#BANNERBUTT

Meet #BannerButt...

Banner is a 4 year old little boy that has been staying at our staff house for the last 2+ months. He is joy. He can make anyone laugh, smile and feel loved. Around the staff house when anyone is having a rough day we just say, "Go have some Banner time" or "get a hug from Banner". 

He is a light in our lives and radiates Jesus love. 

When I first met Banner I fell in love. I also fell into "mom mode". I wanted to help him. See, Banner is 4-years old and doesn't yet walk or talk. You could just tell he wanted to. He wanted to get up and chase after us or tell us exactly what he wanted. But he couldn't. So I decided to reach out to a few people just to see if anyone knew any clinics in the area that we could go to. A lady I use to work with who is a nurse told me about a free clinic at Respire. It was the first of its kind. A special needs clinic with Physical and Occupational Therapists being the main focus.  So off Kendra (a girl I work with who has loved Banner so well over the 2+ months that he has been with imME), our driver Fred, Banner and I went. 

We had to leave the house at 6:40am to get to the clinic in time. Well this is Haiti so we left around 7:00am and got to the clinic around 8:20am thanks to some help with directions from a moto driver in the area. 

After we arrived at Respire we waited to get registered before we made our way through the stations. We went from station to station getting Banner weighed, learning about nutrition, a sensory station, a therapeutic ball station, we met with a doctor to get a lump on his neck checked out (this is also where we got his diagnosis of CP), got him tested for anemia, got him meds for worms and then the grand finale was getting to meet with the occupational therapist and physical therapists. 

There was a lot of waiting between each station. Banner was a real trooper! I can't imagine sitting in a doctors office for 4 hours with any other 4 year old. 

We walked in the room and Banner immediately started to show them what he is made of. He was a complete flirt and played with all of the doctors and helpers. After some tests were run they decided to fit him with some sweet AFOs (Ankle Foot Orthosis). 

With some help he took to the walking. You could see his face light up as he started to get the hang of it. He seemed to almost light up. Like, he saw this sense of freedom that he was getting.

After he got fitted we started our journey home to give this kid a much needed break. We were told to come back in 2 days to get his lump on his neck checked and to get his walker. 

Banner did it. With the help of his walker HE WALKED. He was strong enough to hold his own body weight. He was brave enough to take that next step. 

{Can we say that we are brave enough for whatever the next step God has for us is?}

I don't really want more time; I just want enough time. Time to breathe deep and time to see real and time to laugh long, time to give You glory and rest deep and sing joy and just enough time in a day not to feel hounded, pressed, driven, or wild to get it all done-yesterday.” 
― Ann Voskamp

These were Banners amazing nurses, doctors and therapist. They are amazing people. I had never really seen the medical side of missions before but was amazed at how God can use this occupation to touch so many lives. Although they were only here for a short time, the impact they made is lasting. I can not wait to be able to reach out to them one day and show them Banner walking on his own two feet. 

Matthew 5:16, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds  and glorify your Father in heaven."