PrayersForJon.com
Jon Clark is a 20 year old sophomore at the University of Georgia, majoring in Special Education. He graduated from Wheeler High School in 2003 and is active at Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church in Marietta, GA. While on a retreat with the youth group from Mt. Bethel, Jon suffered an aneurysm. This site exists to give you a place to get updates on his situation, as well as an area to leave notes for his family.
| Pray continually 1 Thessalonians 5:17 |
 |
Jesus replied, “...I tell
you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can
say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it
will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20 |
Latest Updates
| New Site |
| Posted: Oct 01, 2008 - 11:54 PM (15,227 views) |
| Hi Friends, I've decided after posting to this site for over three years to move to another site. The new address is www.prayersforjon.blogspot.com . Come visit! ~Mary |
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| Surgery Update |
| Posted: Aug 05, 2008 - 09:22 PM (11,486 views) |
| Jonathon looks amazing! He still has a little swelling at the surgery site, but he looks soooooo good! The surgeon made the incision behind his ear at the site of the scar from his aneurysm surgery and shaved an area about an inch wide around it so it is virtually undetectable from the front. Since it has been almost a month since the surgery, his hair has even grown back and is starting to cover the area that had been shaved. By the time he returns to Athens, he’ll be ready to enter a “Best Looking Guy on Campus” competition! Seriously, we couldn’t be more pleased. God has been so good in orchestrating every detail that has brought us to this point in Jonathon’s recovery. With the two surgeries he’s had this summer, I believe he will start his next school year with even greater confidence than he’s had in the past. For those who are interested in seeing the “results” of his surgeries, here is a link to a few “Before” and “After” photos: http://tinyurl.com/6cj4uj Is it no wonder that I think of Stephen Curtis Chapman’s “Fingerprints of God” when I look at this wonderful masterpiece of His?..... I can see the tears filling your eyes And I know where they're coming from They're coming from a heart that's broken in two By what you don't see The person in the mirror Doesn't look like the magazine Oh, but when I look at you it's clear to me that... I can see the fingerprints of God When I look at you I can see the fingerprints of God And I know it's true You're a masterpiece That all creation quietly applauds And you're covered with the fingerprints of God Never has there been and never again Will there be another you Fashioned by God's hand And perfectly planned To be just who you are And what He's been creating Since the first beat of your heart Is a living breathing priceless work of art and... I can see the fingerprints of God When I look at you I can see the fingerprints of God And I know it's true You're a masterpiece That all creation quietly applauds And you're covered with the fingerprints of God Just look at you You're a wonder in the making Oh, and God's not through, no In fact, He's just getting started and… Keeping my faith in the Potter, Mary "Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." ~ Isaiah 64:8 |
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| Touched By An Angel |
| Posted: Jun 20, 2008 - 07:53 AM (10,134 views) |
| Since my last post, a LOT has happened! First of all, Jonathon turned 24 on Wednesday! Isn’t that awesome? To even GET to celebrate his birthday is a joy beyond description! When I look at him, I see the hand of God in a mighty, mighty way…..We have been incredibly blessed. Every year that passes I am reminded that our children truly ARE only ours for a little while, and I thank our God for the time He has granted us to spend with each one. BIG news is that it appears that the eye surgery was a success! His right eye seems to be in alignment now, and although he still has some redness and swelling, it looks like he is definitely on the road to recovery. Even BIGGER news is that the plastic surgery appeal I wrote about HAS BEEN APPROVED! I got a call on Monday of this week from the surgeon’s secretary telling me that they had received approval to proceed with the surgery……I am amazed! I almost think that the most amazing part of it all is that the plastic surgeon was willing to “go to bat” for Jonathon because he felt so strongly that it needed to be done. Surgery is scheduled for July 9 at 10:00 in the morning. As Jonathon says, “It’s time to put Humpty back together again!” Again……….we are so blessed. As I mentioned earlier, Wednesday was Jonathon’s 24th birthday. As part of his birthday celebration, we decided it was time to go to the Department of Motor Vehicles and get a state identification card for him, something that we’ve known needed to be done but postponed until his current driver’s license expired……..which it did that day. I admit that as I drove him there, my heart was heavy because I remembered so vividly the excitement Jonathon had felt when he first received his license at the age of 16. Somehow it felt almost cruel to ask him to surrender that little card that represented so much of the life he enjoyed prior to his aneurysm, a life filled with hopping in the car to go anywhere he chose rather than waiting for someone else to drive him. As fate would have it (or God I believe), when he stated his request to the clerk at the DMV the gentleman asked him if he had ever held a license to drive. Jonathon said yes he had, but that due to the loss of peripheral vision on his left side, he could no longer drive. Then the most wonderful thing happened—the man asked him if he believed he would ever drive again, to which Jonathon replied, “Yes, I believe someday I will!” The man said that he believed that he would also, and suggested that Jonathon go ahead and just renew his current license so he’d “be ready” when that time came! He said “You know you can renew for 10 years now, so that will give you time to be back driving.” I couldn’t believe my ears! Here was an agent of the state telling my son that he, too, had faith that Jonathon’s ability to drive again someday would be restored. I have no doubt whatsoever that God put that man in our path! In fact, as Jonathon was having his photo taken for his new license, the gentleman came over to see that everything was going okay, and when I explained to him some of what had transpired over the past few years and how Jonathon truly believed that one day his ability to drive would be returned to him, he just smiled and said, “Ah, he’ll be okay, Mom. I believe that, too.” I said, “You are such a kind man” and gave his arm a pat, but what I really wanted to do was throw my arms around him and give him a big ‘ol hug! As we were leaving, I turned around to again thank him for his encouragement and help, but he was nowhere to be seen! I scanned that room thoroughly, but it was almost as if he had vanished! Do I believe there are angels among us? Oh yes I do, and both Jonathon and I had been touched by one that day……in the most unlikely of places—the Department of Motor Vehicles! In Him who places angels in our paths every day, Mary "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" ~ Hebrews 1:14 "Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises" ~ 2 Peter 1:4 "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him" ~ Psalm 37:7 |
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| Another Surgery |
| Posted: Jun 04, 2008 - 11:36 PM (9,077 views) |
| On Monday morning, Jonathon had surgery to correct a condition in his right eye called strabismus which caused the eye to deviate in alignment. Although many people are actually born with this condition, his developed as a result of the aneurysm—either from the actual rupture or from the surgery to repair the rupture. At any rate and although it caused only a slight deviation, it’s something that Jonathon noticed and desired to have corrected so he underwent a rather painful procedure to do so. He is recuperating well from the surgery, although his eye looks a bit like he’s been in a fight! He said yesterday that he looks like he took a beating! I told him, “Yeah, but you should see how the other guy looks!” (On a side note--another Godspot--Jonathon's intake nurse was the wife of the pastor of a local church, and she and her husband are not only friends with the pastor of our church, but also with the man who was our youth director at the time of Jon's aneurysm--the one who first called me after Jonathon collapsed. God is so good! He continues to place people in our path that we feel "connected" to!) We are now in the process of battling AGAIN with our insurance company for another procedure he desires to have. (We lost our appeal for the electronic device for his leg so you can imagine how thrilled we are to be fighting them again!) But anyway……..after he had fully recovered from his cranioplasty (the surgery to replace the piece of his skull that was removed during his original surgery), we noticed that his right temporal area was still not totally reconstructed. According to the neurosurgeon, the muscles in that area commonly atrophy resulting in a “sunken” appearance. Although he said that most guys just “live with it or comb their hair over it” (which unfortunately isn’t an option for Jon; he doesn’t’ have that much hair!), we decided together to pursue reconstructive surgery to improve the appearance of the area. I know it may sound somewhat shallow of me but I know that the way Jonathon is perceived by others is affected by his appearance. He’s so sweet, though; he said that if fighting for approval was going to be an uphill battle, he would be okay to stay like he is. He’s so happy just to be alive! We are so blessed. (And we WILL keep fighting!) At this point the insurance company says it will only pay for the surgery if it's "medically necessary", even though the plastic surgeon has stated that he believes Jonathon needs the reconstruction. From a medical standpoint, I suppose it's not "necessary", but it definitely is the result of a medical situation beyond Jonathon's control. Oh, the insurance company has said that we could go ahead with the procedure and THEN submit the surgical notes for their review! Of course, there is absolutely no guarantee that the operation would be covered then! Even the surgeon said he was very reluctant to proceed with the surgery not knowing if it would be covered. So there you have it........please pray for a favorable outcome on this. I believe with all my heart that Jonathon deserves this chance. To those of you who continue to follow our journey, I am truly humbled. Your cheers in the distance give us strength to keep running the marathon, but oh, how we'd love a nice little sprint! In Him, Mary "Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you." ~ 1 Chronicles 28:20 "The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." ~ Psalm 126:3 |
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| Remembering |
| Posted: Apr 30, 2008 - 09:52 PM (9,182 views) |
| The past month has been an emotional one. We’ve experienced things that caused us to truly reflect on all that we have to be thankful for. There has been joy, and there has been sorrow, but always there has been gratitude…. Mid-month David and I attended a get-together of his high school friends, and from the moment I walked into the room, I felt a tug at my heart just seeing the life changes that each man and woman had experienced. Of course, there was plenty of gray hair and bald heads (on the men—most of the women had covered up the gray!), but there were other changes that made me realize just how quickly we pass through this life. I met a man who David told me later was “one of the hardest hitters on the football team” who had suffered a stroke several years ago and had great difficulty with simple communication..…but he was there! I met a man who had been struck by a car as he was riding his bike, resulting in damage to his spinal column. He now wears braces on his legs to walk……..but he was there! I met a woman who lost her husband last year after several years of illness; I met both men and women who were attending without a spouse due to either divorce or death……but they were there! I couldn’t help but think as we drove home that by the grace of God, they were all there. I realized yet again how blessed we are that Jonathon, too, will be able to attend his own class reunions (God willing) and that yes, maybe he’ll be different than he was back in high school……..but he’ll BE there! My heart is full as I realize all that he will be able to enjoy because of God’s amazing grace and mercy. Just a week ago, we learned of the death of a young man in Kentucky who had suffered a fatal brain injury as the result of a schoolyard fight. How tragic! His family walked through the valley for over a month and a half and emerged from it without the son and brother they had loved so dearly for 15 years. Why God answers some prayers one way and others another, I will never know. What I DO know is that He is still worthy of our praise! Some may say that it’s easy for me to say that when we didn’t have to give our Jonathon back to Him, but I know in the depths of my soul that even if God had chosen to call our son Home to Him, He would still be worthy of praise for all that He has done in our lives. Not IN SPITE OF, but BECAUSE OF the valley we walked through in our darkest hours, we are able to see His hand in the tiniest of our circumstances as well as the greatest. As I learned this week in my Bible study, [i:a2440c5573]I will meditate on all His works, and consider all His mighty deeds[/i:a2440c5573]. (Psalm 77) I drove to Athens last Wednesday to take refills of Jonathon’s medications to him, and as I got into town I called him to let him know that I was almost there. What a beautiful sight it was to see him walking from the dining hall across the parking lot to meet me! I have to say that it was one of the most wonderful things I’ve witnessed in my life. To think that just two years ago, he was struggling to take a few steps with a walker! Tomorrow I will go again to Athens to assist with an end-of-semester cookout for his fraternity. As trivial as that may seem to some, I am overwhelmed with gratitude that I have the opportunity to still “be a mom” to Jonathon. Although there is still so much that I want for him, I am happy in knowing that he is exactly where God planned for him to be! Each day and in the tiniest as well (as the greatest) of ways, I am able to see God at work in each of our lives. On THIS day, we will praise God for all that He has done in Jonathon’s life as well as ours. He is SO worthy! Thank you for your continued prayers on our behalf. I ask that you lift Jonathon and Jeff up as they take their final exams for the semester. Jon is completing his first year back on campus (can you believe it?), and Jeff will be graduating in just a couple of weeks. God has been good to us....yes, God's been good! In Him, Mary "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds." ~ Psalm 77: 11-12 |
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| Easter and Comfort Zones |
| Posted: Mar 25, 2008 - 10:28 AM (9,518 views) |
| Two days ago we celebrated Easter, and in keeping with a tradition that began in 2006, the year after Jon's aneurysm, we took "care" bags to the families who were spending their Easter Sunday in the ICU waiting room at Grady. Each year at Easter we remember how it felt to be there instead of attending church service with our family and gathering for a big family feast afterward. Oh, we were unbelievably blessed to have our family join us on that day at Grady, making us a near-spectacle in the eyes of some, I'm sure. Our family overwhelmed us by bringing the feast to us.......and a feast it was indeed! In true southern tradition, they brought enough food to not only feed us but everyone else in that waiting room! Oh how we've been blessed! Unfortunately, not everyone we met while Jon was a patient is as blessed as we are, so we now consider it a joy and an honor to visit with the families there on Easter Sunday. This year our trip was quite different from the previous two years. In the past, we've encountered wall-to-wall people crammed into the waiting areas and have had to apologize that we didn't have enough bags for everyone. THIS year, however, we were shocked to find very few people in the waiting areas (some were in the patient area with their loved ones, and some had taken a break from the waiting room). We had plenty of bags with us so we chatted with the few people we did encounter--one sweet lady took my hand and said, "I remember you; I met you last night!" (ummmmm..........no not me, but it was still sweet)--and left bags for those families who were not in the waiting area at the time of our visit. It is always such a blessing to us to be able to share with others in their own time of need. As we drove home, I commented to my boys (David, Jon, and Jeff) that part of my Bible Study had been about finding ways to step outside our comfort zones. Although I feel that we are all comfortable now in making these trips to Grady, it is somewhat of a step outside the "norm" for us since we tend to live the majority of our lives within a small geographical area and keep our relationships with the same group of friends we've had for years. Stepping outside our little picket-fence zones keeps us aware that not everyone we encounter has lived such a blessed life. I want this to be a legacy my children will pass on their children. When I think of all that God has done for us.......stepping outside the ultimate "comfort zone" and sacrificing His own Son for our sins, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Thank you, Lord; I am so unworthy but forever grateful. In Him alone, Mary "He who belongs to God hears what God says." ~ John 8:47 "Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you." ~ Isaiah 43:4 "For it is by grace you have been saved," ~ Ephesians 2:8 |
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| Happy Anniversary! |
| Posted: Mar 12, 2008 - 11:11 PM (9,254 views) |
| Today we celebrated the third anniversary of Jonathon's aneurysm. When I stop to think of all the blessings that God has poured on us in the past three years, I am so humbled at His mercy and grace. I know no other way to say it! GOD IS GOOD! Ironically, the mother of a former student (now a dear friend) underwent surgery today to remove a brain tumor in the right temporal lobe of her brain, the same area where Jon's aneurysm ruptured. As I was lifting her up in prayer, I thought about all of the emotions we experienced during his surgery and thanked God again for Jon's miraculous outcome. Even more ironic is the fact that one of the same surgeons (now chief resident) who was on Jon's neurosurgery team was also on my friend's mother's team. Do I think that was coincidence? Of course not! I never even mentioned the name of this particular doctor, thinking the likelihood of him being her doctor was, as my mother used to say, "slim and none". I love being wrong! (Okay, about SOME things I don't mind being wrong. I DO like to be right, too!) What an absolute joy it was to hear that this family had been blessed with one of Jon's neurosurgeons, the one that I have often referred to as "my favorite". As I told my friend, it made my heart sing! Also today Jon and I went to Athens for his advisement appointment. Since he is not yet ready to apply for his major, his advisor recommended several courses for him to take that would put him on the road to obtaining a minor in Child and Family Development. We also discussed the possibility that if it became too difficult for him to meet the criteria for admittance to the Special Education degree program, he might consider a major in Child and Family Development or one in Recreation and Leisure Studies. Either of those areas would also afford him the opportunity to work with special needs youth and adults, something that Jon has wanted to do since high school. I believe that he has a real calling to work with those with special needs, whether in the classroom or some other venue. Who knows? Maybe he'll work in a clinical setting or with a community group. Or.......maybe he'll teach like he's said he wants to do. I know this--whatever he does, he'll do with a heart and understanding like no other. He has a perspective that few will ever have. As I wrap up this post, Jonathon is making a Starbucks run with a friend. There was a time not so very long ago when I wondered if he'd ever be able to enjoy the simple pleasures of "hanging out" with his friends. I thank God every day for not only giving me back my son, but also for giving my son caring friends who accept him for who he is. In Him, Mary "The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him." ~ Exodus 15:2 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” ~ Romans 8:28 |
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| Wheelchair Available |
| Posted: Feb 28, 2008 - 10:24 PM (9,727 views) |
| We said goodbye to two old “friends” last week, although neither of them seemed to care! They were both inanimate, of course, but had been such a vital part of Jon’s life that we all grew to depend on them very much……..I didn’t say “love”, however. The first we parted ways with was the wheelchair. Can you believe it? After almost three years of use, the day came when Jon’s therapist told him he no longer needed to even have a wheelchair in the house! Over the past few months as he has become stronger and more confident in his walking, he had gotten to the point where he only used it when he first woke up in the morning and each night before he got in bed. Each of those times are times when he isn’t wearing either a brace on his leg or the electronic stimulation device. After a visit with the physical therapist last week in which she “timed” him in various walk modes, she told us that he was strong enough without either device to at least walk short distances (i.e. – from his bed to the shower in the morning) and that we could “get rid of that thing!” What a day to commemorate! She also told us that based on the timings she did, there is evidence that the electronic stimulation is strengthening the muscles in his left leg to the point that he can get around on level surfaces without the stimulation in the device. That was enough proof for us to make the decision to go ahead and purchase it for him even though the insurance company denied our appeal. It is truly remarkable how much more confidence he has in his ability to walk. He is convinced (as are we) that the e-stim he has been getting over these past four months is re-teaching his muscles how to work. The second “friend” we parted ways with the ramp at the front of our home. The same generous ministry from our church that built it just before Jon came home from the Shepherd Center returned last Saturday to disassemble it and move it to another home where there is a need. We have been incredibly blessed to have people in our lives to meet our needs as they arose. We pray that others facing difficulties such as ours have been will have people come into their lives to help them meet their needs too. It is amazing to see just how intricately God cares for each of us and how He guides the details of our lives to reveal His glory. On another note, Jon will be participating in the children’s worship program at our church this Sunday. He shared part of his story with the children in 2006, and at that time he was still in his wheelchair. They are doing a series on Miracles now and want to include some of the pictures of him through the various stages of his recovery and then have him walk in to meet the children. It is so glorious to be able to share our miracle with others so that they can see that miracles DO still happen! I remember that when Jon was at Grady one of the miracles I held fast to was the resurrection of Lazarus. I kept praying that God would see fit to use Jon in such a way that others would see Him through Jon’s recovery. We stand in awe that the God who raised Lazarus from the dead two thousand years ago is the same God who has revealed one miracle after another through Jon’s recovery. Amazing! God IS who He says He is, and He CAN do what He says He can do!!! In Him, Mary "You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me." ~ Isaiah 43: 10 |
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