Memo #2: Fast-Forward

I distinctly remember, in the days after Blythe was first diagnosed, I just couldn’t wait for it to be two years later. I didn’t want to be stressed by the unknown, the labels, the counting, the trial and error. I just wanted to fast-forward.

Obviously we don’t get to click a button and jump around in time, but two years did go by. And I was right. It was so much easier. Gone were the days of stressing about every calorie that entered her mouth. We still had tough days around the holidays, and I felt guilty about how much I looked forward to the vacations with just Blake and I, but life was so much easier.

And now we’re 4.5 years further in time and it’s caught me by surprise. A parent of a child that’s been in school with Blythe since kindergarten was shocked to hear Blythe ate different than the other kids. I could tell she had lots of questions but didn’t know how to ask. I’m a pretty open book, my friends know this about me, so I had no reservations sharing our journey. But what really struck me was how little the diet had been affecting our family recently.

I thought this disease would define her. But Blythe is kindness, she is forgiving, and caring, and so silly and funny without trying. She perseveres and remains positive. She is so much more than this one thing.

There’s no stress about Blythe’s diet any more. There’s no sadness about cooking. And I definitely don’t feel like I have to get away for a break from constantly crunching numbers.

It took 6.5 years to get here, but we made it! And turns out life looks pretty normal.

But with that said, today Blythe asked me about fat and why she can’t have it. I explained that not only can she have it, she HAS to have it for her brain to work! But it’s all a balance and unfortunately she has to keep her fat intake pretty low. We talked about the numbers and what types of food are the most fatty verse the least.

When she’d had enough, she said thanks, smiled, and skipped away. Then came back and said “I’m gonna have a lot more questions about my diet.” So maybe she’s at the beginning of her learning curve. But she’s in good hands. Because with your help, we’ll just keeping praying her through.

Do not fret about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.

-Philippians 4:6