Ashley's Story

She will leave fingerprints all over your heart

6/24/2007

Thank you so much to all who have commented and shared their thoughts and prayers with us. It is very helpful to hear from so many of you. To anonymous, we carry no malice or venom towards you, it just is very hurtful when someone points there finger at my wife and tells her how she is doing it wrong. Our life over the last 2 years has been one struggle after another concurrently with one blessing after another and I certainly could not describe the roller coaster of emotions we have experienced. I think my beautiful wife has done an exceptional job with this journal trying to describe all the ups and downs. I grew closer to her even when we were separated so long. When she was away I drew much strength from reading her words on this blog and getting a glimpse into her world away from mine. Trish, you have done a fabulous job and I am proud of you.

Ash has had a rough day with what appears to be a inflammatory response around the tube that is in her tummy. She has been sleeping then wakes up screaming and grabbing at the tube. She did smile and play a little about 7 tonight and that was really nice to see. As I am listening to Blue's Clues tonight as I drift off to sleep I will be praying and asking the Father to please give our little Gherkin a better day tomorrow.

I thank you all for your kind words. I will be praying for you tonight as well.

Goodnight,

DAVE

21 Comments:

At 10:38 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Lord, heal tiny Ashley's body from this infection. Heal Trish's heart and give the family renewal and grace as only you can. You are Awesome God! Amen...Love and prayers and thoughts, Colleen

 
At 11:16 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dave, THANK YOU for posting tonight and giving us the update on little Ashley. We will certainly join you in praying for a much better day tomorrow.

Thank you, also, for reminding those who do not really know you or Trish, that the last 2 years of your lives have been filled with so many unknowns, so many trials with so many decisions to be made, with all those months of family seperation, with so many days in the darkness of the valleys but oh so blessed with all the times on the mountaintop.

We have all benefited greatly from all the postings from Trish and from you. You have both posted from the heart and it is so evident the Lord is your guide, your source of strength, your Comfortor, your Sustainer and your source of peace. He has blessed you with so many prayer warriors on behalf of Ashley's Story, but, He has also blessed so many through all your postings.
As others have commented, it is also evident that so many are drawn to Tish's posting and in doing so, they are drawn closer to God and are filled with inspiration and hope. It serves as a reminder how much we should love and appreciate our families, how we should treasure the time we have with them and that we should honor and serve our Almighty Father in all that we say and do.
Will we stumble at times? Will we ever feel discouraged? Will we have thoughts of doubt and fear?? Will we sometimes feel we are face to face with a giant?? Will we fall short in always doing /saying the right thing?? The answer to every one of these is, of course, Yes, yes, yes. We were made in God's image but we were not made perfect so we do fall short but that doesn't mean that we don't keep trying. We admit our faults, our doubts and our fears and by acknowledging our weaknesses we know that God is always there to hold on to to talk to and that with His help, all things are possible.
Trish....Dave.....thank you for allowing us to know your heart, thank you for sharing your thoughts, joys, concerns, prayer requests and yes, your fears.

So, with this Goliath that has made comments just shows we do come in contact with giants that satan has to use because he is so furious because he can see what a force you are to deal with because of your elequent way with words that all end up giving honor and glory to our Creator, Father, Savior and our Comforter. So, as Carrie Underwood would say, "Jesus Take the Wheel" and just keep on allowing us to stay on this journey with you and then Christ Jesus will be victorious in this whole situation.

Much love, concern, gratitude and prayers~~~~~~~Always~~~~In His Love~~~

 
At 11:34 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Heavenly Father I come to you asking that you take away the pain that Little Miss Ashley Kate is experiencing. We pray believing that you and you alone can heal her from this infection. Give her a good and restful night of sleep..so that her mommy and daddy will receive the same. May you continue to bless this precious family. In His Love, Terry

 
At 12:17 AM , Blogger Sarah said...

Dave, I left y'all comments at the last couple of posts--I've been away from the computer for a while and just got caught up. Seeing comments like Anonymous made angers me tremendously; your wife's precious spirit comes through mightily in her posts, and it fires me up to see somebody bash her! I think it makes me more mad than if somebody had said the same thing about me, instead of about her! Y'all have been through enough, without putting up with attacks from people you don't even know.

There. I'm feeling much better. :)

I hope by the time you read this tomorrow, that you are too, and that Ashley finds relief from her inflammation. She remains on our hearts always, and even our little boy prays for her nightly. Take care, Sarah

 
At 12:55 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Glad to see your post tonight and would encourage you both to be "ducks" and just let all the stuff roll off your backs like water off a duck's back!

Encouragement from your posts comes in various forms, maybe many of which would never occur to either of you to necessarily be encouragement. But the Lord our God uses your posts in ways that only He can as you continue to share your hearts as well as His love and faithfulness in all things.

Try to just ignore the fiery darts, except to know that He has allowed them as opportunities to prove and strengthen your faith and reliance upon Him and Him alone. I know it's a hard thing, but nothing is too hard for our God in you.

Please don't feel the need to defend yourselves either. It just really isn't necessary. :)

 
At 3:43 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Praying for you all today.

To Anonymous - a word from Jesus for you:

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Luke 6:37

 
At 6:54 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing once again. My 10-year daughter was crushed when she read the post that hurt so much. It hurt her as well. We have come to love and glean blessings from Ashley's story. But as with anything in life, we used this opportunity as a lesson and pray that we continue to grow through it. We pray that Ashley was able to get some rest this evening and may God help her fight this infection completely. We love you ALL and will check back with a lively hope of the infection being GONE! God Bless! ~ Tambi in WV

 
At 8:28 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for the update Dave. Of course the prayers will continue, for the gherkin and for your family.

 
At 8:52 AM , Blogger Paulette said...

Dave and Trish,
Thanks for updating,I am sad that Trish was hurt, it hurts us who support ya'll as well. I am praying for each one of you, and especially Ashley. Thanks for letting us know how to pray.
Trish I do miss you.

 
At 9:46 AM , Blogger Amy T said...

Praying for a better day today for you all. It must be so hard to see your loved ones in pain. I pray for Ashley's pain and for Trish's. Thanks for the update.

 
At 10:01 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for the comments Dave. You are a true man of God. I hear that in your comments and in the very fact that you are commenting on the journal right now. Thank you for protecting Trish and defending her. I am thankful that the two of you are so close and are on the same page. Tell Trish we miss her. She is SOOO eloquent with words. Judy

 
At 10:13 AM , Blogger Mrs. Hany said...

I am a lurker and faithfully come to prayer for you little one and your entire family (In Illinois). I know that many have commented on anon, but truly only a coward would write evil words and then not sign a name to them. Others have mentioned that "she may be blunt or from the south". There is a biblical difference in chastisement and in attacking. Anon was attacking for unknown reasons and in your true Christian style you were kind and gentle and real in your response. Whether you decide to continue this blog or not, you have forever touched our lives and we will always pray for you. Also anon claims that she was only saying what others were thinking and she was the chosen spokesperson - no one who loves you or cares about your family was ever or will ever think that your words false. The Lord chose you as parents for Ashley Kate and new that His name would be glorified through this. We do love your family and pray for them.

 
At 11:42 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sarah, take a deep breath before posting. It will help you to not write such posts as you have.

 
At 12:00 PM , Blogger amy alley said...

dave and trish, i've followed ashley's story for months and while i've never met you, i've prayed for you and little ashley so fervently. thank you for handling such petty issues as thoughtless posts left by anonymous with integrity. you have set the bar high by not stooping to a level in which you attack but have handled it with grace and mercy. may we all (including anonymous) follow your lead and treat others not as they deserve but with the grace and mercy we have been extended by our heavenly Father.

continuing to pray for ashley and your family today.

blessings to you!
amy

 
At 12:17 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have read the "bad" comment by the he/she who left it a few days ago and I actually do not see why so many of the Christians on this blog wrote what they did about he/she ~ the comments left defending Trish and Dave were far worse that what he/she wrote. If you read the words he/she, they are sincere. Simply a self examination if you ask me. It is maybe not their place to do it, but sometimes it is good to take a self check to see if any of it fits. We all know the old saying, if the shoe fits....if it does not fit, then move on...no harm done.

Bottom line, this blog is about the Adams family and not us.....so anyway, those are my thoughts. When you open your life to the wonderful world of the Internet, expect to be bitten more than once. If you do not want to read the comments, then solve it with a few clicks. It is up to you if you want to continue to get comments you may or may not like. It has happened before it will happen again. Probably you are taking this one wrong. Fool me once....

 
At 12:17 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dave ~
Morgan has had something similar recently to what you describe with Ashley. Morgan would wake up in the mornings grabbing her Mic-key button, squat in the floor and just scream. The GI specialist increased her dose of previcid and things got much better. Hope that is of some help.

 
At 12:31 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have been reading & keeping up with your story for some time. I delight in your joys and cry at your lows. I have found so much support thru reading your trials & tribulations. It lets me know that I am not the only person having to deal with problems and also that I am not the only person that doesn't know which way to turn but to the Lord. Ignore the negative people and focus on the positive. To whomever posted the vicious posting, I will be praying for you and your family that you will find joy and peace. After reading your venomous words, I don't think you could be happy with your walk with our Lord or you would never have lashed out to a human being in that way.
May God bless this family and keep them. Thank you God for their openness to share their personal life and your blessings with us. You have showed us how you are the almighty God through them. In Jesus' name.....Amen

 
At 12:57 PM , Blogger cindy/barron said...

Dave, thanks so much for your post i love hearing from you all. I think you and Trish are exceptional people, parents , writers, and Christians,i have learnt so much from this journal the two of you write.Please continue the good work. I believe that when Ashley is old enough to read her lifes journey she will be so proud of the two that was chosen to be her parents, and that she also has two great sibilings. My walk with the Lord was not will strong until i started reading this journal ,it has really thaught me some things, i use to be afraid to witnessed to people about the Lord, but not any more this journal that to amazing people are writing is great.I am so glad to hear the Gerkin is playing a little. God bless you and keep up the good work we love you

 
At 4:03 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's been a few weeks since I've signed in and been updated on your precious baby. I know that when you are hurt by words you want to respond but you really should ignore those words. Too many have answered in anger instead of just plain ignoring what seems to be hateful words. You need to keep doing what you are doing and know many more people then that one anon are following your story. While you may not want to write a book, you are giving Ashly a permenent record of the day by day struggle you and yours are going through. We pray that someday far in the future she will read the blogs and know how much her mother and father fought for her life. As for hateful words ignore and if they hurt you don't read them, by answering hateful words with more hateful words everyone has lost a little love and that person needs love, that's why love thy neighbor is one of the hardest thing to do in this world. With love and prayers, Janene

 
At 4:27 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear anonymous,
I went back and read the comment I made about another goliath coming up the next hill ready to mock Trish's faith and realized how heartless, unloving, and uncaring that sound and realized I owed you an apology. I am sorry. Judy

 
At 4:32 PM , Blogger Troy and Melanie said...

First of all once again, I have fallen behind in giving words of encouragement to you guys. We see David every week (unless Troy gets tied up at work and we can't break away). Despite the lack of words posted by us on this site know that we constantly pray for the two of you and your precious children. I read all the updates, in fact I could call myself selfish for soaking up all you have to say and not leaving you a note to at least know that we are thinking about you and praying. I still remember calling you that day long ago before the website ever began and telling you "you don't know me but I felt like I needed to call and tell you that I was praying for you"

After reading the most recent anonymous comment I wanted to share:

I recently read in a church newsletter where the pastor wrote an article telling the church body that if someone wrote a note and didn't sign their name that the comment would be thrown away. This was after someone anonymously pointed out a mistake that was made when quoting a resource used in his sermon. He was asking the person to come forward so that he could thank them for catching his mistake and I can't remember what all else....but it just made me think, there is no reason to post anonymously on this website. If I was afraid to sign my name to a comment, I would take that as the Holy Spirit leading me not to post what I had typed. If we truly feel convicted to write something we shouldn't be afraid to post our name. Now I know there are lots of positive anonymous posters out there, and that's great, but why aren't you posting your name? Are you scared? Ashamed? Maybe some other reason? I know this family, and I know that this "network" of people that have come together to encourage the Adams family on their journey also pray for each other in times of need. Each time Trish has requested prayer for families of other transplant children, or other blogger friends most if not all of us have prayed for requests....so consider signing your name so that we can know the name of all the fellow encouragers that have become like an extended family to the Adams.

Trish has shared the lowest of lows and the highest of highs with the world....in the most public of places, the internet. The fact that she shares not only the positives but also the negatives makes me connect with her on a whole other level. The story hits me on a more personal level...she's like me!! If I were walking in her shoes, I know the Father would equip me but I don't think that I could do it so gracefully. She has shared her darkest of fears - which whether we choose voice ours or not, they are still there and the Father knows. She and Dave have walked this winding path that has been set before them with such grace. I have prayed and will continue to pray for this family through their journey of writing the pages of Ashley's Story, they are never far from my heart or mind. We love you guys.

 

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