Jeremiah 29:11 is a popular and often quoted bible verse : 11″ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
It has been a favorite of mine for many years, not just standing on it’s own but in the greater story of scripture. It is God’s promise to fully redeem his people, it is told to them in the middle of a terrible circumstances and scripture records that God does ultimately fully save and redeem. It became especially significant yesterday when Chuck came home and reported something really awesome! Below I have copied and pasted Chuck’s Facebook post to one of our Ketogentic Diet groups.
I just had an amazing God experience. In addition to being a Doose Dad, I teach at the University of Kansas. One of the classes I teach is in the Leadership Studies Minor. The LSM is a group of the best and brightest from across campus, all kids who are very involved on campus and who have stellar grades. Of those we have a select group who we have in an independent study, in essence the best of the best and brightest. So, yesterday I was meeting with them going over some projects we had coming up and one girl asked if we needed a baby sitter, I said yes but our son has severe epilepsy just so she would be aware. All 4 kids said they either had epilepsy or had at least one seizure. Two of the kids had severe epilepsy, one Juvenile myoclonic – she is on Keppra, the other, Danny Sanchez, had the same thing Gabriel has. 18 years ago after 14 drugs his mom took him to a then experimental trial at Johns Hopkins for the Keto Diet. Below I link to some news stories about Danny and his mom.
I was having a hard time not breaking down knowing that this kid who was at one point having more than 100 seizures a day was not not only in college but thriving. I know it doesn’t mean that Gabriel will be able to go to college etc, but It was a powerful glimpse of hope for me.
Also, while we struggle constantly to stay up with the demands of the Diet. Danny’s mom was doing it back in the day before computers allowed for quick calculations of precise gram measurements, and dieticians were available down the street not across the country. All Keto Parents deserve some sort of Saint Hood, if I do say so myself lol, but Danny’s mom all the more so.
AMAZING! Thank you God for this conversation and putting these students in Chuck’s life at the right time, to have the right conversation. Not to get too theological but I believe sometimes God orchestras things perfectly for us (I don’t know or understand why everyone moment isn’t that way…maybe we just need to watch closer for His presence in our lives, I don’t know). Beyond just the seizures Gabriel has A LOT to overcome physically and developmentally. What hope it gives us to hear of a bright college student who has overcome the same thing our little guy is fighting right now! We especially loved that this young man reported having NO memory of being on the diet! So amazing to think the burden and pain of this time will not be Gabriel’s to bear at all 🙂
Another bible verse about Hope that I love is Romans 5:5
“and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us”
Amazing, indeed!
I LOVE this. Thank you for sharing hope. I would love to hear more about how Danny overcame challenges. What kind of therapies were involved? This may not be something that this young man wants plastered over the internet, but perhaps he could write something that could be shared on the Doose yahoo group or through email. I know we are all desperate for a glimpse of the future. Thank you for sharing.
Nice story!
That is very awesome 🙂 Hope is always important and you three got a good dose of that from these students.
God surely orchestrated this post for me to read as encouragement today! I have a son healing, by God’s grace, from MAE on the Keto diet. He is delayed and is struggling with learning his letters and letter sounds, numbers, etc. I know by God’s grace alone he will be exactly what God wants him to be, but as a Mom you can’t help but want him to excel in life. At least be literate! I want him to be able to read God’s Word and know him through scripture someday. I want to be able to teach him how to read. Praise be to God, Eli has been seizure free for a year and 3 months! I have witnessed a God given miracle, but lately all I have been focusing on his his delay’s. I have been encouraged greatly that His plan is always best and I can rest in Him because I Hope in Jesus! MAE will not always be his title, He just might have the title of college graduate someday! Thank you so much for encouraging me! Giving hope is a gift!
Susanne! Thank you for your comment! My hope and prayer for our blog is that God will use it to help, encourage, inspire others through our story! I totally understand about focusing on the delays. I constantly remind myself to focus on well our little guy is doing and what a miracle it is to have seizure control! It is clear that you are raising him in a way that God’s word will reside in His heart! Praying with you for continued learning!