I AM INSPIRED

Non-Fiction/Inspirational

By Valerie Allen
© 2008

I AM INSPIRED The Beginning is a good beginning and inspired book, off sprung from this inspired Article, I AM INSPIRED to an inspired (3) part mini reading series intended to inspire readers to inspire in spite of circumstances and situations.

"May you remain inspired to inspire!"

"Often time, it seems, dreams won’t come true, especially when you’re me; a tongue talking, Bible toting, Holy Spirit filled born-again believer, minister of the Gospel, who remorsefully, contrary to the Word of God, birthed a child out of wedlock. “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let if not be once named among you, as becometh saints”. Ephesians 5:3.

Amazing as I remember like it was yesterday when my life seemed bleak after the birth of my second child. Trust, no one was more surprised than me to verify, I was six to seven weeks pregnant. And to think, I thought I caught the flu. At this point, you would think shame, embarrassment and depression were sufficient, but not so, soon after, my life took interesting turn of events.

But, where do I begin to tell the story? You’re right, at the beginning. Well, it was a beautiful spring day in May. No, I’m joking. Seriously in May 2005, six months after the birth of my second child, I received correspondence addressed to him. Long story short, I called the department of health, scheduled an appointment and followed through. However, I did not foresee the outcome of this unanticipated examination.

“Do you see his head”, posed the attending pediatrician, which was the very first question. “Yes”, I alarmingly replied. The shape and size of my son’s head was medically diagnosed as abnormal. “Cranial synostosis” is what she called it, meaning a rare birth defect, whereas two of my son’s soft spots had prematurely closed, causing his skull to mold into the shape of a football.

Although, I can’t say I didn’t catch sight of it, I just didn’t understand this was a potential problem. According to medical science, if not corrected, that condition could have possibly caused brain damage, mental retardation and other problems. 

Needless to say, I became very worried. Correction, I was scared, yet, grateful. However, I found myself repeatedly repenting. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9.  More to the point, I sought God for an explanation. Then God led me to read John 11:4, where, I clearly heard God speaking through His word, “this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” Following that, God further revealed my son’s condition was my condition, in which I will elaborate more in upcoming e-book series.

Okay, back to this story, off to the specialist in the apparent need for craniosynostosis repair, which, in a nutshell led to skull surgery. Additionally, despite the fact, that the surgery was a success, the subsequent side effects were unexpected. The right side of my son’s head and face retained an intensive amount of blood and fluid, his right eye remained swollen shut for over thirty-six hours and during recovery, a portion of his right skull formed a weird shape like a “goose egg”, and shortly afterward, he was diagnosed with Ptosis, which is droopy right eye.

Moreover, given that one parent opposed surgery, can you imagine how guilty I felt believing I made a horrible mistake in consenting to surgery as more conditions arose. In the months following, my son lost the ability to utter words, which led to numerous assessments, tests and added guilt as I searched for additional answers.

For, I thought his lost of speech was accredited to the craniosynostosis repair. Wrong. Thank God! God led us across the path of a child neurologist who referred us to early intervention for speech therapy, ruling out Autism. We were then referred to a neurodevelopment pediatrician, whereas, unfortunately, my son was diagnosed with PDD Pervasive Development Disorders with Autistic Spectrum in regard to speech delay, behavior, etc. Simply put, my son was diagnosed with a wide spectrum of social and communication disorders, including autism.

How did this happen? I sought God again as there was no answer. Before long, therapy had begun as I constantly found myself repenting. Wait, that’s just the start. One month prior to that, upon sleep study test results, this same son was diagnosed with a mild case of sleep apnea, which appeared to have caused his heart to stopped beating for seconds at a time during sleep. He also was diagnosed with enlarged adenoids with excessive postnasal drip, minor swollen tonsils and so much more which meant extra doctor visits, increased medication, etc. And for myself, I cannot forget sleep deprivation and exhaustion as an enormous bonus.

The end result, however, caused me to believe, God was punishing me as written, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” II Corinthians 5:10. By now my second child had seen well over one dozen specialists, in conjunction with over two dozen evaluations, tests and prescribed medication, including skull surgery and I admit my faith was vastly failing. “God is my judge,” that’s the meaning behind my son’s name. I stated again and again as I reminded myself that no weapon formed against him shall prosper, children are a heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward.

Nevertheless, as God was with him every step of the way, my two year old toddler was wheeled into surgery a second time, except, this time his tonsils and adenoids were removed. Needless to say, thanks are to God, the surgery was a total success! The recovery period was astonishing as in regard to the risk factors. I noticed considerable improvement.

On the other hand, I failed to mentioned, at sixteen months, this son was also formally diagnosed with Asthma, at two years and five months, and multiple test results proved he was allergic to pork. Wow. Be that as it may, to date, with God working through modern medicine, my son’s overall health and development has immensely improved. And we know that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.

And, for that reason, although allergies, asthma, ptosis and Pervasive Development Disorder with Autism Spectrum conditions exist, I am indeed inspired. For, who would have thought, taking into consideration what look liked bleak years. I had thoughts ranging from abortion to erase the disappointment, shame and embarrassment to discouragement due to the unforeseen conditions, which stemmed depression; massive guilt, innumerable doctor visits, and prescribed medications; two surgeries and so forth. Who knew, God was creating an inspiring tale, only God {toot, toot}.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts”. Isaiah 55:8-9. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”  Jeremiah 29:11.

Therefore, I thank and praise God for being a loving and forgiving God as He has allowed me the honored privilege of being inspired by one of my dearest friends who thought enough to inspire me to inspire, as I thank her for constant encouragement and inspiration.

Second, I thank God for every test to testimony as this article is dedicated to my valor sons of God, for, whom by the grace and mercy of God, this article is published. “For, we are overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony.” Revelation 12:11. I Love you.

Third, in addition to, so many to thank, I extend a huge thank you to those doctors, specialists, staff members, technicians, medical transporters, therapist, family members, friends and countless others who provided remarkable service and support.

And last, but not least, I Thank God for you, the readers who were inspired to read I AM INSPIRED. God Bless you as I pray you are inspired to inspire. I also beseech you to purchase the Book: I AM INSPIRED THE BEGINNING, regarding exclusive, candid details as highlighted in this article. Thank you. © All rights reserved."

VISIT THE WEB FOR BOOK PURCHASE, REVIEWS, COMMENTS, FEEDBACK, AND MORE AT http://www.outskirtspress.com/iaminspired.