A special chair

When Joshua was admitted to the Pediatric floor...and then the PICU, we were blessed in many unexpected ways. Once when John was telling one of his nurses about how Joshua was in the process of getting a wheelchair but it would be awhile, she asked what he thought about a wheelchair there in his room. John said it fit him pretty well (he is a physical therapist BTW) actually, just needed a few adjustments. She said, "would you like to have it?"  We were touched, and she went on to say that it had been donated by a family whose son had passed away....in the hopes that a child who needed it could use it. 

 At the time, not knowing all he would go through, we were excited and thought maybe this was a blessing of having to go into the hospital.  Then he continued to quickly decline....and nearly died, several times. So we didn't think he would even get to use that chair after all. 

THEN miracles began to happen and his body, once shutting down, began to respond as people prayed.  (I remember thinking how incredible that he was HERE in the U.S., where he could receive medical treatment, and where his life was considered valuable to save...these things were not so where he came from)

When he was  strong enough to get a trach and not be intubated/sedated anymore, there came a day when John called me via Tango (video call) and there he was sitting in the green wheelchair!....
wearing only a diaper and with IV's and tubes connected to a ventilator.....but he was sitting up!  It was a big moment. Wish I had that picture. 
As he got stronger, he spent more time in the wheelchair...which he loved!  We got to take him on brief walks on the pediatric floor with his ventilator, oxygen and equipment.   He loved the new sights a , d cheers from the nurses.  Then, one glorious day, we took him down the escalator and OUT the door of the hospital to take him outside for a walk. You should've seen how he smiled and laughed as he felt the breeze for the first time in MONTHS and saw sunlight.  I'll never forget that day.

Then of course was the best of all--the day he came home!. At home he'd go in his wheelchair a few times a day and to his favorite place--outside! He worked on getting stronger, learned to breathe on his own again, and said goodbye to his trach.  And he has been GROWING out of that chair!   

Today, just over a year to the day  that he went into the hospital,  and we were so graciously offered to use that chair, he is BACK TO HIS HAPPY self , and a few weeks ago.....

HE GOT HIS OWN custom fit wheelchair!  

This one will last him for years, had many of the same great features, and we have a lap tray (the OT in me made sure about that one) so he can keep his arms in front of him to play, instead of flopping down to the side, and it even has a shade we can put on--which will be great for outdoor trips, which he loves.

Still,  I will miss that green chair.

Praying that God is going to bless another child that sits in the green wheelchair in an amazing way too!