The Ultimate Distraction

I'm not even sure how to put this little friendship into words. As her mother said "It's like this friendship was made in heaven long before they got here." I was introduced to Liz a few years ago when Darby had just been diagnosed with Chiari. One of our mutual friends messaged me and told me about Liz and asked if I would talk with her. Of course I agreed. One of my prayers has been the God please not let all that we have been through be wasted. I want the Lord to use our story to connect with others, to bring others hope, and to be there in the trenches with them when they don't even know which way is up. 

Liz called me on afternoon. We were on a road trip and I remember our conversation like it was yesterday. We instantly connected. Their family lived about 45 minutes from us. We met Liz, Ben and Darby one day at a Chick Fil A in downtown Fort Worth near the hospital. They had just met with Henley's first surgeon. We talked about all the things they could think to ask us about at that moment and we parted ways. Henley and Darby were about 3 or 4 years old at the time. 

The next time I saw them, I was sitting in the waiting room with them during Darby's surgery. 

So much time went by. We kept up, but had not seen each other in ages. One day in November I called Liz. It was a divine appointment once again, this time me being on the receiving end. God knew that I was searching. He knew that I needed to be pushed, I needed answers. I needed an expert to prove what my instincts were telling me. I begged the Lord for clear direction and He provided. Liz told me about this Doctor in New York she had been researching and hearing a lot about. They had been to see him for a second opinion the year before. Part of me felt crazy for entertaining the idea of flying to New York to see a doctor. I wrestled with this for another week and God gave me a second conformation. I knew this was my next step. The rest is history. 

These two little girls have a bond that no one else in their worlds understand. They are two peas in a pod and adore each other. What a sweet gift the Lord gave them both to have a friend who will always be able to say "I know how you feel, I have felt the exact same way." A friend who will have been there from the beginning. 

The story behind these pictures is that Darby was due for a follow up appointment with Dr. Greenfield. It just so happened (or maybe it was slightly planned this way) that Liz, Ben, Darby and Kamryn would be in NYC the exact dates we were there for Henley's surgery. Darby had a scheduled appointment for the day after Henley's surgery. 

For many reasons this was good timing on both ends. It provided Henley a much needed distraction the night before she went in for surgery and it provided Darby a "before and after" view of Henley which was encouraging for her. The night the arrived, we went to meet them at their hotel and decided that we would make sure the girls had a super fun night in Time Square, take lots of pictures and mark that night with memories for both of them. When Henley saw them she took off running towards Darby and they gave each other the sweetest hug! Darby had brought Henley a very special gift that Henley now won't sleep without. Darby calls her Jelly Cat. Henley calls hers Kitty. These are the same cat and they both have black stitches on the back of the head because they too have a scar from brain surgery.