Christy
by Judy Wall
Christy was our first child and first grandchild for my family. Joy and excitement were ours during her early weeks and months. I began to get my feet under me as a mom, Jim adjusted to the newness of being someone’s dad, and Christy, well Christy was a happy, healthy, beautiful, bright infant full of smiles and coos. In December of 1977 Christy turned 5 months old, her seizures began, and life as we knew it ended. Any simple assumptions we had about the road ahead were erased, although we did not yet know this. The first seizure lasted 2 hours, brought an ambulance ride, a hospitalization, tests, and anticonvulsants. As well as the hope that terrible experience would never recur. Of course, within a few weeks another seizure came, and now through her 45 years they have never stopped coming. They sneaked around every anticonvulsant and treatment and continued to cause damage. As the years have gone on, they have robbed my precious daughter of so much. But those of you who know Christy see a happy, smiling, joking girl who has boundless love to give.
In Christy’s 45 years other changes came to our family. Lisa arrived in 1980 and Christy became a big sister. Jim and I divorced and have shared Christy’s parenting in ways we did not anticipate. When Mark and I married many years later, we chose to do so in Misericordia’s old chapel next to McGowan Home. She now has a step-father who loves her and builds into her life in immeasurable ways.
As Christy was about to turn 21, she moved into McGowan Home as it opened its doors. 24 years later she remains surrounded by the amazing love and care of the McGowan staff. They give her deep respect and tender care. She can only give back her smile, her hugs and her messing around, but her endless love for them is unmistakable. Christy’s limits are obvious and profound. Yet her resilience, sense of humor, enjoyment of life, and quiet acceptance are gifts. Her quiet submission to what life has brought her are a lesson for me.
As our world shifted in unimaginable ways when Christy was 5 months old, it shifted again when she came to Misericordia. While we don’t understand the mystery of her life, we have certainty that provision has been made for her in the gift of Misericordia. She lives a life of dignity, happiness, and connection. As Sister Rosemary says, sometimes there aren’t answers but there are answering people. We found those answering people at McGowan Home and we have endless appreciation and gratitude for them.
Send yours to