Congressional Hearing on my home turf

Senator Rand Paul conducted a congressional field hearing this afternoon at the University of Kentucky regarding the problems surrounding the cost of EpiPen prescriptions. 

 

When my sister, Rachel, invited me to attend the hearing, I had no idea what to expect. I just assumed it would be a bunch of people talking politics kind of over my head. But that was not it at all. 

Seven people testified about various aspects of the EpiPen cost issue:

    2 parent advocates

    a community pharmacist

    an economist from Western KY University

     a former FDA member

     my boss from UK 

     a policy strategist

I was amazed that I understood and agreed with everything these people had to say. They articulated their concerns very nicely. And Senator Paul asked some really good questions to try to dig deeper into the problem. 

The result: We heard many facts. Several potential solutions surfaced. 

I thought it was so cool to be a part of this process. Hopefully sometime in the near future we will see some new legislation that will come from hearings like this one. It makes me a bit proud of our country. It's got a LOT of problems -- but it's still a great place to live!

Hurricane Matthew in Haiti

 

I don't even know how many times mother went to Haiti. And Petit-Goâve was her usual destination. Hurricane Matthew took out a major bridge connecting Petit-Goâve with the rest of the country. Now rescue and relief efforts are limited at best. 

Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Haiti. 

The 2010 earthquake destroyed over 90,000 lives. 

The ensuing cholera outbreak killed another 10,000. 

Now I expect we'll see more casualties as the waters recede. Right now they are saying there are ~330 known dead. 

I had the privilege of going to Haiti in February after the earthquake in 2010. That makes these images that much more real to me as I think about those precious people. 

May they heal well and quickly. 

Practice Hospitality

“Love must be sincere. 

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 

Be devoted to one another in love. 

Honor one another above yourselves. 

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.

Practice hospitality.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:9-13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In the past week, we have experienced the joy, the patience, and the faith in a large part because you have shared with us in our need. 

I hate to sound like a broken record, but I think it's important for all of us to realize that we experienced the Body of Christ at work during Will's illness. This is the New Testament church. 

Don't stop doing good for those around you who are in need. Continue to practice hospitality. You'll get better and better at it the more you practice!

Update on Will: He will continue to get IV antibiotics through the weekend. They ran some tests that indicate that his immune proteins were below normal levels when he got sick. That would explain why he got sick in the first place. But we aren't sure what to do about it yet. Or why they were low. Hopefully more answers to come. Meanwhile, Will got some solid food down today and he feels even better than he did yesterday. 😊

Not Just Football

 

Tonight marks the end of the football season for Patrick's Farristown Flyers. Every game was more solid than the one before. I'm really proud of Patrick's leadership with his team. 

Bill announced the games again this year. As usual, he did a great job. And tonight we were especially glad to be able to get back to doing something a little bit normal. 

One day last week, Patrick came over and brought us a huge basket of goodies to help us get through long hours at the hospital with Will. It was a gift to us from his football team. Is that not the coolest thing? His players and their parents love him; therefore they love us. 

I tell you, this whole ordeal with Will has been one of the most gratifying things I've ever experienced. I am amazed by how we have been supported and encouraged by so many people -- including the Farristown Family. 

Thank you for blessing us. 

Inasmuch as you did it to the least of these...

The King will say to those on his right, “Come you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

The righteous will answer him, “Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?”

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:34-40

I’ve read this any number of times and I’ve pretty much always gotten the same picture:

do nice things for people as if doing it for the Lord, himself.

But I think it might go a step further than that.

When my son was on death’s doorstep, you visited, provided food, sent cards and brought gifts.

You got on your knees.

Your churches gathered just to pray for him.

And in so doing, you blessed Bill and me beyond measure.

You couldn’t have blessed us more wholly than in caring for our son.

We are full to overflowing because of what you did for him.

So perhaps the King’s point is that

we should do nice things for people because it blesses God

and fills him to overflowing.

I see this more clearly now.

Thank you for expressing your love for us by meeting the need of our son.

(In case you haven’t seen, Will went home this evening. He is still very tired and has some lingering effects from the pneumonia and the sepsis. But all in all, he is doing very well. Lizzie has been studying sepsis in her nursing class this week. She was amazed to learn that only 30-40% of people treated for sepsis survive. Isn’t it wonderful that God spared Will’s life!)

Your Love Is Better Than Life

 

Aren't adult coloring books interesting? The Currys gave one to us so that we'd have something to do while we sat at the hospital. 

This particular drawing caught my attention because we thought this time last week we might lose our son, Will. 

But God had other plans. 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you; to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

He took care of all the details before we even knew we had a need. He protected Will's life. He brought so many brothers and sisters to their knees on Will's behalf -- evidence that the body of Christ is alive and well. 

And now, Will sleeps like a baby under the watchful eye of his earthly father who loves him dearly but who was powerless to do anything to save him a week ago. Instead he gave him to our Heavenly Father who in return gave him life.  

Life. 

"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you." Psalm 63:3

I praise the Lord for Will's continued improvement. He alone is worthy of our praise. 

Getting Stronger

Today was a good one for Will. Everything indicates he is improving. 

Nobody is projecting a discharge day yet. He is getting stronger, though, so I anticipate they'll start talking about it soon. 

The one big thing I personally see as an obstacle is his diet -- or lack of it. He hasn't had anything solid to eat in a week. And he can't tolerate even clear liquids well. He's got to get past the nausea so he can consume some calories. 

We are amazed and humbled by the calls, texts, emails, cards, visits and gifts we have received since this all happened. What a whirlwind week. We are also very aware of how God has provided for all of us during this ordeal. He is the One and Only God. And He loves us. It doesn't get any more amazing than that.