This will be quick as we have a home game starting in about twenty minutes! There are alot of little improvements and blessings to report that have occurred since the last update; I will only list a few right now (see previous sentence!).
Dale seems to be "waking up" more and more nowadays. Not that he's been walking around in a dream-like state---just that he is asking more questions now about his accident and remembering things somewhat better now. I say that cautiously.....Dale still is struggling with short-term memory loss even about events that have happened in the last month. For instance, our school secretary handed me Dale's school picture this week. Dale took one look at it and said, "I don't remember having my picture taken." Mind you, the picture was taken the last week of November. But we are still too close to the accident date to determine if Dale will have lasting memory deficits; he's improving daily in so many areas that it is impossible to predict what lasting effects he may suffer three, six, twelve months from now. Praise the Lord and Yeeee-Haaawww!!!
Did you notice Dale's new picture for his profile? That is the aforementioned school picture, the most recent shot we have of our son. Isn't he handsome/cute? He's still young enough that I can call him cute.....just not to his face! I also updated his profile, although most of the information you already have gleaned from this blog.
Daily, it seems, Dale is returning to his normal saucy self. Yesterday, Chad and I encouraged him to get up and play the Kinect for exercise. Dale didn't want to at first. I said, "You need to get off the couch and get moving." His reply? "I'm walking!" Clearly, this was not enough, so Dale and Amanda played Kinect sports games for a while. She said Dale did really well, lasting through two games before asking to take a break. Of course, he attends PT twice a week and does walk, climb stairs, etc. all the time---he just wanted to be lazy!
Thinking back to that first traumatic weekend, waiting to see if Dale would live or go on home to Heaven, watching each time the nurse or doctor performed "responsiveness" tests on Dale, our hearts breaking a little more each time Dale didn't respond, hearing the doctor's pronouncement that in reality there was no hope.........and seeing my son play the Kinect, hearing him tell jokes once again, knowing God is still using His indescribable healing power on Dale's brain, watching Dale "wake up" a little more each day.......I can only say: We serve a living God. We don't worship a dead Saviour Whose power ended on the cross. We serve a risen Saviour, a powerful Creator, a miracle-working Almighty God Who is showing each day just how BIG He really is! Chad and I have said from the beginning that God is good no matter what and we trust Him no matter what. God has decided in His infinite wisdom to allow our son to recover from the accident; I believe it is so that everyone may see His mighty hand at work. He is truly wonderful, awesome, majestic, and always right. Thank You, my Father, for what You have planned for Dale and our family and, indeed, all Your children. I love You, Lord.
Romans 5: 1 - 5 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
Thank you for posting the new picture. It is nice to see that Dale still has a vibrant smile.
ReplyDeleteYour post are uplifting! Love the new picture of Dale. I am keeping your family in my prayers :)
ReplyDeleteWhy do I always get teary eyed when I read about Dale? Because of so many improvements,but still more to wait for, and those who wait on the Lord....well, all good things come to them! What a beautiful school picture...a miracle picture..one that almost didn't happen except our God decided He needed to show the world he is still in charge and chose a family strong in faith who could handle this ordeal and accept His will. How blessed are the Ostranders to be chosen by God!
ReplyDeleteWell Kirsten, once agaian a beautiful update! It is awesome to see that you are all so busy with life instead of sitting at home acting like Dale is fragile and needs tended to in the protection of your own house. His new picture really is sweet! Dont feel too worried about his memory. These things take time and having seizures often comes with some memory loss. Also, he is a boy! (no offence men) My son often cant recall that he had his picture taken when he brings them home! It's not a memory problem its an "I was too busy thinking about something more important to me problem"! I pray that is what it is for Dale as well. He is at an age where if it doesnt interest him he may just not find it worth categorizing and putting on file. He will get the hang of things soon enough and so will your family! God is good and he has a mission for Dale and you. I pray in some way that Dale doesnt ever truly remember the accident, it would be horrible for him to fear the water and never swim again. Sometimes our memories are our biggest protectors. I will continue to look for your updates every day and our prayers are with you and your family now and forever! God Bless and Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThis evening my children were asking about Dale and what I meant when I told them they should pray for him because he had been so close to death and is now having to relearn, etc. They didnt understand what i meant by Dale having a brush with dead and coming back and that not being what it means to be "born-again". So i youtubed Dale Ostrander and played them a video that was done while you were still at the hospital. I had never seen the video before but my children were glued to the just over 4 minute segment. They seen Dale being carried out. They saw the kids on their knees praying. They heard the young girl who tried to help Dale. They finally understood what i was trying to express with words. My son is 7 and seeing the image of Dale carried from the water and then seeing him later doing therapy was very eye opening for both of my children. I am so happy you all have been serving God by allowing us to be a part of Dale's ups and downs. My children had never heard of a riptide before as we have lakes not oceans and it was a very educational moment for them. It was wonderful to actually see you and your husband as well! So far I had never seen any of you but Dale. Now I have faces behind the journey and the words you write each week! Thank you so much for allowing my family to rejoice in the power of God because of each of you!
ReplyDelete