Hope for Chase: Week 20 October 29th

Clark Family Update: Day 137
Saturday November 1st 11:00 am
Day 42 at home

This is week 20!!!!! In Celebration I am going to lead you into our latest miracle with a quote from my last post.

" “Chase was asked to bear his testimony in Stake Conference in a few weeks. Uhm? Okay! I will just have him write it down, read it and I can be the interpreter, or perhaps the Lord will grant him a miracle and he will be able to do it himself.” "

Guess who’s soft palette started working yesterday!!!!! I picked him up from school and he said “Happy Birthday” I just smiled at him and said Good job Bud, that was really clear, and then it hit me – he didn't plug his nose to say it. I imagine my eyes got huge and my jaw dropped as realization set in. I know I gasped and my head whipped over to a grinning and excited Chase. “Chase!!! You’re soft Palette is working!” A still grinning and well pleased Chase responded perfectly clear “ I know, I’m Happy!

No it’s not my birthday, but he has been practicing it because the H, B, P, and D sounds all use his soft palette. This moment was trumped a few minutes later when we got home and I told Phil that Chase had something to tell him.
“Hi Dad!”
It’s like reliving those moment when they are little and they say it for the first time. Phil was so excited and full of praise.

The next amazing moment was 2 hours later when he went to speech therapy. He walked in and said “Happy Birthday” to his therapist – “Say it again” she said! “Happy Birthday!” She looked at me, and I laughed and said nonchalantly– “His soft palette started working today” like it was no big deal. I was able to attend 15 of his therapy before I had to go get the other kids from school. She had him read a lot of p, b, words and said more than once – “It just started working?”LOL

Just like every other step in his recovery – apparently it just doesn't work like that. Keep in mind it has only been 48 hours since they were practicing those same words and Chase was plugging his nose to keep the air from escaping.

I shouldn't be surprised that it happened this way, it’s how the Lord has worked his miracle with Chase all along, but I thought that our moments of huge miracles were passed. I have been worried about Chase’s surgery, and the risk of complications and setbacks. I haven’t been dwelling on them, but the worry has been there simmering in the back of my mind. This miracle has set me at ease. Regardless of complications or setback that could occur during the surgery the Lord has just reminded me that he is still guiding Chase’s recovery.

He still can’t speak very well, he has a very long way to go, but now that his soft palette is beginning to work it will be so much easier. I have a feeling that it will get even better after he has his surgery, though it may take him a few weeks to be back at 100% after the anesthesia and drugs they will put into him. We are super nervous about the pain meds after watching him go through withdrawals the last time.

Monday, Chase and I will head down to Minot to do a pre-surgery check-up. The Doctor just wants to make sure he is in good health and there have been no new concerns or illnesses. No more testing that I know about so it seems like Thursday will be a go for surgery. Surgery will be at 5 am and he will be in the hospital for 3-4 if there are no complications.

Thank you for your prayers on his behalf. We truly believe that your prayers for his soft pallet over the last 3 months have brought this miracle about. God bless you for loving us enough to pray for us. Please continue to do so this next week.. Pray for his medical team, and for us to be at peace with whatever the outcome. Please pray that his pain will be managed so that he can have as little medication as possible, and they will have the discernment to give him the best pain medication for his body. We are so excited for this last big surgery to be over so we can move forward.

Our goal is to have him back in school full time after Christmas break, and that can only happen if he doesn't need therapies so often. So we pray that his therapy sessions will be optimized. That chase will continue to recovery quickly and that his body’s ability to perform, and chases drive to recovery fully, will be in sync and progress according to the Lord’s Plan.

If you have been following our post from the beginning I wanted to give you joyous news. Our friends Justin and Erica will be arriving at Craig Hospital on Wed. They have been through so much, and fought so hard. I know she is tired, and home sick in the most desperate way. It has been 135 days since Justin’s Accident. Please add them to your prayers. Please ask the Lord, if it be his will, to allow Justin to excel there, and to progress rapidly. Please add your voices to ours in asking the Lord to heal him, and get him home quickly and whole. We pray that the Lord will bless you and keep you until we meet again. Thank you for being a part of our Legion!

Clark Family Update: Day 139
Monday November 3rd 8:00 pm
Day 44 at home

Chase and I headed to Minot today to meet with the Neurosurgeon for the last time before surgery. Everything looks good at this point and surgery is scheduled for Thursday. Wednesday evening he will get a final CT scan, and then we show up at 5 am Thursday Morning.

Tonight Chase, Phil and Boston headed to the hair salon, and our friend Lacy gave them all matching haircuts to prepare for surgery. Chase wanted to still have some hair after the surgery so this is the haircut we decided on. We also took pictures so you could see the missing bone flap, it's pretty intense looking. Now you can really understand the need for the helmet. Chase is so excited to never wear it again!

Before the surgery Chase and his friend BobbySue made plans for him to take her on her first date. She told him in the ICU that he needed to get better so he could take her out. Wednesday they will be each others first date. Chase is really excited!

This week we are praying for the medical team to be guided, and for chase to heal with no complications. The risk of complications are low, but they are super serious if they occur. We know that the Lord is in charge, and we pray that his will be done. We love you and pray that the lord will bless you and keep you until we meet again. We are Legion!