Miracles...by Lucy

Danny helping out when a work team came

Playing with toys!

Joanna gets a hug from Danny

Danny and Ana go f0r a ride

Helping Mark fix a broken chair

Playing in the "Ball Pit"

Danny getting a piece of gum from Grandma and Grandpa

Mark and Danny reading "Green Eggs and Ham"

Caleb, Ana, and Danny playing with balloon swords

Julie has done a lot of research about Danny's heart condition. She has contacted numerous hospitals and doctors for him. When (and if) they look at his paperwork, usually they are amazed at what Danny has accomplished in his short life thus far. Julie has checked out blogs about other children with the same heart problems. Most of these children have spent most of their lives in the hospital. Most don't have the energy to get up and play. Most never leave their beds. Most of these kids with Danny's heart problem don't get to enjoy life the way "ordinary" kids do.

I've been thinking about Danny's life. We keep praying for a miracle to happen in Danny's life, but it is happening every day, minute by minute, second by second, step by step. Everything about Danny's life is a miracle. When Victor and Julie first heard about Danny when he was about 18 months old, he had no name. He wasn't walking yet. I'm not sure if he was speaking. Danny is now 3 years old and thriving! Here are the miracles we get to see every day in Danny's life.

1. Danny woke up this morning!
2. He went to the bathroom by himself (He's a big boy now!)!
3. He ate his breakfast with no help.
4. He climbed up into his mama's lap for a hug.
5. He ran and played soccer with the big boys.
6. He breathed in the air which is thinner up on this mountainside.
7. He went to preschool.
8. He read a storybook with Mark.
9. He helped Joanna do the dishes.
10. He said the prayer for our meal.
11. He helped make pizza.
12. He danced while Angie played the piano.
13. He laughed at something funny Aaron said.
14. He went for a walk with his dad.
15. He picked a flower for Rosa.
16. He rode his tricycle through the kitchen.
17. He rode the horse with Joanna leading.
18. He played in the rain puddles.
19. He asked me for cookies in English.
20. He enjoyed life!!!!!

As you can see, Danny is a pretty busy guy. He doesn't do each of these things every day, but he is free to be a little boy, to laugh, to run, to play. Danny is not lying in a bed in a hospital somewhere waiting to die. He is living life to the fullest. I think that as I've watched him grow, the thought that comes to my mind is this: Maybe the miracle that God wants us to see in Danny's life is that despite the problems with his heart, if God wishes, He can keep it beating. He can awaken Danny every morning to a beautiful sunrise despite the malfunctioning human heart beating inside him. He loves Danny even more than we all do. And daily miracles are what He does best!

"You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the people."
Psalms 77:14