In February of 2004, we learned that Chip and Jamie were expecting another baby! This news brought bitter-sweet emotions and guarded anticipation, since they were still adjusting to the sudden loss of their first-born child, Amber Lynn. But, shortly after Amber's death, the pastor of a small church near Warner Robbins had prophesied over Chip and Jamie that God had another child for them, so the news of a new baby wasn't totally unexpected. While on a trip to visit Jamie's mom, a couple of weeks after Amber's funeral, Chip and Jamie had dropped in on this little church thinking that no one there knew them; but the Holy Spirit of God was there, and during an impromptu altar call, the pastor called them forward, prayed for them, and delivered this prophecy.

After Jacob was born in June of 2000, Chip and Jamie had decided to limit their family to two children, so they could focus more of their attention on Amber with her special needs. But after her death, God opened their hearts to the arrival of a new baby boy on October 18th. For several weeks, I had been concerned about all the shopping trips Jamie had been taking out of Cartersville, because I was afraid she would go into labor and deliver quickly, this being her third child. But, when I cautioned her about this, Jamie told me not to worry because she always took several hours to deliver after she went into labor.

Well, early on the morning of October 18th, Jamie told me she was in labor, so I got dressed and followed them to Cartersville Medical Center. After being put into a delivery room, her labor pains began to suddenly increase, and Jamie asked for an epidural, but the nurse told her she was not far enough along yet, so they would have to wait. Well, five minutes later, Jamie went into a five-minute-long contraction and then had Joshua Liam Cash by natural childbirth! Chip had left the room momentarily to take Jacob down to Cousin Katie's waiting car, where he could be taken away from the frightful scene of mommy in labor pain, and by the time he arrived back on the second floor, he heard screaming as he got off the elevator and wondered who that was! Well, it was Jamie, and Chip and I had to assist the astounded nurse in a very quick delivery!!! Fortunately, at 20" long, Joshua only weighed 7-lbs 1-oz, and he did NOT inherit Papa Ned Cash's skull size (as Jacob did!), or Jamie's natural delivery would have been much more traumatic! So, after about five minutes of hell on earth, Jamie had a healthy baby boy with none of the side effects of an epidural injection, which was a nice benefit, but definitely NOT what she would have chosen, voluntarily!

Once Josh got here, it became clear that Chip and Jamie had birthed another baby boy with size "2" feet! Although his hands and feet are not as broad as Jacob's, they are every bit as long! So, it will be interesting to watch these boys grow up and to find out "who" will be the taller!
Currently, Jacob is off the charts for a four-year-old, and his doctor says he is the height of an average six-year-old! Joshua has long, slender fingers, like his big sister, and looks like he has the hands of a concert pianist. In fact, Chip and Jamie named him for his uncle, Jeremy "Lee" Causey (Jamie's baby brother, who drowned just before his fourth birthday) and his big sister "Amber" by combining their middle names: hence, the name "Liam." His deceased Great Granddaddy Bill Yancey would also be proud that "Liam" is a derivative of William, so he shares his name as well. One thing we are certain of is that his big sister, Amber, must have sprinkled angel dust on Joshua Liam as he left heaven for life here on earth as he is a very special baby. FYI, he'll be dedicated at Mount Paran North on March 6th.

It's hard to believe that Jacob will be starting kindergarten this year! He's also been taking karate classes and has developed the ability to beat me at arm-wrestling already! Also, he is a natural musician, preferring "The Beach Boys" music since birth! And, although Joshua has the hands of a keyboardist, Jacob has the heart and soul of a keyboardist, frequently sitting down at any available keyboard and playing tunes. One day Jamie overheard him telling newborn Joshua, "You're my brother, and when we grow up, we can have a band, and I'll sing and play piano, and you can play guitar, or drums, or whatever you want to play!" Chip and Jamie are very proud of their
boys, and who knows, maybe there'll be another baby or two in their future?!

Shortly after Joshua was born (in fact, the next day,) I had surgery to correct a three-and-a-half-inch, ventral hernia that had formed below my rib cage as a result of some previous abdominal surgery. My sister, Judy, took me to Piedmont Hospital and brought me home the same day. Fortunately, Chip and Jamie were home with Joshua, as I was incompetent to handle much of anything for a few days. This is surgery that should definitely NOT be same-day surgery, but thanks to the insurance companies, many post-ops are sent home way too soon these days.  Chip got first-hand knowledge of "unskilled nursing" as he had to help me in ways he never thought possible!

In early November, we lost heat in our house on Granger Drive, so we called the rental agent and asked that he send someone out to fix it as soon as possible, since we had a three-week-old baby in the house. The temperature outside was in the thirties and was forecasted to drop into the twenties within forty-eight hours, so we were justifiably worried. Also, we had been reporting problems with the heat since we had moved in, but they had never been fixed. Well, to make a long story short, we went for almost a week with no heat because the
property manager refused to fix it! When the City of Cartersville found out about the problem, they sent a building inspector over immediately, and he sent a citation to the rental agent and owner, which got their attention and action, but they still didn't really fix the problem. Instead, they sent over a repairman who basically got the heat back on, but ignored the cause of the failure (i.e. a bad damper), so the heat pump was overloading, shutting off, and operating on the emergency heat strips only (yielding HIGH ELECTRICITY BILLS).

Since we refused to sign a new lease, in light of the problems with the heat, we were forced to vacate in sixty days, so we had to start looking for another house, even though we didn't really want to move. But, despite our worst fears, we found another house about fourteen miles away that is even better than Granger Drive! It has a landscaped lawn, a built-in playground for the boys, a fenced-in back yard, a separate downstairs area for me, and very modern conveniences that the Granger Drive house lacked! We are located about eight miles from Rockmart and love the rural setting, which is also closer for Chip to drive to UPS in Atlanta everyday.

After spending four days in the hospital, I came home to a house full of empty boxes for packing for our move, which we completed by November 30th. Although this was difficult timing for us, we were glad to be in our new home for Christmas, and we are blessed with a new and better landlord, who may even be willing to sell us this house in a couple of years. For the time being, we are happy to be renting and look forward to a happy and prosperous new year.

As many of you will remember, we officially launched Amber's memorial website in 2004, and we invite each of you to revisit it from time-to-time as we add new content. You can find it on the internet at: www.amberlynncash.com.
Please take time to view and sign Amber's Guestbook so we will know you stopped by. And, if you have any special memories of Amber that you would like to share, let me know, and I'll include them on her website.
She is forever in our minds and hearts as we continue our daily lives without the pleasure of her company. 

In closing, I'd like to wish each of you a very prosperous and productive new year. I'm writing the last few words of this newsletter on February 13th, and my thoughts and prayers are with each of you.

Love in Christ,

The holidays are bitter-sweet for us this year as we continue to adjust to the loss of Amber Lynn. In some ways, it seems hard to believe that it’s been over six months since that fateful July 4th weekend; but, in other ways, it seems like an eternity has passed. Regardless of our perspective, it’s accurate to say that we still miss her very much!

We had no idea that 2002 would be Amber’s last Christmas here on earth. In fact, last year, we were in the midst of moving from Smyrna to Cartersville when the holidays arrived, so much of that holiday season was a blur. But, these are pictures we took of Amber next to my Christmas tree in my Cartersville townhome.

Dear Margie,

You have honored me with your story. Thank you. What a triumph is Jesus as He as walked with you through so many valleys and onto the firm ground of His great love. Yes it is true that the best is our testifying to all we have with Him. What a great loss in your granddaughter’s death. I am thankful to hear how Jesus has walked you through this grief. I have prayed for you and your family this a.m. What a journey you have had in your life. 25 surgeries — yikes! — I am thankful for the grace of God to see you through them all! I will look forward to the advent of your book. I applaud your ability to get into print that which you have experienced as a testimony and blessing to others.

Sometimes the Lord’s healing of our lives does not come through the miraculous, but through the journey. God honors the walk we have to the healing. My wife and I have learned so much about his willingness to walk us into healing. We too have had plenty through which to experience the Lord’s healing with sexual abuse and homosexual gender confusion between us in our backgrounds. But how magnificent is His healing and His power and majesty. God is good and able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask, think or imagine according to His power at work within us. We too can testify to his ability to heal and deliver. I remember asking him to just take the homosexual confusion from my heart and he answered: “Child, were I to do so all at once, it would kill you.” The confusion was interlaced in my heart and life so thoroughly. So instead of that instantaneous killing healing, the Lord walked me through facing the pain, dealing with my sin, encountering the memories, forgiving the hurts, and walking in healing relationships which through His love repaired the damage and the pain.

In ‘99 I was at a Dennis Jernigan concert (a Christian singer, do you know him? Wonderful music) and he said, “If anyone is struggling with shame, stand and I’ll sing a song over you.” I thought smugly, “I have not shame to deal with, I’ll just stay seated.” Immediately Jesus showed me a memory that returned with great shame. I stood. And the Lord marched me through many, many memories each with the same kind of shame in different kinds of situations from sexual sin to preaching moments of humiliation, while Dennis sang. In every memory, there was Jesus, the Shepherd, behind me, his hand on my shoulder uprooting the shame. It was a marvelous healing. After a 20 year journey, that night I was delivered from the last of the remnant of shame and He launched me into a path of new healing.

Marvelous is His healing Love.

I will be quoting from part of your testimony in the message on Phil 4:13 – which will be Jan 4th. Since you are writing this into a book, I assume you do not need your name withheld? I am thinking you would want folk to be able to connect to your webpage if they wanted and be able to learn how to get that book when it is published! If I am mistaken, let me know sister!

May the Lord Jesus continue to bless and cause you to discover even more how much you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

My life verse is in the same book chapter 3:12: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

Just think of all that Jesus has dreamed of your life and mine and taken hold of us to achieve that we are walking out! It seems that is Paul’s perspective here. Paul did not want to release that high calling but wanted to run into the fulfillment of it!

Again, God’s best to you. Thank you for your response!

Brian

Unlike my house on Vanessa Drive (where I lived for twenty years in Smyrna), this split-level house has a mother-in-law suite downstairs, equipped with a separate kitchen, living quarters, handicap-friendly entrances, and its own fireplace! We truly love this house and hope that God will enable us to stay here for the long-haul!

 

While we were moving, Chip was reinstated as a UPS driver, so we believe that God must have wanted us back together for the timing of our move to have worked out the way it did. We are now able to share expenses, and we got this house for slightly more than just one of our townhomes was costing us. Also, we realized, through the loss of Amber, just how much we need to be together as a family!

We are encouraged for 2004 as we begin the year with a new family business, ALCME, Inc., which is an acronym for Amber Lynn Cash Memorial Enterprises. We started this business to keep the memory of Amber alive in our day-to-day activities and to allow our memories of her to motivate us to even greater achievement for the future. We feel that by associating our business with Amber's memory that we will be forever bonded to her sweetness and her innocent charm in everything that we do.

So, what is the business of ALCME, Inc.? First, it is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever! Second, our mission is to publish. We feel that it is the duty of over-comers to share their experiences with others, so we will publish websites, books, music, poetry, human interest stories, and testimonials. Third, we will engage in various services and activities for profit. Some of our specialties include: professional and technical writing, website design and hosting, musical composition and performance, management information systems consulting, life skills and career counseling, and motivational speaking. Finally, we will donate our services, talents, and skills to select organizations o­n a not-for-profit basis. At times, we will make cash contributions to these organizations; at other times, we will donate our services at reduced rates or for "free" because we tithe both our time and our money to such organizations, and we offer discounts o­nce our tithe has been met. For those of you who have access to the Internet, our corporate website is located at: http://alcme.com. Be sure and register so we can add you to our email database for family and friends.

This newsletter would be incomplete without my updating you on Jacob. At the rate he’s growing, I’m predicting that he will be at least 6’8” when he’s grown! As most of you know, he was born with size 2 feet and enormous hands; he is also tall and husky, weighing about 50 pounds now! When Amber went to Heaven, Jacob was only two inches shorter than she was, but he weighed more and had bigger feet, even though she was almost two years his senior! He also has gorgeous blue eyes, a charming smile, and an outgoing personality that should carry him far in life. “Jakie J.” (as we call him) is already excited about going to school and tells us he’s going to ride the school bus “alone.” I remember the day Chip went to first grade; he came home and asked “how soon before I can quit?” Fortunately, Jacob seems to have a totally different slant on going to school (thank the Lord!).

2000 has been a year of great blessing for The Cash Family! The year began with a mid-January ice storm and several days without electrical power, but my brother, Clyde, saved the day by bringing us a large, natural gas heater that we quickly connected to the fireplace gas line so we wouldn’t freeze to death. In fact, we were quite cozy sitting in our candle-lit rooms listening to our battery-operated radios. The only real problem we had was adjusting to life without computers and the Internet; but somehow we survived!

Life soon returned to normal and we began to make preparations for a new baby. In February, we started renovating a spare bedroom for Amber so that the new baby could occupy her nursery. Chip and Jamie began by stripping away old wallpaper, painting the molding, and ordering new pink (mauve) carpet. While waiting on the carpet installation, Grandma Margie installed new wallpaper and got Chip to help hang new drapes to match the carpet. Even though we’re NOT PROS when it comes to home renovation, Amber seems to like her new room.

After spending two days in Kennestone Hospital, The Chip Cash Family came home, and Baby Jacob moved into Amber’s old room. Our first impression of Jacob was “what BIG, manly hands and feet he has!” But then, his shrill, high-pitched, “soprano squeal” left us all laughing at the hilarious contrast!

In August, I purchased a family membership to the Atlanta Zoo (actually, they called it a “senior” family membership, which I didn’t appreciate at all!!), and we began to take the kids out to see the Panda Bears, elephants, tigers, apes, etc. Of course, Jacob was too small to enjoy the scenery, but he seemed to enjoy the outside air. Amber slept through most of the first zoo visit, so it was mainly a chance for the adults to get some exercise and fresh air.

During the fall months, our zoo trips got interrupted by an injury to my left, “bionic” knee. Apparently, I have a torn muscle, tendon, or ligament (they don’t know which – only that the joint fills up with blood), so I’ve had to restrict my walking, and I have to sometimes use a cane on bad days. However, I’m happy to report that in spite of my knee, I’m feeling better than I have in years! My back and right knee are doing great!!
Some of you may know that I started honeybee venom therapy in October (yes, I’m intentionally stinging myself with honeybees, and if you’ll come on over to my house, and I’ll sting you too!). My brother has voiced some concerns about my “mental state,” but I’m as good in that regard as I ever was (ha-ha!).

Bee Venom Therapy has been around for thousands of years, but I only learned of it recently. One honeybee sting is about 100 times more powerful than a single cortisone shot (i.e. it’s a strong, natural anti-inflammatory, and it’s being used by many arthritis and MS patients with remarkable results). You can read more about this at: www.apitherapy.org and my soon–to-be-developed website: www.beevenomtherapy.com. I think it’s interesting to note that honeybees, or honey, are mentioned hundreds of times in the Bible and we all know the benefits of honey in the diet. Perhaps, God was trying to tell us something? Anyway, research has shown that on average, beekeepers live into their nineties and are relatively “disease-free” because they are stung by bees all the time and have turbo-charged immune systems. It takes about a month to stop having minor, allergic reactions to honeybee stings (98% of the population is not allergic to honeybees, but may experience some swelling, redness, and itching during the first 30 days of stinging before an immunity is built up). As a person who used to run for cover at the sight of a bee, I am now a bona-fide beekeeper and apitherapy enthusiast!

The year 2000 has been busy and productive in many ways, including Amber’s physical condition. As most of you know, Amber has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, but a new neurologist believes that she doesn’t have CP. He recently ran some extensive tests for neurotransmitter disease, but they were also negative. In essence, none of the tests so far have revealed any brain disease or abnormality at all, even though we know there is a problem “somewhere” because she can’t do many things that Jacob is now doing at 6 months!

In October, Pastor Mark Walker and the Mount Paran North congregation prayed for Amber during Jacob’s dedication service. At Thanksgiving, in late November, Jamie’s mother saw Amber for the first time since September and said that she was amazed at the difference in her! She’s using her hands in more purposeful ways and showing improvement in her upper body movement and control. She still can’t crawl, sit up, or walk, but she’s scooting around a lot more and has a wonderful sense of humor. Occasionally, we find her laughing to herself in her crib as though she’s heard a really funny joke, and she sometimes laughs out loud at certain sounds. She loves music and seems to enjoy life on its limited terms. We are blessed to have her and believe that God has an important purpose for Amber’s life and that He’ll heal her in the fullness of His perfect timing for her life.

In closing, I’d like to wish each of you a very prosperous and productive new year. I’m writing the last few words of this newsletter on New Year’s Day of the “real” new millennium, and my thoughts and prayers are with each of you.

Love in Christ,

^{Seasons Greetings!} 

1999 has been a very busy and exciting year for The Cash Clan! In many ways it has been a year of rest and recovery, but it has also been a year of quiet reflection. For the first time in quite a few years, I’m not dreading “my next surgery.” After twenty-two surgeries (including, six major surgeries since 1989), you’d think it would get easier as time goes by, but it doesn’t. In fact, quite the opposite is the case; I get white-knuckled just thinking about it!

In the event anyone would try and tell you otherwise, two knee joint replacements within six months will surely knock the wind out of your sails! My bionic knees are doing very well now, but there were times when I didn’t think they would ever heal. So, I went on the Internet and visited the Delphi “Joint Replacement Forum,” and boy was that a wake-up-call! I found a lot of information about knee joints and healing times, but also, I found quite a few miserable, suffering people with failed joint replacements, some with the most difficult of circumstances.

One forty-eight-year-old lady has had multiple back surgeries (like me) and has also had two failed knee joint replacements. After multiple infections, they’ve now fused one of her knee joints (my next-door-neighbor has also had a failed knee replacement resulting in fusion). Can you imagine trying to get up out of a chair with a really bad back, one rigid, fused knee and the other knee failing? It made me count my blessings and also to reflect on how foolishly we sometimes put ourselves in the hands of mortal doctors who can make life-altering mistakes. As I’ve told some of you individually, if you ever contemplate having this surgery (or any serious surgery), do your homework! Check out your doctor; talk to some of his/her patients; don’t get just one reference; get at least a half-a-dozen! And make sure he/she’s the most experienced and accomplished doctor in the field (i.e. a dedicated specialist). If not, then take the time to find a doctor who is! Don’t let anyone do “practice” surgery on you!

Fortunately, I had the best knee joint specialist (Dr. Eric Oser) and the best spinal surgeons (Dr. William C. Horton and Dr. H. Dale Richardson) that money can buy! But, it never ceases to amaze me how many people will opt to let just any, run-of-the-mill orthopedic surgeon do a total joint replacement or spinal surgery on them, even though their doctor only does such procedures on a part-time basis (i.e. he/she’s a general orthopedist, not a specialist)! By the way, “choosing the wrong doctor” seems to be the number one reason for people having failed joint replacements on the Delphi forum. “He/She that hath ears; let him/her hear!”

Now, as I climb down off my soapbox, let me tell you about my granddaughter! Amber Lynn is almost seventeen-months-old now, and she’s growing like a weed! She’s always been a very good and sweet baby and has made life a joy for her parents, Jamie and Chip, and Grandma Margie. I have been so fortunate to have them living here with me and to be able to share their lives on a day-to-day basis. God is so good!

The best way to introduce you to Amber is to show you some cameo shots of her during the past year.

Many of you are already aware of Amber’s visual problems that were diagnosed as cortical vision impairment (blindness coming from her brain) in November of 1998. And, you also may know that we have seen startling changes in her ability to see since Dr. Paul Walker and the Mount Paran Central congregation prayed for her healing shortly after the diagnosis. In an effort to improve her vision, Amber had eye surgery in early September that has almost completely straightened her eyes, and she seems to be seeing much better now that she’s not seeing double (or triple) all the time. She definitely recognizes our faces now and turns to look at noises she hears. Praise the Lord!

Amber’s doctors have just finished a complete round of new tests (CAT scan, MRI, blood tests, genetic testing, etc.), and they have found no brain damage nor any genetic disorders! The only abnormality that the neurologist found was what he called “delayed myelination” (myelin is the white matter of the brain that insulates the nerves), but he believes she will probably outgrow this condition in time. I am hopeful and believing that this will be the case, and that she will be restored to her full potential when the delayed myelination subsides and as God heals her of Cerebral Palsy. Your ongoing prayers for her are very much appreciated.

Chip and Jamie are very encouraged with Amber’s progress. They love her unconditionally and are also planning on giving her a new baby brother or sister to play with in late June! Jamie has been feeling the effects of morning sickness through the holidays, and hopes to be over and done with that side-effect very soon. Chip is still working the night shift at UPS; it has been a real blessing to have the UPS insurance benefits for Amber; with good insurance, they can choose her doctors!

I am still trying to become an Internet Guru and spend most of my days developing websites, selling web hosting and software, and giving away Free Web Marketing Tools (http://www.myce.com is my primary website and mcash@myce.com is my email address). But, the best thing I’ve come across in recent years is AllAdvantage! Yes, I’m getting paid to surf the web – Really! I signed up on October 3 and made $49.72 the first month, $134.11 in November, and expect to make over $200 in December (even during the holidays when no one surfs much). In January, I expect my earnings to double or triple (I’ll have about 1,000 people in my down-line network by year-end); all for just surfing the web for 25 hours a month! Very soon, AllAdvantage will be paying for 40 hours of surfing per month; just imagine what my commission checks will be then (it’ll bring tears to your eyes!). If you haven’t taken advantage of this free, get-paid-to-surf program, you can join at:
http://www.alladvantage.com/home.asp?refid=EQF-939. Please read the membership rules before you download the Viewbarä and remember to tell everyone you know about AllAdvantage; also, be sure they join using your referral id (replacing the EQF-939 above with your referral id) so you’ll earn money when your friends surf too! May you have a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Love in Christ,

Special Delivery!

When Chip and Jamie Cash were married on November 15, 1997, they vowed to love, honor, and cherish. They also vowed to wait five years before having a baby, because they wanted to have a good time as a carefree, young married couple before taking on the responsibilities of parenthood. Well, as I mentioned in my Christmas of 1997 newsletter, the newlyweds quickly had to abandon their five-year plan and go with an alternate, nine-month plan! Despite this, they have had many "good times!"

One really "good time" came on the night of December 4, 1997 with the purchasing and utter disbelief in the reliability of five early pregnancy tests (this was followed by a frantic, next-day trip to the OB/GYN to prove that EPTs are not always right)! But this time, they were!

Another really "good time" occurred while making preparations for the new baby. We cleaned out a spare bedroom and put up new pink and blue striped wallpaper with a Rainbow Fish border. Next, we brought down all of Chip's baby furniture from the attic and purchased a Rainbow Fish comforter set, curtains, and lamp set. We also purchased a "Lexus" baby carriage that also transforms into a stroller. Very quickly, however, we realized that our new baby was going to have feline competition for the nursery!

Another "good time" came on March 16th when Margie had her tenth knee operation and her twenty-second surgery overall. On the day of the surgery, Chip and Jamie took the Grandma-to-be to Piedmont Hospital, where Dr. Eric Oser did another total knee joint replacement; this time of the left knee. The surgery went well, and Margie continues to grow more bionic with every passing year!

In late July, a baby shower was given for Jamie and Chip by great-grandmother-to-be, Dot Deines. They received many nice new gifts for Amber Lynn Cash, who was about to make her long-awaited appearance.

On August 5, 1998, Jamie went into labor (another really "good time!") and Amber Lynn was born later that evening. Aside from the umbilical cord being wrapped around her neck, the delivery was normal, and Amber came into the world three days earlier than expected!

From the moment of birth, however, we worried about Amber's eyes. When she was born, they were rolled back into her head, like her muscles were very weak, and she couldn't control them; but we rationalized that this would eventually improve. Her pediatricians assured us that this was normal and not to worry.

As the weeks and months went by, we began to worry a little more. Amber seemed to be looking past us and not focusing on or recognizing our faces. The pediatricians again reassured us that everything was "ok," but we were not convinced. Finally, Jamie began conversing with parents of children with vision problems on the Internet, and she was put in touch with a pediatric ophthalmologist who, upon hearing Amber's symptoms, recommended that Jamie take her to a specialist right away.

Waiting several weeks for an appointment, on November 19, we took Amber to a pediatric ophthalmologist who gave us some very grim news upon examining her eyes. She told us that Amber was blind and that there was a 99.9% chance that nothing could be done to correct her vision, because the problem was coming from the cortical region of her brain, rather than from her eyes themselves. This news was not really surprising to us because we had come to believe that Amber couldn't see, but we were not expecting to hear that her problem could not be corrected; not in this day and age! Also, since we have no history of blindness in our families, how could this be? The doctor then scheduled a series of tests to determine "why" this birth defect had occurred so that Chip and Jamie would know if any future children would also be at risk.

After feeling like we'd been kicked in the gut for a couple of days, Chip and Jamie both asked me to call Dr. Paul L. Walker, our former Senior Pastor at Mount Paran, who is now the General Overseer of the Church of God International. They wanted me to ask him to pray for Amber's healing. Since Dr. Walker travels extensively, I figured he'd be out of town, but upon calling, I reached him at home on Saturday afternoon, and he agreed to pray for Amber after the service the following day at Mount Paran Central, where he was scheduled to preach.

During the pastoral prayer on Sunday, November 22, Dr. David Cooper prayed for Amber's healing and asked the entire congregation to be in prayer for her. Later, after the service, a small crowd of people gathered around to pray with Dr. Walker for Amber's healing. Leaving the church, we experienced renewed hope.

The next evening, Jamie asked me if I'd ever heard of a show called The 700 Club! I laughed and said, "Yeah, I used to work for CBN and Pat Robertson back in the early eighties." Jamie then told me that she'd been flipping through channels and that some old man (sorry Pat!) had given a "word of knowledge" that someone was being given the gift of sight while he was praying. Jamie went on to say she'd never seen The 700 Club before that day; and then she asked me what a word of knowledge was! The following day while going through a McDonalds drive-thru, Jamie heard a radio playing a song in a nearby vehicle. Suddenly, the announcer said, "And, that was Expect that Miracle by …"

As such confirmations began to manifest themselves, we each had a growing assurance that God was touching Amber. Immediately, we noticed a change in her alertness. For the first time, she seemed to be focusing her eyes on us and reacting to light (a couple of weeks earlier, I'd taken about 40 close-up photographs of her with my flash attachment, and she didn't even blink!).

On Wednesday, November 25, Amber had a MRI that showed normal brain and eye structure, but with a slight amount of excess fluid on her brain (she had never had a discernable soft spot because it was filled with fluid). Several weeks passed, and on December 17, we went to the Emory Clinic for a series of extensive eye tests that would take several days to interpret.

On Monday, December 21, Amber awoke with a high fever and went into seizures. After spending the day in the Scottish Rite Hospital emergency room (checking in vain for spinal meningitis or a severe infection), Amber was admitted by a neurologist for overnight observation and an EEG. Apparently, seizures related to high fever are very uncommon for a 4-5 month old baby, so the doctors were very concerned.

On Tuesday, December 22 (exactly one month after Amber was prayed for by Dr. Walker, Dr. Cooper, and the Mount Paran congregation), we received word of a normal EEG (which shows brain function); and, Amber had no more seizures while in the hospital. Also, we received a call from the pediatric ophthalmologist concerning the eye test results from the Emory Clinic. The tests showed that Amber now has a decreased vision potential in the moderate range, but she can see! Praise the Lord!

On Wednesday, we learned that a urinary tract infection was the cause of the high fever and subsequent seizures, so Amber is on an antibiotic to get rid of this. She also has follow-up appointments with the neurologist, the neurosurgeon, and the pediatric ophthalmologist, not to mention the pediatrician, during the next 30 days, so your continued prayers for Amber are appreciated!

These days, Amber is smiling at us and focusing on our faces! She can see us up close, and she can see us at a distance. Her eyes are bright and attentive, whereas a month ago, they reflected a vacant stare. So far, she's had to endure various tortures: IV needles (they had to stick her 8 times in order to get an IV into a vein!); a spinal tap (which subsequently relieved fluid pressure on her brain, so she now has a soft spot!); a MRI; an EEG; and super high-tech equipment for eye tests. But, this year has been a "good time" for Chip and Jamie because God has shown them that His hand on Amber's life. And, we have all seen His glory!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
               Love in Christ,

]]> http://yuletideanthology.com/1998/1998-yuletide-anthology/feed/ 0 http://yuletideanthology.com/1997/1997-yuletide-anthology/ http://yuletideanthology.com/1997/1997-yuletide-anthology/#comments Wed, 31 Dec 1997 04:28:40 +0000 Margie http://yuletideanthology.com/wp/?p=6 ^{Wedding Bells!}

When Chip Cash met Jamie Causey in December of 1995, during Chip’s senior year of high school, it quickly became apparent that they were in love! The couple dated each other exclusively for almost two years and shared an enchanted evening together at Jamie’s Senior Prom in May of 1997.

More on 1997 YULETIDE ANTHOLOGY

^{Wedding Bells!}

When Chip Cash met Jamie Causey in December of 1995, during Chip’s senior year of high school, it quickly became apparent that they were in love! The couple dated each other exclusively for almost two years and shared an enchanted evening together at Jamie’s Senior Prom in May of 1997.

Since his graduation from Campbell High School in June of 1996, Chip has been working. His first job was as a carpenter’s assistant; and later, in October, he took a job with U.P.S. as a truck loader; after a few months, he was promoted to sorter.  Having been with U.P.S. for over a year now, Chip has survived the strike and is hoping to qualify for a supervisory position in early 1998.

Jamie graduated from Campbell High School in June of 1997.  Since graduation, Jamie has had a couple of temporary, employment positions; in August, she took a full time job with Atlanta Motor Parts as a courier.

This past July, Chip and Jamie announced their engagement and plans to marry on November 15.  And, in the Watkins Chapel at Mount Paran North Church of God, surrounded by family and friends, they exchanged their marriage vows.

On December 4, Chip and Jamie found out that they are expecting a baby in August (yes, you heard me right!).  This means, of course, that Margie’s gonna be a Grandma!!

Knowing both Chip and Jamie as I do, I know they’ll make excellent parents.  God is so good!

 

^{O.R. 21!}

As if planning the wedding didn’t give her enough to do, Margie had surgery again on September 12! This was her ninth knee operation and her twenty-first surgery overall.

On the day of the surgery, Chip took his mom to Piedmont Hospital, where Dr. Eric Oser once again scrubbed for a total knee joint replacement of the right knee. Dr. Oser is one of the team physicians for the Atlanta Braves, and he replaced both of Bobby Cox’s knee joints a couple of years ago.

As usual, Margie was NOT looking forward to the surgery! As airline flight attendants frequently develop an aversion to flying because they fear they’ve flown so much that the odds are now working against them, Margie breaks into a cold sweat at the mere thought of going into a hospital operating room. The temptation to run for her life can be very compelling, so, needless to say, anxiety levels were high on the morning of September 12.

After the routine check-in and preparations, a pastor from our church stopped by to pray for a successful outcome. This was certainly comforting, but did not dislodge the sheer terror in Margie’s heart over IV needles, collapsed veins, oxygen masks, and doctors wearing astronaut suits and brandishing scalpels and other bone-pruning instruments of potential, mass destruction. Margie prayed for a sign that God was with her!

As the orderly wheeled her toward the operating room, Margie rounded the final corner leading toward the heavy, gray, swinging doors, when she noticed the words boldly displayed above the entrance: “O.R. 21.” Suddenly, Margie was at peace, because God had given her the assurance that only HE could have orchestrated the scheduling of O.R. 21 for operation 21!

All things considered, the operation went well, although it has been among the most painful of the 21! When the knee joint is replaced, the old joint is cut away and replaced with a bionic joint of titanium and cobalt chromium. In the process of removing the old joint, muscles, nerves, ligaments and tendons are either cut away or stretched mercilessly. The damage to the hamstring muscle alone is so severe that the leg cannot be lifted without assistance for a couple of weeks. Once the neural receptors start working again, the knee slowly begins to regain it’s function. Whereas, the pre-op, bone pain is gone within a short time, the post-op, soft tissue pain takes about a year to completely subside, and it’s as bad, if not worse, than the bone pain!

All things considered, it’s still worth it! Already, I can tell a major difference in the stability of my knee joint. Before the surgery, my right leg was over an inch shorter than my left leg due to bone degeneration and joint damage. Needless to say, this deficit has very adversely affected the alignment of my spine, and it’s probably contributed greatly to my back problems! It’s also driven my chiropractor crazy trying to keep me in adjustment!

Several people have mentioned that they can see a big difference in the way that I walk (I’m no longer waddling like a duck on the right side!), even though I still feel very uncertain on stairs. Also, I’m having a problem with the joint partially dislocating due to the fact that I have no kneecap (it was surgically removed in 1976). Dr. Oser used a special, stabilizer joint to compensate for the missing kneecap, but when I make a false move, the top joint moves out on the rim of the bottom joint, it throws my knee into a major, charley-horse cramp, and I writhe in pain, immobilized, until someone helps me pop the joint back into place (volunteers are understandably reluctant; and they usually shout: “GROSS!”).

I am scheduled to have the left knee joint replaced once the right one has healed (maybe in the spring). I’m looking forward to the day when I’ll have to have no more surgery!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Love in Christ,

… the bionic woman!

 

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Dear Family and Friends:

Well, it' hard to believe that Christmas is here again!  Chip recently got his high school, senior ring, and I'm still doing "double-takes" every time I see how tall he's gotten!  He was nominated for Governor's Honors Program in band this year, and he's really been progressing in his quest to become a top-notch, jazz trumpet player (move over Phil Driscoll!!!).  Also, I finally graduated from Georgia State University with a master's degree in counseling.  Over the past five years, it often looked as though my physical problems would forestall my goal of completing this degree, but with God's help, I very slowly, but surely triumphed over the few remaining requirements.

For those of you who may be wondering, I survived my spinal surgery on April 12!  My sister, Judy Rogero, drove me to the medical, house of horrors at dark-thirty on the morning of my surgery.  When we arrived at Emory University Hospital, they quickly outfitted me in one of those gowns (you know, the semi-formal type with the large gap in the back!).  Within twenty minutes, I was in the Operating Room, stopping only once to remove my nearly forgotten, contact lenses.

Once in the O.R., my anesthesiologist informed me that I'd be on a ventilator for twenty-four hours following my surgery; later, in the waiting room, the nurses informed my family that I'd be in the Intensive Care Unit for twenty-four hours before going to a private room.  Finally, after an intense, wrestling match with my veins, all of which collapsed (i.e. fainted!) at the sight of numerous I.V. needles, my anesthesiologist speared the jugular vein in my neck and put me to sleep.  Eight-and-a-half hours later, I was wheeled into the Recovery Room, and after another two-and-a-half hours in recovery, I defied their best predictions and went to a private room without a ventilator!

Like a good (big!) sister, Judy had removed all of my luggage from the car and had then taken it back to the car when told that I would be in I.C.U. overnight; when she finally instructed valet parking to bring the car around a third time in order to get me unpacked and situated for my first night, they were beginning to wonder about Judy's condition!?  Fortunately for me, Judy decided to stay with me the first two nights; she's a Paramedic, so I had the best of private duty care.  Whenever I needed something, I simply groaned "911" and Judy was there with C.P.R., defibrillators, flashing lights, sirens, and salsa from El Toro's to recussitate me!

I don't remember much about that first night, except Judy shoveling spoons full of crushed ice down my throat to soothe a very heavy-duty case of cotton mouth (which brought back many long forgotten memories of my undergraduate days at the University of Georgia!).  By the next morning, I was starting to experience some pretty remarkable dreams (rivers of sparkling glitter flowing like lava down the sides of crystal and glass mountains, etc.).  My pain medication wasn't doing much for the pain in my back and hip (where they harvested the bone grafts), but it was providing a spectacular array of video images unparalleled by The Wonderful World of Disney at its best!

Fortunately, Dr. Horton's arrival the next morning was at a point when I was both conscious and lucid since I was eager to hear about my surgery.  However, I was unprepared for the look on his face or his physical demeanor as he described my operation: he seemed genuinely stunned by what he'd seen!  As I mentioned in my first newsletter, four tests and five doctors had confirmed that the fusion grafts from my first back surgery 1989 had failed, requiring that they be redone during this second operation.  To paraphrase him, Dr. Horton said, "When I looked at your previous fusion grafts, I couldn't believe my own eyes; not only was your fusion solid, but it was fused with what looked like young bone!"  He went on to say, "I have no explanation for why your pre-op tests looked the way they did.  I am astounded by what I saw!"

As many of you know, there were a lot of prayers that were raised up on my behalf prior to my operation.  Strangely enough, I felt a calm assurance that God was in control, despite the seeming bleakness of the circumstances of my condition, and I never doubted His ability to heal me instantly if He so desired.  Being a strong believer in the miracles that God works through the hands of skilled surgeons, I, nevertheless, had no particular expectation that God would touch me in such a dramatic and mind-boggling way as He did.  In reality, my pre-op tests were accurate and so were the post-op findings; the astounding difference was due to the telltale thumbprint of Almighty God!

As expected, Dr. Horton fused one new disk level to the two older ones, so I now have sixty percent of contiguous, lumbar spine fused.  Also, he removed all of the old steel rods and screws so he could examine all aspects of my disks, and then he replaced them with newer, longer, and more state-of-the-art models for the tri-level fusion.  As you can ascertain, my surgery was very extensive, despite the fact that they didn't have to redo the previous fusion grafts.

Throughout this, my twentieth, surgical operation, I felt a comforting assurance that God was using my physical condition for His perfect purpose.  Obviously, I have been faced with a very lengthy recovery and don't expect my back to be like new (without a reconstructive miracle!) until I get to Heaven.  However, I am encouraged in my heart that The Great Physician has touched me and confounded my eminent team of physicians by His indelible and undeniable mark of grace.

Currently, I am having both good days and bad days.  This recovery has been more difficult than the previous one because of the scar tissue from 1989, which takes longer to heal with each additional surgery.  Also, they're telling me (again!) that my new fusion grafts are not healing!  However, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin (or my spine!) has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes – I and not another.  How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:25-27)

Chip did an admirable job of "holding down the fort" while I was in the hospital.  A special thanks to those of you who called to check on him or sent him cards in my absence.  On a final note, I'd like to thank all of you for your many expressions of support and concern, particularly your prayers, which are appreciated for the past, the present, and the future.  For all of the cards, letters, phone calls, flowers, food brought in, and personal visits to either the hospital or my home, I am truly grateful.

To God be the Glory and may He bless your lives immensely during this holiday season and in the new year to come.

With warmest regards,
Margie Y. Cash

March 21, 1994,

Dear Family and Friends,

On December 6, I went on medical disability leave from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc..  My doctors had been encouraging such a leave since early 1993, when I experienced a barrage of both spinal and knee problems that had continued to worsen with each passing month.  With the recent arrival of a new wave of corporate management, the imminent reorganization of many of the divisions within TBS, and the progressive worsening of my physical condition, the timing seemed ideal for me to stop putting myself through what had become a grueling, daily ordeal of struggling to go to work, while rapidly deteriorating both physically and mentally.  Obviously, this was not an easy decision because I've never wanted to think of myself as "disabled", but I believe that God paved the way for my much needed departure and its timing through all of the circumstances at hand.

In December and January, I went to Piedmont Hospital for several rounds of tests (i.e. myelogram, discogram, CT scans, and MRI) to assess the severity of my spinal condition.  The verdict was not good, as I have three more degenerated and/or ruptured disks in my back.  My neurosurgeon and two spinal orthopedic surgeons agree that I need to have additional back surgery (lumbar fusion), and they need to redo one of the two disk fusions that was done in 1989 because it hasn't healed (i.e. the bone grafts failed!).

A decision for additional surgery has been difficult because of the obvious severity of the operation and because I learned from a rather biased "20/20" broadcast on December 17, that the fusion technique that was used on me in 1989 (i.e. fusion with pedical screws bolted to the spine) is under a full-scale, federal investigation.  Apparently, the use of this "experimental technique" has never been approved by the F.D.A. and is leaving some people with intractable pain and severe disability.  In agreeing to additional surgery, I've needed some reassurance that I'm not going to make matters worse than they already are, so I've sought the opinions of four specialists, including the advice of the orthopedic surgeon who has done five of the eight knee operations performed on me since 1965, and they all agree that the technique is sound and that there is a good chance for some improvement, although there is no guarantee.

As of this writing, I am scheduled for surgery at Emory University Hospital on April 12, 1994.  The surgery will be performed by Dr. William Horton, the spinal orthopedic surgeon who did my previous back surgery at Piedmont Hospital with Dr. Dale Richardson, my neurosurgeon, in 1989.  Dr. Horton is a renowned specialist in diseases of the spine and is an associate to Dr. Tom Whitesides at the Emory Spine Center.  Because of Dr. Horton's relocation to Emory in 1989, I've had to choose between him and Dr. Richardson.  I've chosen Dr. Horton because eighty percent of the surgery is orthopedic in nature, and I'd prefer to stick with a doctor in whom I have the utmost confidence, rather than risking an unsuccessful outcome with an unfamiliar, and perhaps less qualified, orthopedic surgeon at Piedmont.  I regret that Dr. Richardson cannot be involved, but since he has no professional privileges at Emory, there's no choice.

Many of you have mentioned to me that you are praying for me.  I am very much in need of your prayers and hope that you will remember me in this regard throughout the coming months.  In 1989, my close, personal friend, Susan Kuebbing, brought me chips, salsa, and cheese dip from El Toro's while I was in the hospital recuperating from back surgery.  Susan's untimely death in July of 1990 has left a void that can never be filled, but I hope that someone out there can learn from her example of generosity and friendship by making sure I don't go into El Toro's "detox shock" while I'm hospital confined.  I know that God will bless you if you minister to this need  (my "Last Will and Testament" is to be buried on the lawn at El Toro's so they can throw their daily leftovers on the ground in my direction!).

Obviously, I do expect to survive this operation, and I'm confident that, in any event, there will be Mexican food in Heaven!  So join me in my faith and confidence that God is in control and will bring healing to both my back and my knees in His time.  The root of both problems is said to be a genetic abnormality called "degenerative joint disease," which I was born with and which is aggravated by injury and the aging process (I am now over twenty-five!!).

Thanks for all of your prayers and support!  I expect to be in the hospital for ten days to two weeks.  Overall recovery is expected to take at least a year, at which point I hope to be released to swim several thousand meters per week in a lap pool.  Once my back is stable, I'll begin working on physical therapy for both my back and knees.  I'll try and keep you updated in the months to come.  I plan on finishing a book I started writing in 1987 while I'm recuperating; it's about eighty percent complete.  Be praying for a publisher "who likes to take chances with unpublished writers!"

God Bless!
Margie Y. Cash

P.S. Chip is fine!  He'll hold down "the fort" while I'm in the hospital.  I'm sure he'd appreciate a call or a visit while I'm in the hospital.  Thanks!