Hope Hickman

Good ABCs This is Hope singing the ABCs… pretty cool! Notice at the end I hesitated saying me and Hope went ahead and mouthed it.

Q Gar Gex Hope smiling when mom sang the ABCs the way Hannah Grace did when she was really little.

Heaven to Earth Hope singing a praise song.

Baby This is a song that Haley sings all the time at the house.  This song has been released since Hope’s injury so you can see that she is learning new things as well as remembering the old!

We are hearing some sounds come out, and she is starting to say mama with a whisper voice.  Pray that her voice will start working along with her lips.  She is really tired these days.  I can imagine why though.  She has barely moved at all or used her brain power for nearly two years.  She is really working hard these days. We are so thankful to God for all He is doing.

My parents help so much with Hope’s therapy and recovery.  ”Faith without works is dead”… my parents have the works part of faith hands down.  The works part I am asking you to do is pray for her voice and more physical recovery in one other area.  Many times if a child makes progress in two areas, they can more easily be approved for more therapy.   Pray that God will give her supernatural strength to keep working and that her rest will rejuvenate her body and brain.  We are really seeing the power of prayer. I remember when Hope was in ICU, I would ask for prayer for something, and God would provide specifically what we were praying.  Thanks for your prayers!  It is so joyful watching what the Lord is doing next!!

War Eagle

Jesus is a Gentleman

Sleep in Peace

I’m Blue

mouthing Mama

Hope mouthed Mama for the first time on June 15th and this video was taken on the 16th.  We are so thankful that she continues to make progress.  Click on the link above to see the video of Hope mouthing Mama.  It takes a minute or two to download.

Hope stood up holding on to Mama with mom having no hands for about 10 minutes about a month or so ago.

Please continue to pray for rapid progress. Thanks!

Hope is still on her journey to healing and has been making progress throughout 2010.  We thank God for all the little improvements, big improvements, and everything in between.  We are still praying that God will continue to heal Hope and continue to use her for His purpose.  Below are some things Hope has been up to lately – (written by her mom).

Hope’s friend Denney came to visit over Christmas holidays for a few days. It was such a nice visit. We took Hope shopping and to eat. She also got new glasses. At the end of her visit, Haley told her bye and Denney got to hear her say bye. This is her second word.

Her hands are moving a good bit more these days. I posted a picture of her hands holding each other. Nana saw her find her hands and snapped this picture. Her hands were laced perfectly. She is getting much more stable sitting in a chair. She is self correcting and sitting alone some in her new arm chair. She received alot of great gifts from friends and family to help her with therapy. Thanks to all of you! The little girls had a much better Christmas this year and were able to spend some time with their dad.

I let Hope look at her facebook page the other night and she started clicking the pad herself. She clicked through probably 300 pictures. She smiled at some of the pictures and got a little emotional at others. She seemed to respond alot when looking at these pictures. She looked at the computer screen for over an hour. She stared in one direction that long which was amazing. I keep up with all of her friends through facebook. We even chatted with a couple of them. She watched the text as I typed. That was neat!

Hope is well, but Hannah Grace has the flu. Hope’s cough is mostly gone, but she has coughed some today. We are staying at mom and dad’s house to keep the sickness away. Hope had a flu shot, but Hannah Grace was praying with Hope on her bed the night before she got a fever. Pray that the flu will stay away from mom, dad, and Hope.

Hope has been working on sitting at therapy. Because she did so well sitting on the side of the mat, the therapist sat her in a regular arm chair. She held her head about half way up while sitting in the chair. You can see pictures in the photo gallery. She sat alone long enough for Nana to take three pictures of her. She maintained her balance front and back.

She is now receiving homebound services from the school system here. This past week she was evaluated by all the therapies available through the system. They mentioned that she needed vision testing. She is using one eye, but we are not sure how much she is seeing out of the other eye. That could be why the TV doesn’t appeal to her. She had terrible vision before. Any decline in the poor vision she had would not be good.

Hope has been making some vocalizations several times this week.

Her physical therapist was pleased with how well she did holding her weight on her arms when propped on her elbows lying on her stomach. She cleared her head to the side which means when her face was straight down, she lifted it and turned it to the side. This is a developmental thing which shows progress we think. She had a good day Tuesday with PT and OT.

This weekend Hope went to the lake. She also went today to Bass Pro Shop to look at all the decorations. She looked around the entire time. Nana and Grandaddy ate in the cafe. They saw some friends we used to go to church with at Centercrest Baptist. They mentioned that their prayer group prays for Hope. It is so nice to know that people are still praying and praying collectively as a group. I still don’t believe God will let all of us praying down. It was a nice day. She rode up the glass elevator, while she was up there, her mouth looked so much like she was trying to say something. Pray that God will release words from her mouth. We know that it is possible for her brain to re-wire. Hope went to look at the Christmas Wonder Land. Hope liked that as well. Our next door neighbor Doug works on the displays there, so they wanted Hope to see his handiwork.

Her progress is slow slow slow, and there is not much to report to carepages. Pray that God will continue rebuilding her brain. I know God is working in her. The last week or so has caused me to regain some hope that Hope can be healed naturally. Certainly God is in control of the natural and the supernatural, but it is hopeful that in years to come, she could be healed naturally if God allows it. Read about Terry Wallis. His story is pretty neat! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13690450/ns/health-health_care
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to regrow or mend itself like an arm when it is broken.

I have a fantastic family that has stood behind me and Hope through all of this storm. I say me because God uses them so much to help me, not only physically with caring for Hope, but in every other way. Mom continues to remind me of things that I know, but I haven’t really thought about much. At times I get so discouraged about Hope’s situation, and mom is there to remind me that Hope is still Hope. She is so different than the Hope prior to her bleed. It is like having a different person in the family. Mom reminds me that the spirit inside of her doesn’t change. No weapon formed against her can stand because she is under the blood of the Lamb. I think of Job, satan could not slay him without God’s permission. Hope is still alive for some reason even if I don’t understand it. Sometimes I feel so hopeless for her and I get irritated that her life has been so negatively impacted by sickness which is because of sin entering the world. I wonder why I have to live with my parents even though I am grown (not that I don’t like them there, I just liked being independent). I wish I could care for my children by myself. Mom gently reminds me that I need to see why God has put me in this situation. I am constantly reminded how Hope is the one that has lost the most. One of the kids will complain about an ailment, and I am reminded of how much pain Hope is in and how small our problems really are in comparison with Hope’s. It is sometimes hard to not be selfish, but mom and my children remind me. Maybe God is trying to whittle the selfishness out of me. He is the Potter, I am the clay. It feels like He wanted to smash the clay and just start over:-) I have also seen my dad’s love for Hope. He works tirelessly for her. There aren’t many men in the world as good as daddy. His commitment to our family is so precious. They have given their life to Hope and to her recovery. Mom told me as a child when I study to pray for God to honor the effort I put into studying by rewarding me with a good grade. Now my prayer is that God will reward mom and dad for all the prayer, love, time, commitment and FAITH they have put into Hope by giving them progress and lots of it.

A mother’s prayer: God, please heal Hope. Let her spirit shine. Lord, you are inside her. We know this because she accepted you at a young age and lived for you. I pray that since you are inside her, you will connect her brain and mend it miraculously. I pray that you will heal her completely. I pray that You will allow Hope to use this illness as a platform to share Yourself with the world. Hope felt You had called her to be a missionary as well, can you work that into Your plan for her. She desired to go abroad and serve you. Please heal her completely. Thank you Jesus, Amen

Hope had a wonderful weekend. Denney (Hope’s best friend) spent the weekend with us. She was obviously very motivational to Hope because Hope did more when we worked her out than I have seen in a long time. Denney was holding one hand and I was holding the other while she was lying on her mat, I asked Hope to do curls with her arms. She moved BOTH arms and did about 15 “curls.” I think it helps that she worked out so much and knew what a curl was. She was not only pulling her arms up to her shoulders, but she was releasing to let her arms drop by her side. This is not something we have ever seen her do. It was awesome. She is also rolling over again when placed on her side, she will pull her arm back and open her leg to get to her back. I had her sitting up leaning a little forward and when I told her to lay back on me she moved her muscles to lay back. Then I told her to pull her head back on my shoulder and she laid it back too. When lying flat on her back, she bent her right leg and pulled it up toward her body. Her knee got about a foot off the ground. I sat her up on the couch supporting her middle/lower back and shoulders. She held her head straight for 3-5 minutes. We were amazed. She has been smiling alot. She also opened her right hand and wiggled her left hand fingers. She hasn’t ever moved her fingers on her left side. Her left side is her weak side. She has made some major improvements, and I am so thankful that Denney was there to see it all. Please pray that she will continue to keep the improvements and make more. Pray that this will be the beginning of a great recovery. A man mentioned at church that she just looks more alert. She does! She is! Two mornings she woke up and her leg was in an awkward position. I think Denney said it was over the bed rail. This has not happened. She is moving more. I tell her to move as much as she can. She is starting to do just that:-)

Thanks to all of you that pray. This weekend was proof that our prayers are working. Please pray that God will give me direction of what to do about my job. I have 2 interviews this week. Monday and Tuesday at 3:30 each day. One is in Jefferson County and the other is an hour away. I am praying for the position at Thompson in Shelby County, but God knows what is best.

Mark 2: 1-12 Jesus heals a paralytic. Jesus asks a paralytic “Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?”
Which is easier? I know God can, I pray that He will.

Hope’s Condition: Thank you for all the prayers for Hope and our family. I want to update you on Hope’s medical condition. It has been seven months since the initial bleed on her brain. There were signs that her health was improving at one point a couple of months ago. However, each surgery has made her less mobile and her condition is deteriorating. Each additional surgery gives her more damage to her brain and causes something in her body to not function properly or to deteriorate. She is unable to attend frequent therapy due to surgeries, infections and other health issues along with decreased functionality. Mike and I were requested to attend a meeting with all of Hope’s specialists to discuss the gravity of Hope’s condition. The physicians have stated that she will continue to have severe medical problems, and her health will continue to decline. The doctors see an end. They are not sure from what, but they say Hope is a very very sick child. For the past week, Hope has been made to feel more comfortable and she is extremely sleepy.

Our prayer: We have been praying that God will continue to allow her to feel comfortable. We have watched her suffer in many ways. We pray that God will have mercy on her body and heal her (miraculous healing) or take her home to Heaven with Him (ultimate healing). It has taken some of us time to accept that God’s plan may not be our own. We certainly maintain that God can heal miraculously and make all things new. According to the doctors this is what would have to transpire for her to improve any. However, I also know that Hope’s purpose is not mine to decide. Hannah Grace quotes a verse that comes to mind, “As for God His ways are perfect.” Hope’s future is in God’s hands and always has been. Please continue to keep Hope in your heart and pray for her and our family as we embrace this tragedy. I realize my focus has changed, but her condition has warranted this change. I hope this gives you a better sense of how to pray for Hope and our family. I hope that God is bringing Hope to the end of the medical field’s abilities to rehabilitate so that God can reveal His awesome power through a physical earthly healing (This is my heart’s strongest desire). Doctors believe her condition is hopeless unless God intervenes!

Psalms 18: 30- 36
30.  As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
31.  For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?
32.  It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
33.  He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.
34.  He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35.  You give me your shield of victory,
and your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.
36.  You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.

This verse meant a lot to me when I was in college. I would memorize it when I ran. I have not seen these verses since then until I looked up Hannah Grace’s memory verse and read the context. God speaks to us through His word. I am thankful I have it because I can take refuge in it. It gives me comfort and a peace that transcends all understanding. I don’t understand sometimes how I am able to stand in front of over 100 9th graders (Hope’s grade) and direct them in their career paths. Some of my students even know Hope. God is good all the time. Verse 36 means the most to me today… God even cares about our ankles turning! I know He cares for Hope, but He has a plan that is bigger than me or my ankles, but thanks and praise be to God that He cares for my ankles. God is showing His love toward us now by refining our faith.
The following verse was the one God revealed early in the ICU when I asked God Why? He spoke to me with this verse…

1 Peter 1: 6-7

6.  In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
7.  These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

My sister and I were going through some pictures for a scrapbook and thought I would share some pics.

Well, today was busy. We met so many people and were assessed by many therapists. We saw some positive actions by Hope.  When the music therapist came in to sing some Taylor Swift songs to her, she was asked to look toward the therapist and she looked on two different occasions. She does not respond to many commands, but we are pretty sure that she intentionally looked in her direction. Another thing that was very touching/ encouraging was that when her grandparents were leaving, mom asked Hope to raise her hand to signal a wave and she did.  We moved her for the first time into a wheelchair. She was assessed by another therapist, and she confirmed that Hope is swallowing on her own. This is instrumental in getting her able to eat on her own… Praise God this is not a battle that we are fighting now! Read the rest of this entry »