The power of the Lord is working mightily through your prayers, God has given us mercy and continues to move tremendously in Rome.

He has come such a long way since the last update. (I’m so sorry it’s taken so long!) Each week I think about writing an update, and looking back today, each week would have been a different kind of update. There have been ups and downs, but now I believe we are clearly on the path to a wondrous recovery!  

Rome’s body has aches and pain pretty much every day. But to my understanding, that is expected since he was in bed (and not walking) for 8 months. He has a limp, and it’s usually his legs and feet, especially, that gives him trouble. But I believe in time, this too will all be gone and he will be able to walk, run, swim, and surf :) like he did before this trial began.

On a semi-sad note (for the kids, not for me lol), we had to give our dog we had for 7 years, Coconut away. Rome’s breathing issues were acting up again even after he pulled out his feeding tube, got off all the meds, and was eating and walking. I couldn’t figure out what was going on and was stressed out (again). I told him we would have to check back into the hospital. At that point (understandably, not wanting to go back to the hospital!) he told me he had a suspicion for some time that it was Coconut (she’s a poodle and is supposed to be hypoallergenic). So the Mathews (James, Ivy, Noah, and Miya, yes THE Mathews, from Stoa! :) ) gladly took her in while we did a trial period and has since adopted her. We couldn’t think of a better family for Coconut.  We are so grateful the Lord provided them and a simple fix for his breathing issues.

Since the illness Rome was so sad about not being able to surf again, he didn’t ever want to go to the beach, it was torture for him, remembering what he used to be able to do. But we met my parents and sister’s family in Morro Bay recently and it was a catalyst. We were at the beach for a couple of hours and Rome played with his cousins, rolling in the sand and doing things with his body I had not seen before. It was amazing. But then at night, he crashed, big time, and I questioned my decision to bring him there. (Since then, I have learned I need to regulate his physical output). He felt better the next day. Then later that week he asked to go to the beach and try surfing again! Super excited! I told him, just go in the water with your board, for 10 minutes and that would be enough. He was in for 20 minutes (which was also huge because the water was FREEZING COLD.  Holland came back out after a few minutes, after she got Rome started because her feet were numb!). He got up on the board a handful of times! Success. Though we now know, we need to build him up some more before we can head into the water again.

If you could please pray for our good friend 17-year-old Maleah Berg. Like Rome, she went from healthy and active (one of the top Irish Dancers in the nation) to at times confined to a wheelchair. She also went undiagnosed through her seizures, on and off again the ability to walk, and excruciating pain. They now have diagnosed her with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. From that, she also has postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). The doctors here don’t know how to treat her condition (which is life-long) since it is so rare, so they have found a place in Arkansas which can help her manage it. The Bergs are also Believers and homeschoolers. If you would like to know how to pray for her, you can log onto her CaringBridge site and Go Fund Me page:

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/maleahberg2

Maleah Nicole Berg, organized by John Gittisarn

Sorry for the long update, I think I’ll need to do it more often to spare you. :)

THANK YOU for coming alongside us, petitioning on our behalf, and pouring into Rome like he was your own child. You have shown me so much, and I have learned how to love others better, and how to take up the cross for others, as you have done for us. I love you all and am excited to see you again, if not here, then in heaven, our home.

With humble and grateful hearts,

Angie and John

p.s.  I’m posting some pictures, click on the GALLERY icon.