Nothing In My Brain
Stories
Shining Moments
Visions Of The Holy In Ordinary Lives
Cindy Loomis-Abell
My eight-year-old son, Jeremiah, has endured several medical problems. The one constancy among these problems was two kinds of seizures that caused difficulties for him in everyday life. Jeremiah has never known life without seizures, so he takes them, and the difficulties they cause, in stride. Three years ago, his father and I received the news from an MRI scan that new problems had come to light. The two abnormalities, which doctors were certain would increase in size as Jeremiah grew, would most likely require surgery.
This past spring, another MRI was done, and Jeremiah and I went to the neurologist for the results. He understood that a bad report would probably mean surgery and a hospital stay. He held my hand as the doctor came into the room to give us the news.
"Well, young man, I have good news to report. Your MRI was clean. There are no abnormalities in your brain. You have nothing to worry about!" he said with a grin, and accepted my child's happy hug.
As we walked to the parking lot, Jeremiah let go of my hand and skipped along, singing in a loud voice, "I have nothing in my brain! I have nothing in my brain!" all the way to the car.
Older people smiled and laughed. Mothers with young children smiled. When we got home, we all celebrated. For once, there was nothing but God's love in Jeremiah's brain. All of the abnormalities had mysteriously vanished.
I am absolutely certain that God has a special plan for this child. Wouldn't we all like to look like a clean MRI -- no darkness, no hatred, no anger -- only happiness and lightness of being? Wouldn't we like to live as real children of God, just as Jesus suggested? He said, "Let the children come to me. For to such belongs the kingdom of God." I hope we all find a way to have "nothing" in our brains someday!
My eight-year-old son, Jeremiah, has endured several medical problems. The one constancy among these problems was two kinds of seizures that caused difficulties for him in everyday life. Jeremiah has never known life without seizures, so he takes them, and the difficulties they cause, in stride. Three years ago, his father and I received the news from an MRI scan that new problems had come to light. The two abnormalities, which doctors were certain would increase in size as Jeremiah grew, would most likely require surgery.
This past spring, another MRI was done, and Jeremiah and I went to the neurologist for the results. He understood that a bad report would probably mean surgery and a hospital stay. He held my hand as the doctor came into the room to give us the news.
"Well, young man, I have good news to report. Your MRI was clean. There are no abnormalities in your brain. You have nothing to worry about!" he said with a grin, and accepted my child's happy hug.
As we walked to the parking lot, Jeremiah let go of my hand and skipped along, singing in a loud voice, "I have nothing in my brain! I have nothing in my brain!" all the way to the car.
Older people smiled and laughed. Mothers with young children smiled. When we got home, we all celebrated. For once, there was nothing but God's love in Jeremiah's brain. All of the abnormalities had mysteriously vanished.
I am absolutely certain that God has a special plan for this child. Wouldn't we all like to look like a clean MRI -- no darkness, no hatred, no anger -- only happiness and lightness of being? Wouldn't we like to live as real children of God, just as Jesus suggested? He said, "Let the children come to me. For to such belongs the kingdom of God." I hope we all find a way to have "nothing" in our brains someday!
