Caila's 16th Birthday!!!!!

originally written December 27, 2017 :) 

Caila….

Just a fair warning that this post will most likely be long and full of verbal ramblings….

You guys. This girl right here is my hero. Caila. If you do not know about her check out previous blogs. Caila is the reason I originally “moved” to Respire in January 2015. Originally, I came to help with Caila’s rehab and then had the idea that I would move onto the next thing when she no longer needed direct rehab. The plan was somewhat as follows: I come to Respire, travel to the states with Caila for rehab, travel back to Haiti with Caila and assist in her rehab until she is independent as a paraplegic. Well as independent as she could achieve at the time. Clearly, I was wrong in that plan and Caila’s life story did not involve her being paralyzed for the remainder of her journey here on Earth. God definitely had greater plans. God used Caila and her story to build much more than anyone could have ever imagined. Caila is the reason a therapy clinic exists at Respire. Caila is the reason MANY children and adults have received much needed therapy services. You know that scripture that says God will work all things out for the good…(insert scripture references)…well, Caila is a perfect example of His promise. Just a quick recap for those who do not know Caila and her story….

Caila experienced progressive scoliosis. Rapidly, the curvature of her spine progressed and surgical intervention was urgent. In the spring of 2014, the team at Respire worked fervently to get Caila to the states. She was accepted for treatment at Shriner’s hospital in Philadelphia. This in itself was a God given miracle. Caila received surgery to correct a severe scoliosis on July 31, 2014. BUT….surgery did not go as planned. Caila’s spine presented with more severity than originally expected. The amount of compression and damage to nerves was more severe than realized. After her surgery, Caila had a straighter spine and her ability to breath had improved; however she was paralyzed from the waist down. I experienced the blessing of being written into Caila’s story in late December 2014 when I agreed to join the team at Respire to assist in Caila’s rehabilitation…and in early January 2015 I headed to Gressier to move into my new digs within Respire housing. Three weeks after that, my journey with Caila took off. February 7, 2015, Caila and I hopped onto a plane heading to the states for what was supposed to be a 4-5 week journey. During this time, Caila was to receive follow-up doctor’s appointments and work towards becoming an independent paraplegic. But God. He had other plans for her life. The FIRST week of therapy Caila stood putting weight through her legs with the assistance of 1-2 therapists. The FIRST week of therapy, with the assistance of two therapists, she took her first steps. Plans for Caila rapidly changed…a 4-5 week journey turned into an eight week journey. Just Caila and I, by ourselves 24/7. We had amazing experiences….but we also had bad days and hard times. The good days though…they were good and took away any difficult moment. We experienced many tears, a lot of sweat, and whole lot of laughter. She was an expert at escaping and hiding, she became a pro at staring contests and was an even better statue with zero movements when she was angry. She also became an expert at sneaking up on me and scaring my half to death. But her loud, contagious laughter that quickly followed took away any frustration or anger…. 

Now 3.5 years later, Caila walks with no assistance, no orthotics. She is able to run for short periods of time; however does not like to do so. She walks up and down the mountain quicker than I do and finds it hilarious to actually pull me by my arm on the way down. She continues to be an expert at scaring me and running and hiding from me….and she continues to become a statue when she does not want to complete a task; however she also continues to brighten even my darkest days just by being her. Caila is difficult at times. She is stubborn. She is strong-willed. But she just has a presence about her that can brighten a room. And that strong will and stubbornness got her to where she is today. 

Caila is quiet and shy and many have never heard her voice. But she does not need spoken words to display her strength and her courage. That has been shown in her countless hours of hard work towards regaining strength and mobility. You see. During times that I would have definitely given up, she just powered through. During times that she was purely exhausted, she completed “just one more”. During every 4 hour catheterization requirement and medications 3 times a day and nightly bowel programs and hours of therapy daily, she simply just rolled with it and powered through.

December 24th marked Caila’s 16th birthday. That’s right, she’s 16 now!! It doesn’t seem possible that she is already 16 years old. But she is and in the past 3.5 years she has overcome more than anything most of us will ever have to experience. 

Caila is strong. She does not even realize how much courage or strength she has. And she definitely does not realize how blessed I have been and continue to be on a daily basis because God miraculously placed her in my life. I know many others can say the same thing. She also does not realize that God has used her to build an entire therapy program/clinic that has provided services to so many. Through her God created a place of hope and love and care…a place of encouragement and empowerment. All because of one girl and one story. God is good. One day, I pray that Caila realizes all of this. That she knows her worth in Christ and that her personality just continues to blossom. I pray that one day, the world will know the quiet, shy girl that overcame so many obstacles with grace and selflessness and zero pride….a girl who changed her community. 

I want to add before I wrap this all up….that God graciously placed Shriners Hospital into Caila’s life (and mine). In the beginning of my rambling, I mentioned how Shriners accepting Caila for treatment was a God given miracle. The reality is that many hospitals in the states deny treatment for children from Haiti. This is not because those hospitals or staff do not care or want to help, but it is due to the lack of post-op and post-treatment care available in Haiti. Too many times children have received care in the states only to return to Haiti and disappear…no follow up occurs. Too often this is due to foreigners coming into Haiti to help and then leaving and stepping back into their lives without ever returning to Haiti (I could get on a soapbox with this, but this is not the blog for that). Anyway…Caila’s surgery was a big operation requiring solid aftercare. For this alone, most hospitals would have denied taking on her case. But God knew Shriners was just the place for Caila. Not only did they accept her case, but they provided top notch care…care that continues to be provided. As mentioned previously, Caila is a tough “kid” and does not break down her walls for many. But when I mention any of the staff at Shriners, a big smile overtakes her face. This is huge. And in all honesty, the staff at Shriners helped me through the initial 2 months in 2015. Without their amazing support and care, neither Caila or I would have made it through those 2 months as well as we did. On top of being amazing while we are in Philly, any time we have a concern or question, the staff is responsive and willing to assist in anyway possible from afar. We could not have asked for a better place of treatment for Caila and she always looks forward to her yearly visits to Shriners…and so do I. The hospital and staff have been a huge blessing and will forever be in our hearts... 

Sixteen year old Caila has accomplished more in her life more than most those 5 times her age can fathom. Sixteen year old Caila has had a greater impact on others’ lives than any of us will ever have. God has given her a story of hardship and difficulties but through all of that, she has been the walking image of mercy and grace and God’s divine intervention. Just imagine….without Caila…my life story would be much different and there would potentially be no therapy program/clinic at Respire and so MANY stories would be much different. Caila is simply amazing. :) 

A few of my favorite pictures....