It’s hard to believe it was time to load up and make the trek to Alabama again.  But it was time for Cole’s scheduled check up for the year, which also served as his pre-op appointment.  So we hit the road for Montgomery – grateful to see Dr. Killian at his office there and at least save a little extra time and mileage on the road.  And it was beneficial for me as well to do a site visit for our Mission Montgomery team that will launch out later this summer.

So for yet another time, Cole climbed up onto the x-ray table to give the doctor a look at what is taking place on the inside.  We are amazed each time at God’s faithful hand of healing on his hip.  The x-rays continued to show progress and some concern.  Progress in that the hip bone is continuing to grow back and there is only a small section of the old bone that is dying and being pushed out for the remainder of the new growth.  The area of concern was the size of the injured hip which as it is growing back is considerably larger than his other hip.  However, Dr. Killian reassured us that this was ok and no need to worry.

Cole has been experiencing pain in his legs most days, especially as he lays down to sleep at night.  We haven’t known if this has been his usual activity level (recess, PE, playing with friends and baseball) or maybe a problem with his new shoes that don’t have a lift.  But again, we were reassured that this is likely just a part of the process.

As for surgery preparations, everything is looking good and on schedule for his next surgery which will take place this summer in Birmingham.  Even though we knew this day was coming, surgery still isn’t a word that we like to hear or speak.  But it is time to open his hip back up and take out the hardware.  No more setting off metal detectors for this guy.  Cole will have his plate and six screws removed.

It’s hard to believe that it has almost been two years from his initial surgery.  He has come such a long way and we are incredibly grateful to God for His healing hand on Cole’s life and guidance of our family on this journey.  And even with the next surgery, we know we still do have a long way to go.  But His past faithfulness serves as a strong foundation that we will continue to stand on.

Thanks again for following us, praying for us and supporting us on this journey.  It has been marked by pain, but Cole has found, and so has our family, that growth through pain truly does lead to gain.  I’m reminded of these words from the book of James, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2–4).  God in His lovingkindness sends His children trials in order, ultimately, to make us perfect and complete.  We see this pattern throughout Scripture and can attest to it in our own lives.  So we press on, knowing Jesus it at work growing us through the pain.