Randolph History 102: Ansley

Our family seemed complete with a big brother and dainty little sister. However, after noticing that Ansley seemed limp and didn't have much muscle tone, we became concerned. We didn't have to worry too long before a trip to the ER shook our "routine" world. We'd taken Ansley to the ER at Scottish Rite due to her wheezing. We'd been told that she might have asthma which wasn't a big deal since Eric, too, has asthma. However, when we arrived at the hospital, Ansley was whisked away into a trauma room because of her low blood oxygen. Looking back, I don't know if those call those rooms "trauma rooms" because of the patent's trauma or the parents'. Anyway, we were eventually transferred to Scottish Rite Children's Hospital where she was admitted to PICU. She remained there for six weeks. Doctors assumed that she had a rare and terminal disease, Pompe's. We were finally released to come home right before Grant's 3rd birthday. However, we were dismissed with a laundry list of medications, oxygen, a feeding tube, and enough monitors to make neighbors mistake our apartment for some sci-fi set for a movie!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
During all of this, Eric lost his job. Since I had been staying at home, this was devastating financially. It is extremely humbling to admit but I ended up in the line for WIC and Medicaid for the kids. Through a host of miraculous events, I was able to return to my old school and begin teaching again in October. This is almost unheard of - getting a job in the middle of the year! The position was for a long-term substitute. Funny enough, this job only existed in our county for two years! Eric was able to go back to his old Chick-fil-A job that he had in college in the evenings. Only by the grace of God did we keep our rent paid and food on the table. So, I worked during the day while Eric took care of Grant and tended to Ansley's medical needs. Then, when I got home, we traded jobs. I can guarantee this is NOT how to grow a healthy marriage!

In February of 2003, Ansley's conditioned worsened again. We were readmitted to Egleston. I continued working while Eric stayed at the hospital with Ansley and a host of friends and relatives took care of Grant. Although we still had not gotten a final diagnosis for Pompe's disease, all of the symptoms pointed directly to that. Pompe's is a genetic disease but Eric and I could not find any other evidence of it in our lineages. It is very rare.

In March, Ansley's death was inevitable. Eric and I made the decision to take her home. We were dismissed to hospice. Doctors, respiratory therapists, and nurses escorted us from Atlanta back to Kennesaw to get Ansley situated. We were worried with Grant's perception of things but he kept the role of innocent three year old big brother and became her protector. I won't lie and say that the next few days were blissful. They weren't. We had an apartment full of relatives and friends. Anyone who knows me can tell you that I'm NOT a social being and I'd much rather live under a rock than have to socialize! However, we were grateful for all of the help.

Before Ansley's hospitalization, we'd fallen away from our church family. We'd simply become "too busy." However, when Ansley was admitted to the hospital the first time, I called the church that Grant had been attending for preschool and simply ask them to pray. I had no idea that they would assign us a class that would become our shepards. All of those "unknown" friends brought food, gave money, and stayed on their knees for us.

On March 3rd, Eric's best friend and his new wife (they came home from their honeymoon to be with us) were with us having dinner. Eric and Jay (Ansley's middle name) were about to leave to go to Blockbuster. However, moments before they could leave, Ansley's monitors alarmed. Grant turned the monitors off just as he'd been instructed to do many times before. Ansley slipped from the bonds of her disease and into Jesus'. The word that comes to mind is - peace. There were no nurses running crazily from station to station, just Ansley and our family.

Obviously, it's much easier for me to write all of this with five years worth of time passed. However, the biggest thing that I constantly remember from our short experience with Ansley was her huge impact on all of those around her. In her nine months here, her demeanor and spunk showed how pure God's love is. At her funeral, pediatricians, doctors, nurses, and administrators from the hospital were in attendance along with all of our new church family. I can guarantee you they weren't there because of how perfect her parents had been!!!

Anyway, through Ansley, we gained precious friends which we still consider our best friends, a more grounded view of how finite things on this Earth are, and how gracious God is.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.