This news is too good to leave buried in a comment.

Time out for a note of thanks. Thanks to all those of you who visit here and prayed for my granddaughter Julie.

I followed her dad Pete to the hospital through the snow on Jan 5 2008. She had passed out and fallen down the stairs in her house. She was diagnosed and confirmed with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. This disease is a progressive illness. The doctor shocked us with that diagnosis and told us she may have 2 days, 2 months, 2 years to live. We were devastated.

Today my fingers are cramped from keeping them crossed. Julie’s schoolmates and her church along with people we don’t even know, collected money and sent her and the family to Lourdes, France. Like many of you they all prayed for her. After the trip to Lourdes, Julie's health has improved dramatically. I credit all of you and all your prayers. Mary's Son is being very gentle with our Julie.

They took away her wheel chair, and her oxygen. The told her to stop taking all but one of her meds (they were the kind of pills that destroy body parts but keep you alive for now) They let her take that last med until she ran out and discontinued it.

All she takes now is vitamins.

Tonight was her brother Petie's 11th birthday. On the way to her house we stopped to talk to Peter and Julie out in the circle.

They were on their skateboards playing. The party was great. Big Pete (Sergeant Pete USMCR) has my old pull up bar in his back yard. It was great to watch Julie and her cousin Emily doing a pull up or two, and playing soccer in the dark in the yard.

Now we pray prayers of thanksgiving. Of course none of us lives forever, but for now we have out Julie back. For whatever number of good days we have with her .... we will always be grateful.

For now things are frankly ..... very normal.

Thanks to those of you who offered prayers and support.