giving thanks anyways

Well, we learned more about Caleb's situation just before Thanksgiving this year. The doctor called to tell us the results of yet more tests that they did on my son recently. I just expected her to say that they all came back negative again. Only she didn't. They found something. This excited me because I want desperately to be able to explain why my kid is not healthy and has so many delays. However, after the initial excitement of finding out that my son has "shortened telomeres," I soon discovered that that's pretty bad news. I want to say really bad news but I must not forget that God is in control and that this "news" didn't surprise him, so how bad can news really be? I trust Him. So what are shortened telomeres, you ask? Good question! I'm trying to research it but I'm still about as clear as mud on all of it. My Taiwanese friend said it's like the plastic tips at the end of shoelaces, protecting the DNA from breaking down. As we age our telomeres shorten naturally, but you wouldn't expect to see them shortened in a two year old. Medically speaking it means a shortened life expectancy and a high risk for cancers. I say medically speaking because my God is the great physician and nothing that is written on google or in my doctor's handbooks is written in stone for the life of my little boy. I trust Him. Well, now that we know he has shortened telomeres, now what? Now the doctors are seeking approval from insurance to do further genetic testing based on this new information. I hate to even write it but the disorder that would most closely match his symptoms is called Dyskeratosis Congenita. I don't want to go into all the details here but it's a grim prognosis to say the least. Please Lord, no! And yet I know that if that's what it is He will walk with me through it. I trust Him. People say that being thankful is a choice and that choosing gratitude brings Joy. It all sounds cliche until you're dealing with a bunch of bad news the week of Thanksgiving. But it's true. I can choose joy by focusing on what I'm thankful for, and right at the top of my list is: each and every day with my sweet boys. As parents we never know how much time we will have to enjoy our children here on this earth, whether they come with a diagnosis or not. So I choose to cherish each day and I choose to have a grateful heart. After all, I trust Him.