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On a cold day in February of 1984, the busy, simple life we knew
changed forever.  Our healthy, active, 22 month old son Jared went from
playing to dying in a matter of hours due to a critical case of Spinal
Meningitis which was complicated by Septic Shock.

As parents of Jared as well as 3-year-old and 6-week-old daughters,
we felt young, inexperienced and unsure of how to handle the grim
prognosis we received that Jared’s was the most critical Meningitis case
our doctor had seen.  We were told that he wouldn’t live, and then when
he did live, we were told that he would have severe brain damage, be a
“vegetable”, and need to be placed in a special home where he could
receive the care he would need.

There were many dark, frightening moments and hours as we stood by
watching our son fight for his life.  There were feelings of
helplessness, but thankfully not feelings of hopelessness.  We felt the
great care of the many doctors, nurses, and hospital staff, the love and
concern of family and friends, but especially, the ever present
feelings of peace when we turned to God and felt His loving hand guiding
our lives.  We could not have known then the changes this event would
make in our lives, but we knew He knew, and we knew that we would need
to trust Him.

Now 25 years later, we continue to enjoy the life of our now almost
27-year-old son.  There have been many challenges, doctor visits,
therapy sessions, and tough-love lessons, but Jared is healthy and happy
in his world.  He is able to talk and communicate, and shares his happy
spirit with everyone around him; friends as well as strangers.  Some
aspects of life are hard for him, but he doesn’t give up or give in.  He
falls down, then gets back up and tries again.  We have learned the
valuable lesson of not taking even the little things in life for granted
as we have watched him struggle at times with the simple, basic tasks
of life.  We have felt the need to slow down at times and enjoy the
moment, and to be grateful for the miracles that we continue to
receive.  There were and continue to be times when life and
circumstances seem so overwhelming.  It is these times when we are
reminded of the words of a song, “Where can I turn for peace…Where is
the quiet had to calm my anguish…Who, who can understand?  He, only
One.”  He carried us through those long, frightening days and nights,
and He continues to carry us still.