Foster Parent also means advocate and investigator

We have been spending many days visiting different doctors for Leah over the past month or so. Over the summer our friend brought to our attention that her walking was not normal. You might be thinking how could her 'parents' not pick up on this? I have asked myself that question many times. The only answer I can come up with is when you don't give birth to a child I tend to think well, "I am not sure if this is normal for her DNA or not." and chalk it up to the wait and see agenda. God's timing is perfect of course and I believe 100% that He was guiding our path with regards to Leah. I did have her evaluated by Arizona'a Early Intervention Program and she did not qualify, but they had a few suggestions. The pediatrician also suggested a neurological evaluation.

Last month we met with her neurologist and she had some sobering news. We really have been wrestling with the possibilities of long term disabilities and what her long term care may mean for our family. Those are hard conversations to have because really at any moment our own biological children could become disabled and would we have similar thoughts? In addition, the anger that can't help but grow with regards to the choices her birth mother made during pregnancy and having to reconcile those feelings. How could a mother who claims to love her child put things in her body that would harm or cause issues for the child in the future? God was again faithful to help me understand and have compassion for this mother, who in the way she can, does love Leah.

We went for an MRI on Tuesday to confirm or discredit the possibilities. After a little bit of drama at the hospital she went in. They have to put these little ones under anesthesia  because they can't possibly lay still for the 30-40 minutes it takes to complete the test. She did great! She cried as she came out of the anesthesia but nothing hugs from mommy and her blanket couldn't cure.  In fact she was bouncing and running around by the time we got home, about 2hrs after the test and she hasn't looked back since! I got the call from the neurologists nurse and the initial radiologist reports states that her brain is normal. Praise God! The doctor will review the results herself, but the big things we feared are not there. So now what? It does leave a few more questions than answers. Why does she walk funny? Why is her balance so bad and she stumbles all the time? What is the cause of all this?

In the process of waiting for the MRI to be scheduled we also met with the opthamologist. We wanted to rule out vision as a source of the balance issues. Imagine my huge surprise when I was told she can hardly see! REALLY?!?! She has some serious vision impairments and is in need of glasses. Poor thing, at 18mths, she has to learn to wear glasses and yet a whole new world can open up for her. This afternoon we picked up those glasses. When the tech put them on her face her eyes got so big and she began pointing at all the animals on the walls she had never been able to see before. I started crying...the look on her eyes was one of wonder and wow. What a blessing to give my child sight. I never imagined she would keep these glasses on but she has not taken them off...the opthamologist said she would...she would love to be able to see.

Look at that face? What a blessing you are sweet girlie!!!! Thank you Jesus for such a precious gift!