Hypotonia and His Strength

After many conversations and an obvious need for clarification of what it means for a child to have low tone, I have decided to blog about this issue.

There are many websites that anybody can look to for more information but a pretty concise definition can be found on Wikipedia, which is where I found this quote:
Hypotonia - a.k.a. "low muscle tone"

"The low muscle tone associated with hypotonia must not be confused with low muscle strength or the definition commonly used in body building. Neurological muscle tone is a manifestation of periodic action potentials from motor neurons. As it is an intrinsic property of the nervous system, it cannot be changed through voluntary control, exercise, or diet.

"True muscle tone is the inherent ability of the muscle to respond to a stretch. For example, quickly straighten the flexed elbow of an unsuspecting child with normal tone, will cause their biceps to contract in response (automatic protection against possible injury). When the perceived danger has passed, (which the brain figures out once the stimulus is removed), the muscle relaxes and returns to its normal resting state."

'...The child with low tone has muscles that are slow to initiate a muscle contraction, contract very slowly in response to a stimulus, and cannot maintain a contraction for as long as his 'normal' peers. Because these low-toned muscles do not fully contract before they again relax (muscle accommodates to the stimulus and so shuts down again), they remain loose and very stretchy, never realizing their full potential of maintaining a muscle contraction over time. '"

This is Anna's main obstacle.
After thinking about this issue tonight, I realize something important that should not be overlooked.

I know that Jesus is real and that He is all powerful.  He says "My power is made perfect in weakness". This is incredible when you consider people who have struggles with physical strength, among thousands of other things.  Annalise has opportunity for great joy because of this low tone, it leaves room for Jesus to manifest His strength so obviously in her.

When we are weak, we are strong! Now, I know this is more than just physical, although that is surely included.  The spirit can be weak as well and while I understand that prayer is powerful, the Lord has a perfect will in what He brings to pass; even if that means cancer or losing a job, etc. 
The Lord has a way of stripping us from the things we hold so dear, so that we will perhaps grope for HIM, with nothing else attached to our hearts. That is His mercy at work! Mercy, because if we held onto other things instead of Jesus, it could mean the eternal death of us, and at the very least, a minimal relationship with the all-loving creator of our very being. So in the being made weak process, we are hopefully being drawn to seek Him and trust Him and ultimately have the power of Christ resting on us.

2 Corinthians 12: 
"...So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Acts 17:26-27:
"...And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us..."

All His Work not ours

One year ago (yesterday) our smiley, happy baby girl got to come home!

After 18 emotional days in the NICU and a final “let’s get out of here”, we were snuggling with our little Annalise on the couch in our own living room!  

A lot has happened in her first year of life, and I wanted to take an opportunity to write, and share with everybody who has been praying for her or is interested in her story. 

After an original diagnosis of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy and Hypotonia – otherwise known as lack of oxygen/blood to the brain and low muscle tone (known to the regular folk like us), we have been seeing developmental neurologists every 6 months and doing physical therapy to help make those muscle stronger than what her brain tells them to be! 

She has grown so much and is now showing a seriously hilarious personality. 

In light of her 1 year assessment, which seemed to be divinely placed on the same date of her release that was one year ago, I have decided to update you all on her progress and share what God taught me during her appointment. 

Annalise has been getting more and more mobile, now (JUST THIS WEEK) pulling herself to a kneeling position and sitting up all on her own!! She also has developed some pretty serious conversation skills. The girl talks all day long and yes, I am SO thankful she talks. I love hearing her talking to me – even though I have NO idea what she is saying! 

Her assessment showed her development at about 14-15 months for everything but fine and gross motor, those were around 7 -8 months. While she will be getting AFO braces soon to help her stand and walk, the real joy of yesterday’s appointment is how God was speaking to me!

During the discussion with the neurologist at the end of the appointment, she mentioned how remarkable it was to her that Annalise was doing so well. This doctor, who says she has been doing this for over 25 years, was almost in tears, because of what she was seeing. Of course, she couldn’t explain why she was developing so “normally” in any other way but to say how it was because we were such a ‘good’ family and were working with her so much and giving her love, etc. 

Although she was right about the love thing, I know it is much more realistic than all of that!  I remember praying for Jesus to heal her and help me in being a mom to this little person, who may or may not need special needs.  I remember seeing Him working the very day I prayed! I’ve done nothing more than anybody else would have in a “normal” circumstance, in fact I know just how lazy I have been in working with her physically.  I have seen our day to day life, I realize that what we have been doing is not what has healed her. 

I am reminded of this verse: "He must increase, but I must decrease" (john 3:30)

How wonderful that God still has grace especially when we have done nothing. Then it becomes obvious that it is Him and His mercy and not our own workings.

We are lazy and undeserving of such praise, because it is clear we have done nothing to make Anna beautiful and have a healthy brain, but it is Jesus who is alive! 

This is everybody’s story in its own way… we all are damaged! But unlike Anna’s injury, WE have caused the damage; and even though we sit around lazily hoping to make it to heaven on our own goodness, when in reality we are drifting blindly into hell, Jesus sees us!

He sees our depravity and our despair and He still offers Himself in place of what we rightfully deserve.  The only thing that can save us is His atonement, His redemption, His goodness. When He saves, it is obvious that it is only Him saving, because there is no way we can take any credit if we are declared righteous, because when we look back on all the laws we have broken, we see that we truly are not righteous, but HE IS! 

So, this I have learned through Annalise’s healing (among other things): 

The Lord sees what is broken; and when we are especially undeserving of His reaching down to save & heal & teach, that is when His glory shines, because He shows us that it is not us that strive and are “good”, who do all the right things, or pray all the right ways, it is HIM who forgives and works and loves. Only He can heal us!

"...for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure"  Phil. 2:13

"...There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one."    Romans 3:10-12