Hello everyone,

It has been an amazing few weeks since I've last updated you.  We continue to receive multiple phone calls every week, as well as postings on our website and emails from the Woman's World article.  God is SO good and He continues to use this vehicle to spread hope, encouragement and new life.

I spoke with Mary Cate from South Carolina today.  She is the lady who posted on our website after reading the article.  She was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when she was a baby and her husband, Welton, is a quadriplegic.  She told me they were going to Wal Mart one day and she had forgotten to charge her electric wheelchair.  She decided to go with Welton and stay at the front of Wal Mart (because of her wheelchair not being charged) while he shopped (in his wheelchair which was charged).  As she sat there, she started looking up at all of these magazines.  She pulled a copy of Woman's World (which she never reads magazines) and she opened it right up to our article (no flipping at all).  She read the article and started crying.  She called Welton on her cell phone and told him to come back to the front of the store immediately.  He wheeled up and asked what was wrong.  She showed him the article and he said '"I told you that you didn't have Cerebral Palsy." 

I spent almost 2 hours on the phone with Mary Cate today.  Her stories of faith, boldness, courage and obedience to follow the Lord were powerful. Her life is filled with incredible challenges, trials and much more.  This week Welton suffered third degree burns on his foot and didn't even know it because he couldn't feel it.  Their phone lines were hit by lightening.  She does all the work around the house (except cutting the wood and windows), her hands start to tremor when she tries to write, and so much more. She is incredibly bright, articulate and determined.  No matter what comes up, she knows that God is in control and all things are possible with Him.  She has been at complete peace with her disability and always knew that God could heal her if that was His plan, but either way, she felt blessed and grateful.  She feels like God has used this article to call her to a ministry of spreading the news about Dystonia.  Mary Cate attends national conferences for disabilities all around the world.  She is incredibly active in the disability field.  She has already copied the Woman's World article and sent out copies to hundreds of people she has met all over the world.  Her family history and physical presentation fit the category of Dystonia very well.  She did walk, at one point in school, but her legs started tremoring so much that she finally got a wheelchair.  Dystonia is highly genetic and, if you remember, she has a lot of members of her family who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's, tremors, etc.  Her feet turned in at one point and she has had multiple surgeries to correct them (another sign of Dystonia). 

She knows that, even if she doesn't respond to the medication, God has called her to effect change in other people's lives and this is a woman that is completely dedicated to following the Lord's call!  There is SO much more I want to share, but I'll end with this request.  Could you join me in praying for God's guidance for Mary Cate, Welton and their doctor?  Their family physician is out of town next week but he is reading a packet of documents I sent them and he is just about ready to start Mary Cate on the Sinemet.  Pray for the proper dosage, pray for a great response to the medication, pray for healing, pray for other family members to respond to the medication, pray that God would continue to guide Mary Cate in the ministries He's called her to and pray that He would give Welton a peace about Mary Cate's possible healing. 

I had a lady call me named Susan.  Her mother had sent her the article a few weeks ago for Susan's daughter's daughter, Kayleigh.  Four generations, WOW!  God is AMAZING!!!   Kayleigh is five years old.  Please pray for Susan as she desires to share the information with her daughter, Michelle.  She is worried about how Michelle will receive the information for her daughter, Kayleigh.

Also, a lady named Dayna called as her husband had come home with the article from Woman's World magazine, another example of God's work.  Her five year old daughter, Daleney, has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy as well.  Please pray for direction for their family regarding Daleney's health and for God's blessing on their family.

Every time I talk to someone on the phone, I pray with them.  God has used this, not just to share the information about Dystonia, but to offer hope, encouragement and direction back to Him.  Some women have walked away from their faith, some don't have faith and some just need a word of encouragement and someone that can relate to what they are going through.  God's hand continues to be in every detail and He continues to blow me away with His awesome guidance! Please pray that God continues to use this article that has been out of print for almost three months.  Pray that He will open up new avenues to share His miracle for our kids.

Thank you for your continued prayers and love!  We are TRULY blessed!

In His mighty and capable hands,

Retta (Joe, Zach, Noah and Alexis)