A MIRACLE NAMED KYLIE

When one reads the Bible, it seems like a true miracle happened every day but these days, it's hard to find much less believe in miracles but sometimes a real miracle happens which is just too hard to ignore. Such a miracle was Kylie Williams.

Kylie had cystic fibrosis which was diagnosed when she was about 4. By then, her lungs which is what this particular disease affects, were pretty beat up. Kylie was always a fighter of this disease and did her best, no matter what, to be like every other kid, so much so that most of her friends had no idea how sick she was even though they had to realize how much smaller she was. Still, by her demeanor, it was hard for everyone to accept how tough it was on her for a very long time.

Three years ago, it became very hard to ignore as she was hospitalized more than a few times. Each time, the doctors were convinced the disease would soon win yet Kylie continued to be optomistic, never giving up the fight or hope. Even when she was unconcious she continue to fight and would return to us, probably never realizing how sick she had been.

In December 2005, Kylie and her family moved to Iowa for a couple of reasons. One to be near her mom's family and two to try to get Kylie a lung transplant. It turns out she required a double lung transplant and we witnessed a miracle because for 4 months at the age of 13, she finally got to live the life which every kid is entitled to, riding a dune buggy, laughing with friends with wild abandonment and just being herself.

In March of 2006 Kylie again slipped into a coma state and it looked like the fight was over. The family gathered around her but once more Kylie opened her eyes, looked around and asked why everyone was there. This was yet another miracle and we started taking them for granted, assuming that she would not only survive but continue to thrive. We couldn't understand why God would keep bringing her back to us if he intended to keep her, so we just accepted the fact that she would sometimes go spend time with him ( while in her coma state) and then come back to us after she and God were done visiting. This occured 2 more times and still she returned to us. With each return, the doctors learned more and more about how cystic fibrosis affects the lungs and tried different medicines and treatments. Kylie was always a good sport, willing to try anything and still managed to keep cheering no matter how lousy she felt.

In October, Kylie again fell into a deep coma. This one seemed like all the others, and everyone kept praying that another miracle would happen, yet the hold was stronger than before and this time she didn't return. God must have finally realized how much he enjoyed visiting with her and how tough it was for him to part with her each time she returned to us, and just before Thanksgiving, he talked her into staying with him forever. He gave her a brand new set of lungs and I truly believe the most beatiful wings, telling the other angels to show her how to fly and soar all over creation for she truly deserves the best Heaven has to offer.

So what was the miracle of Kylie. There are quite a few. The first was that she was born into a wonderful loving family who never held her back and allowed her every chance to be the kid she wanted to be. The second miracle was allowing everyone who met her (especially the Moose members) the chance to be part of her life. Kylie never doubted how much we all loved her. The third miracle will continue in each child who is helped by something the doctors learned while treating Kylie. The best miracle, however, is Kylie herself and I can't think of one person who isn't grateful for the chance to witness the miracle called Kylie.