"Those who tell you something cannot be done have never done anything that required faith in God." Jen Backus

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Wheels

This post comes from Mark's mother, Carla Kelly. She usually does a much better job of keeping everybody informed. Thanks Carla. We love you.

Hello everyone,
Sometimes when you get promptings, you really should listen. For the past 3 days I have thought that I needed to call Dietmar. (Mike's Dad) When I called him the day before yesterday, I told him about Mark's condition.
Mark is having lots of difficulty walking and getting up from a seated position. He tries to get up on his own and when he can't, he will finally say, "Well, I can't get up" and then we assist him.
Well, long story short, Dietmar told us that he had Joan's electric wheelchair just sitting in the garage and getting no use at all. He offered it to us and we jumped at the offer. Julia drove to Vegas yesterday and picked it up. Mike took it to the wheelchair store, they put a new battery in it, adjusted it for Mark and VOILE! An awesome new set of wheels for Mark! :) This blessing came to us at the perfect time. We knew that Mark was close to needing it, and he and Mike were looking at 4X4 wheelchairs. Very cool, but very expensive. Now for the funny part of the story.
Let me first say that Mark had a ramp put on the back of the mini van to haul it around and Mike bought ramps so that Mark can easily drive into the house and office.

Of course Mark acted like he had a new toy. He was spinning in circles with it, driving around my house messing up all the rugs and just generally acting like a kid with a new remote control car or something. I got out my video camera, and as luck would have it I did not have it on when Mark decided to speed up the ramp on the back of the mini van. He was on a bad angle going up the ramp (did I mention too fast?) and before Wes and I could blink and react, he had that wheelchair tipping sideways and off he and the wheelchair went off the ramp. (then I turned on my video camera) Dang it, I could have made the funniest videos show! Of course Mark was laughing his head off and Wes and I were scared to death!

Wes picked him up off the ground and we saw that no damage was done. Then I went into Mom mode and had to say, "Well, let that be a lesson to you." Crazy kid.

Mark is still continuing to deteriorate. We pray for the stage to come when this thing slows down or stops completely. We know that he is in your prayers and that is all we can ask. We are asking for more time from the Lord and even a healing, if that is in Heavenly Father's plan. We are doing all we know how to be worthy of this great blessing.
I called Mark this evening at Bryce's Pop Warner football practice. Mark has not been going to the practices because it is too hard on him to walk so far. He said the new wheelchair was awesome and went over all the terrain with no problem at the school. He was doing what he loved, watching his boy play football. These are the things that memories are made of. I will write again when Mark has his Barrow's appointment on the 18th. Until then, and thank you so much for your love and support, Carla Kelly

PS: Feel free to pass this on, or reply to this email.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

That is wonderful that Mark was able to go to the football practice. Mark is in our prayers every day!!

Unknown said...

Dear Elizabeth,

I am so sorry to hear about Mark. God is with you and there is a special grace for you all right now. I recently met a man here with ALS who is going to need a wheelchair soon too. I spent some time with him helping him get around. He is mid 50's or so and diagnosed in June. Anyway, it god me looking into alternative treatments and I don't know this man well enough (nor him me) to be able to help him much. But I did wonder if I could help you..... E-mail me if you like. You know I believe all things are possible and God hears us when we beg for miracles and more time.

Much love.
Jen