July 18, 2006
Job 37:1-5
At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place. Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, the the rumbling that comes from his mouth. He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth. After that comes the sound of the roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back. Gods voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.
Back to work - it's Monday. Whitney asked her team of therapists if she could cut down on her rest time during the day so she could build endurance, so today was her first full day with no built in rest breaks. She wants so badly to get stronger but we have learned not only does her body need rest to heal but her brain also needs the rest to heal. We continue to learn how "fearfully and wonderfully"(Psalms 139:14)God made us and how Whitney's body and brain are healing.
Whitney worked on stretching her elbow for range of movement . To work with her fine moter skills she is using her artistic side with some craft projects. Whitney is also starting to work on some back to school skills so they had her looking up phone numbers and addresses. To get her out into the community, she actually got to go to a museum. By the time we leave here, Whitney will probably be smarter and more well rounded than before the accident:)
After therapy was over we ate dinner and watched a little TV to relax then believe it or not we went shopping. Whitney has been living in gym shorts and T shirts since the accident and it was time to get a new pair of jeans and a couple of shirts. For those of you who know Whitney, know that she doesn't like to shop,so she gave us an hour and we were sucessful and she looks GREAT.
The evening ended with a magnificent display of Gods power in nature with a lightning and thunder storm. The curtian was open so the girls could see the storm as they fell asleep. It is great to love, serve, be protected by such a powerful God.
Love, Whitney's mom
At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place. Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, the the rumbling that comes from his mouth. He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth. After that comes the sound of the roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back. Gods voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.
Back to work - it's Monday. Whitney asked her team of therapists if she could cut down on her rest time during the day so she could build endurance, so today was her first full day with no built in rest breaks. She wants so badly to get stronger but we have learned not only does her body need rest to heal but her brain also needs the rest to heal. We continue to learn how "fearfully and wonderfully"(Psalms 139:14)God made us and how Whitney's body and brain are healing.
Whitney worked on stretching her elbow for range of movement . To work with her fine moter skills she is using her artistic side with some craft projects. Whitney is also starting to work on some back to school skills so they had her looking up phone numbers and addresses. To get her out into the community, she actually got to go to a museum. By the time we leave here, Whitney will probably be smarter and more well rounded than before the accident:)
After therapy was over we ate dinner and watched a little TV to relax then believe it or not we went shopping. Whitney has been living in gym shorts and T shirts since the accident and it was time to get a new pair of jeans and a couple of shirts. For those of you who know Whitney, know that she doesn't like to shop,so she gave us an hour and we were sucessful and she looks GREAT.
The evening ended with a magnificent display of Gods power in nature with a lightning and thunder storm. The curtian was open so the girls could see the storm as they fell asleep. It is great to love, serve, be protected by such a powerful God.
Love, Whitney's mom
posted by ncerak | 10:04 AM
23 Comments:
Praise God for Whitney and your family! Thank you for sharing God's love with all of us!
It happened again. I read in the British Medical Journal that an Austrian couple kept a five month vigil beside a comatose teenager...only to have him wake up speaking a foreign language--he was their son's friend. The article also made reference to Whitney's story.
I remember during our 8 o'clock together first semester, Whit would always ask me why I woke up so early to shower before class? She of course, would come fresh out of bed, it was a good day if she put on jeans ;)
She is doing so awesome!!! I cannot wait to see Whit back at school! Whit, you are such an encouragement to us all, I am so glad to hear you are doing so well!!!! You are all still in our prayers! Keep up the hard work!!
To combatgal....do you have a link to the article you are referring to in the British Medical Journal ? I would love to read it.
Thanks.
An amazing display the thunder and lightning were last night. I presume Whit has electricity to see while she works hard at her therapy today. My morning was quite eventful without it. One thing you never consider when you buy a house...how to open a garage door w/out the opener. Guess I'll figure that out tonight in the dark! Luckily I carpool and it wasn't my day to drive! I am not a morning person and am always shooting out the door at the last minute. I miss the days of college when I could show up in flannel pants to class. Corporate jobs need to be that fun!
Here is the best link possible.
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/extract/332/7555/1410-b
Wow, we'd love to see a picture. Are you allowed to post one of Whitney as she makes progress?? I understand if you can't, but thought I'd ask.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/06/25/waustria25.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/06/25/ixnews.html
This could be the article you are looking for about the Austrian couple and the comatose teenager.
Here's the article:
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/extract/332/7555/1410-b
I did a Google search and ended up at this web address : http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/extract/332/7555/1410-b
as far as the story in the British Medical Journal - I could "extract" part of the story, would have had to pay to get more of it, the portion I found does mention Whitney.
Good afternoon from Indpls. I am writing because I have been reading Whitney's story from the beginning. I have a friend who, like Whitney, went through a tragic car accident only to lose his legs. He has battled infection, losing his legs, and painful therapy sessions. Only to come out ahead of the game. He has a new set of legs and has worked his way up to driving. Like you Whiteny, he has been touched by the healing hand of our good Lord, Jesus Christ. Who if we believe only gives us so much of what we can handle. Not to mention the strength and determination to succeed. I believe that you are an example of Christ in the way you are leading your recovery. Faith will move mountains!! So, from Indpls and abroad we wish you the very best in your recovery. Keep posting your blog as it is truly a remarkable story and an encouraging one for others to follow. God bless and God speed, take care of yourself and your family.
Hello to the Cerak family.
I am "A Taylor Mom".
I have read this blog from the very first day that it was created. I think I have only posted a comment, perhaps only once or twice.
I read your updates every day. I come to the site several times a day to read other people's comments. I'm not sure why I haven't posted before or more often. It is definitely NOT because I don't think about you or because I don't pray for you. I DO !
I am from Marion, IN (neighbor city of Upland,IN). My son is a 2005 graduate of Taylor University.
He knows who your daughters are...just doesn't really know them enough to call them 'friends'.
We also are friends w/ Kara Gearhart, who is a friend of Whitney's.
We have been touched by your story and as I said before, we have been & are faithful followers of your story & updates.
Thank you for your inspirational words each day. Thank you for seeking God's word & applying it to your daily lives. Thank you for allowing all of us "readers" to have insight into your personal daily lives. You all truly are God's messengers. Thank you for being obedient to Him.
Much love & many prayers are lifted up for you, the Cerak family, as well as the other families that were stricken w/ the tragedy of the accident.
Lovingly,
A Taylor Mom
We were behind Newell at Arby's Sunday and my kids said, there is Whitney's dad, I wanted to holler out to tell Whitney Hi for us and we love reading the updates from her progress but didn't :) Yes Whitney, your dad had Arby's for lunch ;)
HI I of course heard about what happened to Whitney on the news. I saw an article from her memorial service where you said you would give your child to bring one person to Christ. I want you to know that I am at least one of those people. I watch the way you love your daughter and the kindness, faith, hope, and love you surrond her with. Your unending faith has really inspired be to go back to church and to teach my two year old daughter the ways of the Lord. Thank you and best of luck
Love you guys and are continuing to pray for you.
Whit and family
I have seen where the hyperbaric oxygen therapy has helped different people. You might want to check into it. I am amazed at everything you have accomplished. Whit I hope you are journaling everyday because this will not only encourage you, but will also help you to continue to remember each day's activities. Everyone of you and those who are working with you are uplifted in prayer. I continue to say that those in Upland are upholding the "chosen five" families in prayer and all of you. I am looking forward to that letter that says Whit is home, and that will be a day of rejoicing for everyone. God Bless and continue to have a wonderful day.
love as always in Christ
Haha, Whitney sounds ALOT like me. You literally have to drag me to go shopping, and you're lucky if you get more than a half an hour out of me without me just taking a seat on the floor! I'm glad that she's doing so well and progressing so much! God Bless!
To God be the glory, great things He has done!
When the time is right and Whitney has totally recovered we hope she will write a book or an article so that everyone on the planet can know that we have a prayer-answering, miracle - working God who brought His child through the storm! We rejoice with those who do rejoice and we weep with those who weep. May God continue to give
strength and comfort to the families who mourn the loss of their loved ones.
And may God be praised for the progess that Whitney is making each
day!
Keep looking up! Keep pressing on!
Jim & Edna
Ceraks, keep up the wonderful posts!! Whitney, I know how you feel I hate shopping as well ugh! Hang in there! Love and Hope out of Gas City IN
Today when i was driving in my car i heard the Casting Crowns song that was played during Whitney's slideshow- it almost gave me goosebumps to think of this wonderful miracle. Hope you guys come home soon!
I find myself reading your blog to get my daily dose of the word of Christ. What a truly wonderful story to have to read and follow. Your progress and determination just makes me want to scream from the top of a mountain to all below - believe in the Lord and he will rescue you. God bless you Whitney and your family. Good luck!!
I am a mother of 4 from Central Texas. My oldest, was in a major car accident 6 yrs ago and is a walking miracle himself (he is now 24). Someone ran a red light going 70mph in a 50mph zone. Praise GOD for him being 100% today! To God be the Glory!
But the main thing I am writing about is to say.... I do not personally know you Whitney, or your family. But I am a Christian and love the scriptures and updates y'all write to us.
I just wanted to take a moment and ask you Whitney.... if you have heard the song, "You Raise Me Up,"??? (The version that Josh Groban does.) It is a very uplifting and moving song. The words are absolutely wonderful and for some reason, I just think of you, Whitney, and your relationship with the Lord when I hear it.
I know it makes me think of my relationship with the Lord too! The words are so true. God is great!!!
Glad to hear of the wonderful progress you are making Whitney. Hang in there. My son went through 3 yrs of surgeries and is fine now! And I thank God everyday for this.
As a nearly seven-year survivor of head trauma (ruptured brain aneurysm and complications following brain surgery to clip the aneurysm), I want to attest to God's awesome mercy and healing.
I also want to offer some things to you, Whitney, that I learned during my long recovery.
I was in the hospital for nearly a month. When I got home, I was determined to get completely well on my own. I didn't want my family to worry about me anymore, so for the first month or so after I got home, I kept a lot of scary feelings locked up inside me. There were times when I felt exhausted and overwhelmed by the recovery process. I was filled with anxiety over what had happened to me. I'm ashamed and embarrassed to admit that many times I asked, "Why me?" to our Great Physician, our loving Father in Heaven, our very God who had saved my life. The nerve of me! I felt such guilt and confusion for having those feelings. How could I be so filled with joy at being alive, so thankful to Him for giving me my life back, so close to Him in daily prayer and reflection, so sure that He had me in His loving arms but at the same time be so scared and confused?
Whitney, when I had those crummy times of feeling exhuasted, scared, and sorry for myself, I finally learned that those were exactly the times I most needed to hold on even tighter to God, to my family, to my friends, and to my doctors. I could not get better on my own after leaving the hospital. I still needed help; most especially I needed God's help. Lean on Him, Whitney. He will catch you each and every time you need Him.
God continue to bless and bless you and your family as you make the amazing and awesome recovery that you're making.
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