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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Joy (05/18/06)
Born at 2.59 P.M. on January 8th weighing in at 9.9 ounces. Almost three, almost ten but definitely a sight to behold! Amanda Kathleen . . .

Joy!

Eating so much! Getting so big! And red hair just like Big Momma and Aunt Ruby and Grandmommy too. . .

Joy! Joy!

“Mommy, she said Mommy!” I jump around, decide to call everyone I know, pull the video camera out . . .

Joy! Joy! Joy!

Crawling, standing . . . was that a step! It’s about time! She’s one-year old. Everyone tells me she hasn’t learned to walk yet because I carry her everywhere. Nevertheless, she’s walking now, just look at her . . .

Joy! Joy! Joy!

Give her a book to read and she flips through it as though she’s taking it all in. She gets to a page with a dog on it and she barks. Okay, she sort of growls and moans like our Siberian Husky, Ralph. It’s so funny to hear her though!

Joy! Joy! Joy!

Four years old and you want to learn how to read! Your wish is my command.

Joy! Joy! Joy!

Home for Christmas, Amanda has a headache, a horrible headache. She wants to go stay with Ma instead of staying at the hotel. Headache gets better.

Joy?

Next morning I have to wake Amanda because she just keeps sleeping. Once she’s awake, I notice she can’t control her left hand, arm, left side of her body. And she's left-handed . . .

Joy?

As the days pass, Amanda doesn’t get much better. Not much worse either though. The doctor hasn’t been able to nail down what’s wrong with her so I guess that’s something.

Joy?

Amanda can’t stand on her own. When she speaks, she sounds like a tape that is dragging, her words drawn out. Yet she is still as bright as ever and asks me about something that happened over a month ago, remembers it with clarity. I have this to hold on to until God gives me more.

Joy!

Back home in Iowa, Amanda’s regular doctor sends us to the Children’s Hospital in Iowa City. Ten minutes after we walk in the door, God gives me more to hold on to. Dr. Afifi gives us the names of three things Amanda might have. Schedules her for an MRI the following morning!

Joy! Joy!

The verdict is in, the brain scan shows bright white areas on the brain where an “out-law” antibody has attacked the myelin coating. Amanda is given steroids to suppress her immune system, three times a day, intravenously. We’re told she’ll be fine in a couple of days.

Joy! Joy! Joy!

Amanda celebrates her 5th birthday in the hospital. Her left pupil is no longer dilated bigger than her right, her speech is normal. Dr. Afifi comes in to do his standard evaluation. He walks with Amanda out into the hall and tells her to run to the other end.

She does just as he asks and then races back as well!

Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy!

Seven recurrences later with two bouts of optic neuritis and we’re still rejoicing. Her vision is better than it was before the attack and Amanda’s pediatric neurologist has determined that Amanda will be coming off Avonex, a drug used to treat Multiple Sclerosis, in less than a year. Amanda is now in the seventh grade and a Duke Scholar. There is never a time, since her attack, that I’ve told her to slow down and start walking. Moreover, I have never cherished more the words that come out of her mouth.

Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy!

There is joy in the Lord!
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This article has been read 1173 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Debora Dyess
05/25/06
What a beautiful recounting of a trial (whether it's fictional or real-life). And it's so true...sometimes it's 'Joy!' and other times it's 'Joy?'
The paragraph that begins 'Home for Christmas' confused me at first (but then, it's early...) I wasn't sure about the time passage, thought the narrator was Ma and that Amanda was alone in the hotel, coming in from college to see her mother. (750 words isn't always enough, is it?) I'm not sure how you could clarify that, or if you would need to--it could be just me.
Nice job, and a well told tale.
Carla Feagans
05/25/06
Wonderfully done, real emotion here. This sounds like a true story, one very close to your heart. You told it so that it is now close to my heart.

I love how the Joy! came back before the narrator even knew anything conclusively, but just had a glimmer of hope. I love the message of rejoicing in what's good even in the midst of the bad.

I agree, the home for Christmas paragraph was confusing - I too thought she was at least college age, then later we find out she is still five.

I am so happy that this story has such an amazing, happy ending. Good job!
Rita Garcia
05/26/06
I love this delightful look at JOY! Great job!
Teri Wilson
05/26/06
The joys with the question marks were particularly efffective. Good job.
Sherril Wendling
05/27/06
Really heartwarming! I liked how your "joys" reflected perseverance, even in times when only questions surface. Thanks for inspiring me!
Jan Ackerson
05/28/06
I really, really loved that last row of "joys." Having been through similar ups and downs with my own daughter's medical issues, I can definitely relate, and you portrayed the "hanging on to joy" beautifully.
Tiffanie Chezum
05/28/06
Well done, good swing of emotions. The "Joy?" section was effective.
Kate Wells
05/29/06
You really portrayed joy as much more than emotion. I liked that. Good job.. Kate~
George Parler 
05/29/06
Whether real or imagined, the character seems to know from whom their strength comes. For the joy of the Lord is our strength. And you have conveyed this truth masterfully as more than a mere emotion. But rather the power of clinging to His promise. Well done!
Joanne Malley
05/29/06
Your use of "Joy" was effective and played an important part in getting your point across. It's scary when that true feeling of joy is taken when the trials come to visit. But we can bask in the joy that much more when the struggles are over. Nice job! Jo
Dr. Sharon Schuetz
05/30/06
What a powerful message and so well done. I loved the way you used "joy" to add to the emotion. Good job.
Anita Neuman
05/30/06
Wow! This story is an emotional roller coaster. I started reading and settled in for a sentimental Mommy-moment. And then as soon as that first headache hit, I knew something was wrong and my stomach just plummetted. I was right with you through the "Joy?" phase. And those pieces of good news one after the other bounced me right up to the heavens. Hallelujah! What a fabulous entry!
Birdie Courtright
05/31/06
This is so inspiring. This truly touched me. The way you use the word joy, sometimes as if you are grasping tightly and then inhaling deeply. Beautiful.
Rachel Rudd
06/01/06
This is a wonderfully written testimony! I loved the questions and exclamations of joy.