The birthday recap and the finishing touch on the miracle

A year ago last Saturday about 100 people were in the Cathedral in Peoria, asking for Archbishop Sheen's intercession and beggin God to miraculously heal my son.

But this past Saturday about 60 people gathered at our parish for a Mass of Thanksgiving. 

I kept thinking, "how can we ask God for anything if we are not prepared to properly thank Him when He gives it to us."  We asked for a miraculous healing - I believe that's what He gave us.

THANK BE TO GOD!

And then we went to the church hall to continue the celebration. 

A potluck lunch.

70+ friends and family

A very cute birthday boy

Who was also very tired.  He barely ate his cake - he mostly just played with it and rubbed the frosting on his face and in his hair.

I still remember sitting in his NICU room with his feeding therapist more-or-less telling me that he probably wouldn't be able to have cake at his first birthday because he'd probably be eating through a tube the rest of his life.

It was something I had to mourn, but in the end God let him have cake.

I am also honored to say that James' birthday guests generously gave to two seperate collections we took up, in lieu of gifts.  $640 was donated for the Children's Hospital of Illinois and $195 was donated to the Sheen Foundation to help fund the canonization of Archbishop Sheen.

Lastly, tomorrow some friends, my three kids, and I will be making a pilgrimage to mark the anniversary of Archbishop Sheen's ordination. 

I will be praying for the "last" bit of the healing to be finished.  We recently saw James' feeding therapist, who said he eats like a 4-6 month old.  We actually will never know if James was born with this problem (some "normal" kids are) or if it's a result of his traumatic birth, or if it's because of his body being put on pause for 3 days with the cooling therapy.  Also, she strongly believes that he WILL be able to eat and drink normally as he ages, but that she fears he will be a slow learner and that he'll never be able to take thin liquid from a bottle. 

Tomorrow I will ask God to fix James' swallowing. 

Would you please pray with me?

I will again be asking for the good bishop's intercession.

 

Eternal Father, You alone grant us every blessing in Heaven and on earth, through the redemptive mission of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, and by the working of the Holy Spirit.

If it be according to Your Will, glorify Your servant, Fulton J. Sheen, by granting the favor I now request through his prayerful intercession - that James Fulton's body heals and functions normally and that he is spared any brain damage. I make this prayer confidently through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Thank you for your prayers and support!