Singing to Grandbabies

 
From the moment the tenor grandfather could finally hold his granddaughter, born prematurely at 24 weeks, he sang to her! She struggled with lung, heart and brain issues, and his singing calmed her. Our congregation, and many other people held this baby with special needs in prayer. She lived for 162 days, affecting the lives of many. At her Memorial Service this weekend, her grandfather sang, acappella, "Here I am, Lord." Cheeks were wet. Sniffles were audible. Music is such a special way to communicate!!~~~When my children were small, my mother used her beautiful voice to sing to Jeff and his sister, Jennifer. (See photo.) When Jeff had trouble with his seizures, and said with panicked eyes, "My head moved, Mom!" I remember singing nursery rhymes with him until he quieted down.~~~ When Jennifer's children were born they lived 1000 miles away, and I feared that our grandkids would not know who we were. I read stories on tape for them to listen to in the car as they traveled, singing the rhymes to them, wrapping them in a long-distance hug each time. Singing to grandbabies is a special way to communicate.

Review #11 on Amazon.com From Long-time Friend

Two differently abled boys grew up together,...one with scoliosis and one with Down syndrome. Jeff's friend wrote about "Journey With Jeff" in the Amazon.com review: "This is an inspirational story about a family that I knew when I was growing up in New York state. Jeff was a friend of mine and was full of love and joy. He was one of the most happy people I have ever met even though he was born with severe challenges. This book chronicles my friend's life, his parents' struggles and joys, and the family's incredibly strong faith as they journeyed with Jeff through his special life. The book is written specifically for inspiration for caregivers of people with special needs, but the story is inspirational for all people. This is one of those books that you keep after you've finished reading and turn to it when life throws you a curve."~~~I was delighted to discover this eleventh review on the Amazon.com page! I invite everyone who has read "Journey With Jeff" to write a review to help others know this encouragement. Thank you!!

Hospital Days With caregivers

 
When Jeff was in the hospital his last three weeks with leukemia, many caregivers walked in and out of his room. These included his pastor, the Lifetime Assistance Inc. staff, as well as family, friends and the nurses on his floor. We were deeply blessed with all the people God sent to care for him.~~~Since September 2009, a micro-preemie from our congregation has been surrounded by caregivers at Strong Hospital, with her family sticking very close. She has struggled with heart trouble, bleeding on the brain, difficulty breathing, even some pneumonia. For these past 162 days her mother has kept a daily journal and photo log on a Caring Bridge website, writing from the baby's point of view. (When Jeff was young I wrote his thank you notes and kept Jeff's Progress Record using his voice.)The support of family and friends, and even strangers has added up to about 22,000 hits on her Caring Brige website, with 126 responses to her story. Sunday morning our congregation learned that this precious baby we'd carried in our prayers for five months had gone Home to be with Jesus the night before. Pastor Mike had baptized her while she slept in her mother's arms and then her mom and dad were able to hold her and each other. We are sad that this little girl was on earth for so short a time, but we rejoice that her mom and dad and their family believe she'll be welcomed by her great grandparents waiting for her in Heaven.~~~Seeing Jeff again is our great hope, as well!! (Photo is of Pastor Don Miller visiting Jeff in the hospital, Oct.1988)

"Journey With Jeff" for Caregivers

My book,"Journey With Jeff; Inspiration for Caregivers of People with Special Needs"has been on the Rochester, NY, communities' Wegman's Store shelves since the middle of November. Four copies were in each of five Wegman's stores, where I checked a couple of times, and was pleased to see only one or two left on their shelves! This week only three books were returned to me, which means 17 are now out in the community, telling caregivers they are not alone! I hope they'll accept the invitation on the last page of "Journey With Jeff," to send their responses to me at my e-mail or snail-mail address. Those responses are such an encouragement to me!!~~~Jeff's special needs were spelled out by Down Syndrome. His friend, Brian, who wrote the response to "Journey" in the previous blog, "A Tribute to My Special Friend," was inspired by Jeff when he had to face experimental treatments and finally spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis as an 11 year old. I asked Brian how he'd learned about the book and he pointed to this blog and/or Amazon.com. "It's one of those books I'll keep," he said, "and, refer back to when I need inspiration."~~~The first lines of a poem by James W. Foley titled, "Drop a Pebble in the Water," suggest how Jeff's story has spread to -- who knows where? "Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash, and it is gone; But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on. Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to the sea. And there's no way of telling where the end is going to be." All praise to You, O Lord!!!

One Special Friend's Tribute To Another

 

Brian's tribute to his special friend: "When I was young, I had a special friend that I saw almost every Sunday in church. My friend was special in many ways and helped me learn many things that a little boy might only learn from having such a friend. I can't remember when we first met, but I do remember that he was such a regular part of our worship that I could not recall attending church without him being there and missed him when I no longer saw him. He sang the songs, loudly, and just a little bit longer than everyone else. He prayed loudly, and added his 'A-Men' just a little later than everyone else. He was not shy and he was not embarrassed, he was proud to sing and worship and perhaps he made the entire congregation feel loud and proud as well, because that church could sing!~~~We would usually meet after the service and I remember at first feeling awkward when he hugged me, as a young boy sometimes does, but eventually I learned what an amazing greeting and gift these hugs were. His Mom would help him explain his latest accomplishments and helped me understand some of the challenges my friend faced~~~Of course, the friend that I am remembering so fondly is Jeffrey Reisch and what I remember so clearly was how much he loved people and the church. I can't recall most interactions with Jeff, it was about 30 years ago, but I can convey how much of an impact he made on my life. He was so enthusiastic with everything that he did, he was so very proud of his accomplishments, and he genuinely cared for other people.~~~Facing a physical challenge when I was young, I could look to Jeffrey as an example of how to be brave in difficult times and to keep my chin up. Jeffrey's positive outlook and cheerfulness were an inspiration to me as I faced experimental treatments and finally spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis as an 11 year old boy.~~~Although Jeffrey was a part of my early life, his entire story eluded me until I saw that Mrs. Reisch had written "Journey With Jeff."Although I am not a parent of a special needs child, I was compelled to set aside all other reading material to read Jeff's story. The book not only enlightened me to all of the joy and difficulties the Reisch family faced, but gave me inspiration as a parent of two young children. Mrs. Reisch's amazing perspective and faith are an inspiration to parents struggling with raising children and facing any sort of adversity.~~~Jeff truly was an amazing individual and anyone that met him was truly blessed by his spirit. Reading the book brought back memories of the wonderful spirit that Jeff had, and reminded me how lucky I am to have known him. Someday, I hope to be welcomed into the kingdom of heaven where my friend Jeff will greet me with one of his great big hugs!" Me, too, Brian!!! I can hear Jeff now, saying, "Brian's my friend, Mom!!"

Caregivers! Don't Give Up!

A long-ago friend surprised me with a note about her own care-giving years with her little girl, born in the mid-sixties. "We almost lost her from birth," she wrote. "She couldn't assimilate her food, and would fall asleep as soon as she began nursing. She cried incessantly! Only a goat's milk formula saved the day. She was born with a mal-formed hip, with her little foot smack up against the front of her leg. The pediatrician put her in a brace when she was about toddler-age for night-time use." My friend almost didn't make it through the baby's birth herself, and now she and her husband had to handle this challenge. "I cried my eyes out!" she said. "I had postpartum depression big time! I didn't want my baby! That changed, and I still adore her, and admire her for coming through her own family difficulties."~~~Her conclusion: "So you see we can readily empathize with the trials you write about in 'Journey With Jeff.' There was a time I shut God out. It was a long, lonely time. It is no longer so. I have grown in grace." This is the reason 'Journey With Jeff' was written, so that other caregivers also may have hope and faith, and grace. (Photo is of Jeff at six months.)