth. God has confirmed to us in dreams and visions that she will not only walk, but run. Apart from that my confidence is that He has and will continue to use this little girl to change the lives of many.

Are we living in reality? The doctor questioned weather we have thought through all the possibilities with her. Have we thought about her never being independent? Have we accepted this? You know, I understand that these things have to be asked, and no, you cannot live in denial of your children's challenges. But, the Lord has taught me through Jack and Joel and their learning disabilities that we all have disabilities. In our disabilities their are no definite limits. YES, we are living in reality, the reality of living by faith and not sight...

2 Corinthians 5
New Bodies
1 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.
6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. 12 Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. 13 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.