Answering a prayer: Injured tot smiles, laughs, wiggles toes and fingers
Published: December 20, 2005
Lisa Wenger and her family will never forget the morning of Dec. 9.
Prior to that day, Wenger’s 21-month-old daughter, Prayer — who was diagnosed in July with anoxic brain damage and cerebral hypoxia after she accidentally fell into the family’s swimming pool and nearly drowned — was motionless for more than four months.
“After the accident, she was very stiff. Her arms were always straight out and she didn’t move. She never blinked, moved her mouth to talk or anything. She couldn’t move her legs,” Wenger said, adding doctors have determined that Prayer’s mental state since her accident on July 18 is equivalent to that of a baby still in the womb.
Following her release in August from Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Prayer was unable to show signs of emotion or move her limbs.
That all changed on Dec. 9, when Wenger and her husband, Michael, along with their 5-year-old daughter, Faith, received an early Christmas present they will cherish forever.
That morning, Prayer greeted her parents with a smile for the first time since before the accident. She began to wiggle her fingers and toes. Prayer even laughed when her mother tickled her chin. On that day, a small amount of normality was restored. Wenger said Prayer has remained responsive since that morning.
“It was the smile of an angel. When her eyes looked at me, it was wonderful. It was as if God had told her today is the day for you to see your family. It was magical,” Wenger said. “A piece of heaven was on earth that day.”
Prayer’s nurse, Roseann Cutler, said the family is even relieved to see the baby cry.
“Before she was doing nothing. We had no idea how she felt. When I saw her smile that morning, I’d already gotten my Christmas present,” Cutler said. “Prayer is very expressive now.”
Wenger expects Christmas to be a lot smoother than Thanksgiving, when Prayer survived yet another frantic scare. On Nov. 10, Prayer suffered from respiratory distress and was taken back to Hershey Medical Center for eight days. Within eight hours of her return home on Nov. 18, she had again undergone breathing complications and was rushed to Chambersburg Hospital. From Nov. 19 to 26, Prayer stayed at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
“It was like she was dying before our very eyes. Her EEG had shown that she has not had any seizures, which was a relief. God is truly amazing. We are blessed,” Wenger said.
The family maintains high spirits through Prayer’s illness with the support of Waynesboro and other communities throughout Franklin County. Wenger said her family has received anonymous donations every day
since Prayer’s accident this summer. In fact, the Wengers have 40 presents nestled under their Christmas tree from people they have never met.
“We’ve received a 28-pound turkey for our Christmas dinner. An anonymous family at Faith’s school (St. Andrew School) is paying her monthly $200 fee for her to go to school. People have held all sorts of donations for Prayer,” Wenger said. “It’s truly amazing how this community has rallied around Prayer. And it’s not just during the holidays, it’s all year long. God has been answering our prayers.”
The Wengers also receive daily food donations. Waynesboro community members have spearheaded efforts to establish a “Prayer for Prayer” wristband fund-raising program. Last week, members of the fund-raising committee presented the family with a check for $8,650. The money will be used toward Prayer’s medical expenses.
“The bracelets were sold in communities including Hagerstown (Md.) and Greencastle. People everywhere have been so kind and giving,” Wenger said.
Prayer receives bi-weekly medical treatment from a physical therapist, visionary specialist, speech therapist, developmental specialist and occupational therapist. She also takes 12 different medicines each day and is fed through a feeding tube in her stomach. Wenger said doctors expect Prayer to swallow food on her own when she turns 4.
Prayer’s most recent EEG has shown no signs of dead brain cells, which Wenger says is a good indication she will have a chance at a normal life.
“Slowly, she’s coming back to the way she was,” Cutler said. “Is she walking or playing or moving consistently? Not yet. But, she’s still making huge improvements.”
Prayer is hooked up to a monitor when she sleeps that tracks her oxygen level and heart rate.
“She still can’t breathe on her own. Her oxygen level should be at 90 or above,” Cutler said.
Because Prayer has shown a fascination with the family’s Christmas tree, Wenger said the tree will remain in the living room for the entire year.
“She loves the lights on the tree. Her eyes just light up when she sees it. We’ll decorate the tree for holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day and Valentine’s Day,” Wenger said.
The Wengers will spend Christmas morning in church and will open gifts as a family during the afternoon. They plan to have a big feast on Christmas Eve, and will eat soups and sandwiches on Christmas Day in honor of disadvantaged families throughout the nation. Wenger said the family will spend Christmas night donating food to eight disadvantaged families in Franklin County.
“We know of eight families who are in need. We know two boys who lost their mother a few months ago. We want to give back just like people have so generously given to us,” Wenger said.
Wenger hopes Prayer will brighten Christmas Day with yet another “gorgeous smile.”
“We’re all hoping she will smile on that day,” Wenger said. “But even if she doesn’t, it’s OK. We’re just glad to have her here because she wasn’t here on Thanksgiving.”
If you enjoyed this good news Subscribe to Good News Blog
Share this
To share this simply copy and paste one of the below URL's: