The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven Part 11

Some people are physically challenged; I must be supernaturally challenged. Alex must be far beyond me. I looked back toward the house, deeply breathing the night air. Then suddenly I said, "I have anointed you with a message of hope."

Where did that come from? A sudden chill ran over my body as I glanced around. There was nothing out of the ordinary to see, but Someone had just spoken to me in my spirit. A trembling of my spirit gave me the sense there was more. Like a radio signal tuning in to the right frequency, it came first in fits and starts. My heart raced within my chest. The Lord was directly communicating His will for me. I took off running up the driveway and burst through the door. I was all thumbs riffling through the counter and desk, looking for anything to begin writing: A sudden chill ran over my body as I glanced around. There was nothing out of the ordinary to see, but Someone had just spoken to me in my spirit. A trembling of my spirit gave me the sense there was more. Like a radio signal tuning in to the right frequency, it came first in fits and starts. My heart raced within my chest. The Lord was directly communicating His will for me. I took off running up the driveway and burst through the door. I was all thumbs riffling through the counter and desk, looking for anything to begin writing: I have anointed you with a message of hope...for the church...the body of Christ...and those who will be the body...that He will be raised up and seen in His true glory...This is the word of the Lord given to you by the angel John.

I dropped the pen and reread what I had just written.

"Alex! Alex!"

Seeing my joyous state, Beth and Aaron gathered around, listening with amazement.

"He spoke to me ... in my spirit ... at the end of the driveway. John the angel spoke to me and said..." And I read aloud the message I had just received.

Beth and Aaron sat in surprised wonder, but Alex wasn't the least bit moved. If I'd told him the crickets were singing tonight, he would have had the same response-no big deal, happens all the time. I was ecstatic, but it was all old hat to him. Just when the rest of us were basking in the warmth of that spiritual afterglow, Alex said, "There's more. You should go back out there."

I went back out to the identical spot-I wasn't going to tamper with anything about this experience. Before long, the voice came again: Speak of Me, for Me, and about MeUse Alex to show who I amI have chosen him as a screen upon which to show MyselfI am unity, the Trinity, a complete circle,Your story will lead to praise and worship, there will be altar callsYour bills are the least of My worriesI will be with you all the days of your lifeI will speak to youI will guide youI am in youI am about you, you be about MeMy love is unconditionalMy vengeance is restricted for the holyMy apostles died for Me, will you die for Me?I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.

Back at the house, I again wrote furiously before hurrying to Alex's room. He had fallen fast asleep. The morning seemed days away. I was so eager to share with him what I had received. When Alex finally woke up, I read to him all that I had written down.

Nonchalant he simply said, "You got all of it."

It was all routine for him, but I felt as if I'd been lifted up, turned upside down, and shaken to my very soul. Please understand, I don't come from a background that regularly embraces supernatural invasions into our physical realm; my faith pilgrimage had been highly conservative. But even in the process of publishing this book, I can see what the Lord revealed to me beginning to be fulfilled.

Perhaps discussions of another, spiritual realm make you uncomfortable. If so, you're in good company-they make me uncomfortable too. It is one thing for others to have supernatural encounters, quite another when you are the recipient. Nothing even remotely close to this experience had ever occurred in my life. My mind had to struggle to catch up with my spirit. If you don't have a neat theological box in which to put all these things comfortably away, don't worry; neither do I. They are what they are. I am simply reporting what happened. Fortunately we have the Scriptures as an infallible guide to evaluate everything we experience.

+ + +My grandson's and son's faith in Christ has created a resilience in them that has changed this tragedy into a story of wonderful meaning and purpose for me, my family, and many others.Dr. William Malarkey, Kevin'sfather+ + + The Real Angels While some people have difficulty contemplating the spiritual realm, others seem to have an unhealthy fascination with heavenly things. It can become a way to avoid either responding to G.o.d as He has revealed Himself in the Bible or doing the work of G.o.d in the mundane, ordinary days that compose our lives. After all, don't we all have times when we wish we didn't have to clean the bathroom? As much love as there is in my family, there are some days when I would like to be transported away from my duties and lie on a sunny beach contemplating angels!

Heaven, angels, and miracles are wonderful and fascinating. If all Alex and I have done is provided a momentary thrill through telling what has happened in our lives, though, we have failed most miserably. The Bible clearly speaks against those who worship the creation rather than the Creator. In the same way, if we aren't careful, we can become enamored of the messengers and miss the G.o.d who created and sent them.

Angels are not cute little cherubs who live on the limbs of Christmas trees; they are powerful created beings to do the work of G.o.d. The Bible constantly describes the angels as G.o.d's messengers and special agents, crossing over into the physical world to carry out His a.s.signments. The Bible also tells us to be hospitable since we may one day entertain angels without realizing it, as others have done (Hebrews 13:2).

If I may offer a humble word of exhortation, the enemy is a deceiver who masquerades as an angel of light. We all need to be on guard against counterfeit truth. Anything that doesn't square with Scripture is counterfeit. Alex's angels never operate outside the parameters we find in Scripture-the measure of authenticity.

You don't need to see or talk with angels to live a life that glorifies G.o.d. Don't be derailed in your quest for meaning by seeking a supernatural experience. Seek G.o.d through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Alex's hope is that upon hearing how G.o.d has revealed Himself in Alex's life, you will be drawn to the only One who provides true hope.

From AlexI Still Visit HeavenThen as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven.Revelation 4:1I don't really like talking about Heaven very much these days. Iliked it better telling my mommy and daddy things when they were new experiences for me. I was excited to share what I was seeing. I know G.o.d has a purpose for my car accident and for what He has shown me in Heaven. I know that all of this can help other people. But it's hard to talk about heavenly things. They are harder to describe than things on earth. I don't have all the words I need.When Daddy starts asking me questions now, I usually roll my eyes and try to get to the last question. When we're done, I'm hoping for a video game or some time just to play with Daddy.Last night my daddy shared with me that sometimes G.o.d wants us to share what He shows us, and sometimes He wants us to keep it to ourselves. He told me how the apostle Paul was told not to tell what he had seen in Heaven. Daddy told me that G.o.d told John the opposite: that he should share what he was shown in Heaven-or at least some of it.This made me feel relieved. I believe that I am a combination of John and Paul. I know that I need to share some of what I have seen in Heaven, and I also know that G.o.d has told me not to tell about other things. I am allowed to tell my parents some things that they are not allowed to share, and some things I do not even tell them.G.o.d knows exactly what I can handle. He knows how much I can understand, and He knows what would be too hard for me to keep from sharing. He is perfect!One night my dad said he believed I was only sharing about 10percent of what I have seen in Heaven. This put a big smile on my face.Still, I wasn't sure if I should share all of this in a book. I asked my daddy about it, and I told him that I don't want people making a big deal about me. But I've decided that it's okay to share some things because, after all, Heaven and angels are a part of the Bible's message. I hope it will bring people closer to G.o.d.So I will tell you a little more.When I visit Heaven, I see angels flying around the throne of G.o.d. They are singing as they fly.I thought that the two wings over the angels' faces were masks, but later when my daddy and I talked about it, I realized they were wings.Does the Bible tell how the angel Michael is next to the throne, writing down what people do on earth?I know I am with G.o.d when I am visiting Heaven, but you can't see G.o.d on His throne-the angels fly so fast that they block Him from view.n.o.body gets to see G.o.d's face until later.

Chapter 10

The Road Ahead

When people ask me if my faith is shaken because Alex hasn't been fully healed, I respond with a confident no. The last two years have brought new, amazing reminders that we are still held in the palm of G.o.d's hand.

After all our confident a.s.sertions about Alex's full recovery, wouldn't it be great to end the book with a story about Alex waking up one morning miraculously healed, leaping out of bed, and racing to the front lawn to play football with Aaron or climb trees with Gracie? But reality is more complex-more beautiful than that.

While Alex's injuries restrict him in some ways, he has the same goals, dreams, and aspirations of any young man whose heart belongs to G.o.d. And he has the determination to pursue them!

The New Normal For Alex, this means hard work-both physical and mental-every day. Alex is a trouper. Beth leads him through a one-hour stretching session each morning and evening to ensure that his limbs and torso remain limber. Beth provides all of Alex's stretching therapy, and she cleans Alex's trach tube site during each stretching session as well. Two times per week, a physical therapist comes to take Alex through different body movements using a variety of sophisticated equipment, some of which simulate walking.

We homeschool our children, as we had begun to do even before the accident. Alex loves reading and spends part of each school day working through several courses at an online charter school. He uses his mouth to control a mouse while navigating through his math course and other studies. The accident set Alex back an entire year academically, but he has already made up that year and is now at grade level.

Alex loves to attend church and even sings in the choir. If he is well and can make it, on Sunday mornings you will find him at Christ Our King Church. He is highly social and never misses the opportunity to interact with people. Alex loves dishing it out and has a reputation for getting the last word!

Alex can operate his wheelchair by moving his chin. He loves playing duck, duck, goose and hide-and-seek. (He usually does the seeking, but when it is his turn to hide, we cover him with blankets and pillows in an inconspicuous spot.) He also loves to play video games. Aaron and I are the "hands" and Alex is the "brains" when we play: "Turn here; no, slow down! Right, go right!" Alex even plays with Nerf guns. We dress him up in goggles and a chest protector and lay a Nerf gun across his lap, and he tries to run over the other players with his wheelchair.

As already mentioned, Alex is a total sports buff and can keep pace with the best informed. He is a fierce defender of his favorite teams and never misses games. When Alex heard that President Obama had picked Georgetown to upset the Bucks in the 2010 men's basketball tournament, he had a thing or two to say about it. But what would you expect from a kid whose dad manipulated the system to have his son born in the hospital room with the best view of the Buckeyes' stadium?

+ + +When situations arise-and "many are the afflictions of the righteous" (Psalm 34:19, KJV)-G.o.d gives us His grace in proportion to our needs. Jesus Christ ministers gracefully to all who trust in Him.I think about what the apostle Paul said after listing some of the things he had endured-he spent a day and a night in the deep, he was among false brethren, he was beaten-but then he said, "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2Corinthians 12:9, KJV). So why would Paul glory in his infirmities? Because it is there that the power of G.o.d rested on him. Through his trials, a greater measure of the Lord's grace was realized.And so the real question is not, What is it like to be in a wheelchair? The question is, What is G.o.d like when you're in a wheelchair? That's the real question, because He does give abundant grace.

Pastor Robin Ricks, Christ Our King Church

Occasionally someone will say to Beth or me, "How do you do it? I could never do that." Well, when G.o.d gives you something to do, you just do it. What seems foreign to someone else is normal for us. Every one of us will, to some degree or another, be faced with a new normal sometime in life. When we embrace it and carry on, we tend to be a lot happier.

On one level, then, our family has developed new daily rhythms, and we enjoy play and laughter as much as any other. Yet that doesn't mean we've resigned ourselves to things as they are now. G.o.d is still at work, advancing His purposes in our family's and Alex's lives. The last two years have brought new, amazing reminders that we are still held in the palm of His hand.

St. Louis As Alex's story continues to unfold, we can only thank G.o.d for the ongoing interest and support that has enabled him to make great strides forward. Beth has done an immense amount of research regarding Alex's development. It was a long-standing dream to have him admitted into the Kennedy Krieger Inst.i.tute (KKI) in Baltimore for their two-week program. KKI is the world's premier inst.i.tution for the treatment of children just like Alex. This facility offered the same type of therapy and treatment that Christopher Reeve received. But there was always a major obstacle-the $15,000 price tag for the treatment program. Now this isn't a lot of money to G.o.d, but for us it was a mountain too high to climb. If Alex was going to go to the KKI, G.o.d would have to provide.

In the course of Beth's research, she met Patrick Rummerfield, who works for the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at KKI. Patrick's interest in spinal cord research is personal. In 1974 he survived a car accident but was rendered a quadriplegic. He worked extremely hard through physical therapy and eventually recovered the full use of his limbs. In fact, he is the only fully recovered quadriplegic in the world. Today, Patrick races marathons all over the world. Beth has worked tirelessly to get Alex to KKI since shortly after the accident, and Patrick has worked right alongside her from the beginning.

In July 2009, the KKI dream was made a reality through the great generosity of many people. The first is Eric Westacott. In 1993, Eric was sliding headfirst toward home during an intramural college softball game and became a quadriplegic. This didn't stop Eric. Today he is an attorney as well as the president of the Eric Westacott Foundation. He drives his own van, works full-time, and, more importantly, is a fantastic human being. His positive outlook is powerful, and the way he works tirelessly for others is truly inspiring. Every year Eric's foundation hosts a golf tournament in St. Louis whose sole purpose is to raise funds to benefit spinal cord research. In 2009, the tournament proceeds were designated for rehabilitative efforts for Alex, specifically to send him to the KKI.

Eric and Patrick worked together to hold the golf tournament and silent auction for Alex. The Eric Westacott Foundation sent the funds for our family to travel to St. Louis for a week. This was exciting for all of us. We had not all traveled or spent any nights away from home together since 2004. We would drive the van paid for by our church, pull a trailer lent to us by a family whose son with a spinal cord injury had recently pa.s.sed away, and travel with money provided by the Westacott Foundation.

When we arrived in St. Louis, Eric and Patrick gave us tickets to attend a Cardinals baseball game the next day. Alex and Aaron love baseball. It was the first time we had the opportunity to take Alex to a game. It was great fun. We went two hours early to watch batting practice, and we did our best to break the concession-stand spending record for a single game!

On Sat.u.r.day we went to the sixteenth annual EWF Golf Cla.s.sic Tournament. People fly in from around the country to partic.i.p.ate. We had no direct connection with any of these people. It was humbling to watch all the effort that had gone into helping Alex.

During the banquet and silent auction, we had fun watching friends attempt to outbid each other to help Alex. Alex was introduced and received a standing ovation, and Patrick and Beth followed with short speeches. Finally, a giant check was brought out and presented to Alex. The Eric Westacott Foundation had raised twice the amount required for a two-week stay at the KKI. Alex would now be able to go for two separate two-week stays.

In a sense, my family and I were spectators that evening. We were the recipients of the foundation's efforts, but we truly were among strangers. It was amazing to me that people who did not even know us could be so generous. Their att.i.tudes were consistent with the kindness we had experienced from the church. G.o.d can use anyone to further His purposes. Jesus is always showing Himself through every situation, if only we are willing to see.

In addition to all his efforts with Eric and his foundation, Patrick also contacted the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and asked them to help in yet another way. We had for several years been trying to acquire a specialized rehabilitation bike for Alex. Lorraine Valentini, a U.S. cycling champion, and her husband, Chris Reyling, had donated the exact bike that Alex needed to the Reeves' foundation. The RT300 Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) bike is designed to send electrical impulses to electrodes placed on the person's muscles, causing the muscles to contract and basically perform a workout. Patrick was directly instrumental in acquiring this bike for Alex. Again, the generosity was amazing, our G.o.d, awesome.

Supernatural Awakening Alex's supernatural awakening to the most powerful and peaceful reality known to anyone happened when he was only six years old. Since then, his experience has been like that of a character in a movie who keeps enjoying a lavish heavenly banquet only to be jolted back every twenty minutes into scenes of family life and great physical hardship-before the final scene where everything comes full circle!

+ + +One conversation with Alex can completely change a person's mind-set and perspective of life. This is a testimony of how G.o.d is working greatly through his life and of his personal pa.s.sion for Jesus. I have had talks with this young man that made me feel my faith is somewhere behind doubting Thomas's!It is inspiring faith. But as deep as Alex is-and I could spend all day talking with him about G.o.d and what he has experienced-it is refreshing to know he acts like any other twelve-year-old, in need of correction and all.

Will Zell, pastor of evangelism, Christ Our King Church

G.o.d has given Alex special grace to walk his own pilgrimage, creating an unusually beautiful and pure relationship with the Spirit of G.o.d. Alex's body is not where we wish it were, but his spirit is far beyond where we could have ever imagined when we prayed, at his birth, that our son would walk closely with G.o.d.

Don't misunderstand. This doesn't mean that Alex is some otherworldly saint. Far from it, at times. He's a normal twelve-year-old who loves practical jokes and sports, who at times is disobedient to his mom and dad, and who happens to be in a wheelchair.

Superman and Surgery In 2003 world-renowned surgeon and researcher Dr. Raymond Onders installed a small device in Christopher Reeve that allowed him to breathe without a ventilator. In January 2009 Alex was scheduled to receive what many call the "Christopher Reeve surgery."

+ + +Mr. Matt, when you and my dad go to meet with the publisher people, tell them I'm just a normal kid and be sure to tell them I'm ornery.Alex Malarkey, speaking to Matt Jacobson, literary agent for Kevin and Alex Malarkey+ + + Christopher Reeve led the way for adults. Alex would lead the way for children, as he would be the first child in the world to undergo Dr. Onders's groundbreaking surgery. The operation involves implanting a small device that allows paralyzed patients to breathe without a ventilator by stimulating the muscles and nerves that run through the body's diaphragm. In June 2008, the Food and Drug Administration approved the device for use in adults. University Hospitals in Cleveland got special permission from the FDA to perform the surgery on Alex.

Just prior to the surgery, we received a call from the public relations department at the hospital about the possibility of some media covering the procedure. "Sure," we agreed, imagining a press release or perhaps a local news story. Surely we could provide a quick interview after all that was being done for us. We underestimated the media attention Alex's surgery would engender by ... just a little.

Beth, Alex, and I arrived in Cleveland the night before the surgery to take care of all the preliminary work at the hospital. We began completing paperwork and the minor pre-op tests. Before long, several reporters arrived from Cleveland's Plain Dealer Plain Dealer newspaper and a few television stations. We spoke with the reporters, but for some reason we didn't ask ourselves, newspaper and a few television stations. We spoke with the reporters, but for some reason we didn't ask ourselves, Why is the press arriving the night before Alex's surgery? Why is the press arriving the night before Alex's surgery?

+ + +Christopher Reeve led theway. Chris had the courage to be one of our first patients and led theway for successful outpatient laparoscopic diaphragm pacing system with a home-based ventilator weaning program.Dr. Raymond Onders, quoted at www.synapsebiomedical.com/news/reeve+ + + The next morning, I thumbed through the back pages of the Plain Dealer Plain Dealer to see if there was an article. Finding nothing, I folded and tossed the paper on the counter before doing a double take. There was a major story on Alex on the front page of the paper. The front page? He hadn't even had the surgery yet! It was a well-done article, although all the references we had made to G.o.d in the interview had been removed. (The writer later apologized to me for that. The original copy the reporter supplied to the paper had the actual interview, as it took place. An editor at the paper removed the references to G.o.d. I hope he or she reads this book!) to see if there was an article. Finding nothing, I folded and tossed the paper on the counter before doing a double take. There was a major story on Alex on the front page of the paper. The front page? He hadn't even had the surgery yet! It was a well-done article, although all the references we had made to G.o.d in the interview had been removed. (The writer later apologized to me for that. The original copy the reporter supplied to the paper had the actual interview, as it took place. An editor at the paper removed the references to G.o.d. I hope he or she reads this book!) When we were driving to the hospital later that morning, I made a wrong turn. That pushed back our arrival time by a few minutes and gave the media crowd more time to gather. When we walked through the doors into the pre-op area, we discovered that about twenty media people with elaborate lighting systems had already set up their equipment, ready to begin filming. The morning started with a round of presurgery interviews with Beth, Dr. Onders, and me. At one point I went out to the lobby to get a cup of coffee. No sooner had I entered the room than a woman said to me, "Cleveland is praying for your son." Iwas taken aback, again not aware of the ma.s.sive interest in my son'ssurgery.

"Oh, I am sorry," she said. "Did you know you were on all of the morning newscasts?"

"No, I didn't."

"Well, you were. Everyone is talking about it. My church is keeping Alex in their prayers."

Amid all the media activity and general business surrounding a major operation, I was keeping a close eye on Alex. I could see that following the preparation for surgery, he was feeling a little nervous. Dr. Onders could tell too. He's a consummate professional who is highly attuned to his patients. Before long, Alex and Dr. Onders were talking smack about football. Alex made it clear that his Steelers were better than Dr. Onders's Browns. Minutes later, Alex was wheeled into surgery.

Beth and I were not allowed past a certain point, but a man with a camera was. He filmed the entire surgery, while members of the media congregated in the hallway. Beth and I gave interviews during most of the ninety minutes that Alex was out of our sight. It was actually a wonderful distraction for us. Busy with endless reporters' questions, we had little time to worry about Alex. Toward the end of the surgery, I noticed one of the reporters off by herself, praying. Beth and I made our way over to her, and the three of us were soon praying together.

Finally people began to leave the operating room, and soon after that Alex was wheeled out. He looked fine, with the exception of the electrical wire sticking out of his upper chest to which the external device would be plugged in. It felt a bit strange to see our child wired for an electrical current!

We were eager to hear from Dr. Onders and to get his perspective on the surgery.

"Everything went very well. The surgery was a success," he began. "In fact, when I hooked up the device for a test run in the operating room, Alex took such a deep breath, he almost blew his chest out! Normally, we test the system for five minutes. With Alex, we tested for a full fifteen minutes. Everything went very well."

We were thrilled.

Alex was rolled into the post-op area, where reporters waited in antic.i.p.ation. Even before Alex had regained consciousness, various newscasters were conducting live reports for their organizations. Beth and I stood smiling next to the bed, dutifully following our instructions to stare down at Alex as the reporter talked about him.

With the cameras running, Dr. Onders walked over to Alex and said, "All during surgery, I was saying, 'Go Browns!'"

Alex hadn't fully regained consciousness. Even so, he was lucid enough to whisper in a faint voice, "The Steelers are in the play-offs, not the Browns."

That's Alex-always quick on the comeback, even if he is only half conscious!

In the swirl of media activity, we didn't know what was next, so we were somewhat surprised when a schedule was pressed into our hands-our media appearance schedule, that is. Alex, it was explained, would need several hours to recover; in the meantime, we would be giving interviews. Isn't that what we had agreed to do? a.s.sociated Press at 2:00, the Cleveland Plain Dealer Plain Dealer at 2:30, etc. I had to ask myself, Which was more strange: that (a)the surgery to help my son breathe on his own was an outpatient procedure, or (b)we were being released from the hospital based on our media schedule? at 2:30, etc. I had to ask myself, Which was more strange: that (a)the surgery to help my son breathe on his own was an outpatient procedure, or (b)we were being released from the hospital based on our media schedule?

The interviews went well, but not without at least one awkward moment. A television reporter seemed to relish the opportunity to have a direct interview with Alex.

"So, Alex, now that your ventilator can be removed at times and you can breathe with this new device, do you feel normal?"

Alex looked at her with intense eyes, a confused expression spreading over his face.

"What do you mean?" He paused for a moment then continued, "I am am normal." normal."

The reporter was mortified for wandering into forbidden territory and apologized profusely. Alex spent the next few minutes making sure she she felt better. felt better.

Another reporter with the a.s.sociated Press listened as his interview was consumed with my half-conscious son rambling on about the Pittsburgh Steelers. The reporter didn't seem to mind. He then said something that caught me off guard. "You should write a book."

"You really think so?"

"Yes, I do."

"Do you have any specific advice about the process?" I asked.

"Yes. Work hard and never be discouraged. That's it."

Good advice for just about everything in life, I thought. It was on this day that I made the decision to write a book about Alex and his experiences. I had thought about it before, but that AP reporter's encouragement was the beginning of the book you now hold in your hand.

We then did one more newspaper interview and headed down to the van. Accompanying us, the reporter from this interview a.s.sured us that she would include aspects of faith in her piece because she knew it was an integral part of the story.

The big article on Alex appeared in the newspaper the following day-lots of column inches and several excellent pictures. G.o.d...? No, He wasn't mentioned.

We made our way back to the hotel, and the phone rang. It was my mother.

"Hey, Mom, good to hear from you. Everything went great. Alex is a champ."

"Yes, I know," she said. "Alex looks great."

"You're two hundred miles away. How do you know Alex looks great?"

"Oh, the pictures of the surgery and post-op are all over the Internet. He really does look great. Maybe when you get back to the hotel, you can Google Alex and see what I'm talking about."

Does this not say something about the times we live in? We weren't even home from the hospital, and my parents, hundreds of miles away, had seen what went on in the operating room before I had! I did Google Alex when we arrived back at the hotel. There were more than four pages of entries. Incredible!

We intended to go home the next day but were snowed in and forced to stay another day in Cleveland. While this was a nice gift in that it gave the three of us a day to do nothing but relax, it also made the drive home a bit more hectic.

We had had to get home in time for the kickoff of the Steelers' first playoff game against the San Diego Chargers! to get home in time for the kickoff of the Steelers' first playoff game against the San Diego Chargers!

Stiffening the Spine: The Young Man Who Is Alex Anyone who has spoken with Alex will testify that one thing Alex doesn't lack is spine. His physical spine suffered from atrophied back muscles and was badly curved, but when it comes to the spine that really counts-strength of spirit-Alex has no lack. This boldness, coupled with what he has seen and continues to experience of the heavenly world, has molded Alex into a dynamic witness for Jesus Christ. If you meet Alex, you're going to hear the gospel.

To help Alex sit properly in his chair and fully benefit from Dr.Onders's "Christopher Reeve surgery," his doctors determined that Alex would need to have steel rods attached to his spinal column. On December1, 2009, Beth and I filled our fifteen-pa.s.senger van with medical equipment for Alex as well as Beth's suitcase, antic.i.p.ating that the two of them would stay in Cleveland for two weeks while Alex recuperated.

+ + +Alex is one amazing kid. You start out thinking that he probably needs encouragement, being confined to a wheelchair. Then you start a conversation with him, and immediately it's theother way around. Alex lifts your your spirits! Heencourages spirits! Heencourages you you! That's just Alex.Dan Tullis+ + + The night before the surgery, Alex's spirit was light, and we all had a great time joking around and hanging out at our hotel. But as morning came and we walked through pre-op procedures, Alex grew increasingly nervous.He asked a series of questions about what the surgery would entail, and then turning to me, terror marring his face, he said, "Daddy, I am afraid I am going to die."