Elijah the Smile bringer

I know I have written before that Elijah's journey continues, but I ever cease to be amazed how he continues to be a people magnet. I like to wear my Elijah T shirt with my favourite picture on it and with his date of birth and death and www.angelmannetwork.com. Today at the rest home that I have moved my Dad to 7 people stopped me and asked about Elijah and Angelman syndrome. One Elderly lady told me i have courageous and brave talking about Elijah. She told me she has a daughter who is 57 who had an interlectual disability, a son who commited suicide and two toher children with the challenges of mental illness, I told her she was brave sharing with me about her life. I'm not quite sure why but often people tell me how awful it must have been tht Elijah died when he was so young, and that somehow their loss is less. As I write this I am speculating in my mind that one of the reasons is that I freely speak about Elijah and the journey and this then often gives other people permission to share their loss and their grief. Not a day goes by when Elijah is not in my conversations with people. I guess I am testimony that it is possible to journey in grief and pain and to embrace it, to journey with it and to share the hope with others. If I'm an inspiration, let it be that others share those times, the grief the loss with others that they can take courage and know that there is hope. On Rare Disease Day recently I did a fundraising campaign at my work and taked about AS and the journey and I wept and share on the phone with a number of people who had recently experienced loss close to them of someone they loved on a 2 year old - with a heart defect an the other a Mum of cancer.

I am a Pilgrim amongst Pilgrims on the Journey
Darren

Branches on the Journey

As each day passes life is never the same again. new opportunities arise and present themselves - those who have gone before us forbears and children a like whisper call to us "Carpe Diem" - "Seize the day"- Gather the rosebuds while ye may - like the following scene from Dead Poets Society


What a reflection what a call to life, a call to live. I can hear Elijah say to me "seize the day Dad. seize the day". This is very reflective of these last 8 weeks. In short, my life has dramatically changed and it will never be the same again.

Part One. I received a text message on the 26th of November 2009. It was from a close brother I know from Church who lives in a in a seaside town 3 hours north of Christchurch. In the message he was asking for my assistance and sent me on some other texts outlining what he was asking me/inviting me to do. I was eager to know what the request was. I learned that it was a call from the Lord, the way of the cross. I was asked to contact a family L & M and their 10 month old daughter A. L had come to Christchurch to see the dr. She has some cancer (melanoma) removed from her body earlier in 2009, but after experiencing pain inher back and being put off by doctors in her town came to Christchurch to see and oncologist. In short she was told she had advanced cancer in her liver pancreas an other parts of her body, M and L learned that news and would I go and pray or at least make myself known as they did not have any family or extended family in Christchurch and so I said I would go and meet them and see from there. I went an met them an prayed with them and the journey began... one that would transform my life. On the second day I found myself saying "Lord I am not sure this is a call for me but, if you prompt me I will go and if I open my mouth, please fill it with words" Little did I know how much the Journey with Elijah was to have prepare me for this but I knew that he accompanied me on the Journey. It' late her in NZ and so I will need to continue.

Peace be with all readers of this blog and those whom they Love
Darren