Without a Word_ How a Boy's Unspoken Love Changed Everything - Jill Kelly [93]
Love,
Bonnie
(Hunter’s favorite teacher)
Wisdom is so misunderstood in our world today. Hunter was a child who was never confused about what it means to be truly wise. He knew what God’s plan was for his life, and he did God’s will here on earth with humility and great understanding. How blessed I have been to be able to witness such wisdom in such a young child.
I am thankful for the experience of being able to touch, hold, and learn from a child whose body was so wise. To be trusted and guided by his little body when he was just a few months old was profound. With awe and amazement I continued to observe his body grow in wisdom and understanding of what he needed to do on this earth until he was called home to heaven. What a lesson Hunter and his family taught me about using every gift you have been given, every day, to its fullest, to do our Lord’s will. I have learned that this is what it means to be truly wise.
My mind and heart are filled with memories of my buddy Hunter, watching him grow from an infant into a beautiful child, watching his family (who were chosen specifically for him) train up their child in the way he should go, and experiencing life with a team and family who have changed me as a therapist, wife, mother, and daughter of God. It takes someone full of wisdom to change lives. God in His wisdom chose a child. He chose Hunter James Kelly. God is good.
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom” (James 3:13).
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise” (Psalm 111:10).
Memories:
Hunter sleeping in his crib.
Quiet time together on Saturday mornings in Hunter’s bedroom upstairs.
Massaging Hunter’s legs and feet.
Hunter moving his arms up and down over and over again.
Hunter’s patience when adjusting his Kid Kart.
Hunter’s first time in his stander.
Hunter’s faith when he was “jumpy” and I was at a loss about what to do to help him.
Hunter’s enjoyment when watching squirrels.
Butterscotch (when she was a puppy) lying next to Hunter.
Hunter’s music.
Hunter’s sense of humor.
All my love,
Kathy
(Hunter’s occupational therapist)
The best memory of Hunter that I can share is the last night I spent with him. Here are my thoughts….
I didn’t know why at the time, but God placed it on my heart to work the overnight shift on Wednesday, August 3, from 10:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. Looking back, it was a blessing and God’s hand was upon us that night.
Hunter had mucus plugs that blocked his airways at midnight and 1:00 a.m. Grammie was there to help me, and he started breathing again after suctioning, repositioning, and increasing his oxygen (his oxygen saturation was in the 20s).
I constantly talked to Hunter for the next two hours, softly reminding him to take “Reggie” breaths so I could give her a good report when she asked me about him, and to reassure him that I was still there. During this time I quietly read his prayer journal to him, not once but twice! I also put a couple new entries into his journal, the last one being from 1 Peter 1:3–4… a gift from God to Hunter and you and me: “In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope… from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you.”
We also prayed a lot that night. I put my hands on Hunter and prayed each time before I repositioned him, asking God to help the transition go well and to help Hunter continue breathing. He answered my prayers and Hunter was able to relax and fall asleep around 3:30 a.m.
I am also thankful that my husband got to meet Hunter on Thursday morning. He rode to Grammie’s house with Ellen so he could drive me home from working the night shift. He came into the house and said, “Hi, Hunter.” I always talked to Hunter about