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Reese’s Aunt, Laura Dufford Jackson shares the following update:
It’s been a while since we have posted a “proper” update and what better day than Easter Sunday. So much has happened in the last few weeks for Reese. She has had so many exciting visitors: Darrel Young, Kory Lichtensteiger, Kirk Cousins and Chris Chester, all of the Washington Redskins…they visited on two different occasions and sure brought big smiles to Reese’s face (and the rest of the family too). We had a huge birthday party for Reese where she was able to invite a small number of friends to visit her and this was the best day we have seen her in 10 months! It was tough to narrow the list down to less than 20 kids, so many of her friends’ siblings were left out as well as friends from school and the cow shows – trust me, if she had it her way, she would have invited 200 kids to celebrate her 8th birthday with her…she is quite the social butterfly just like her mother! Then just this week, the Virginia Tech HokieBird visited and came with lots of animated gestures, big hugs and a big thumbs up on Reese being a future Hokie! Claire and I were so proud to be Hokie alumni! Medically speaking, Reese has really improved with her therapy as I am sure you all read she is taking many steps these days. Reese is supported by her therapists during these steps and she has a walker for stability but Reese is making steps on her own and getting stronger each day that she makes these steps. We all believe that the more mobile she is, the better it will be for her lungs to heal…there’s nothing like moving around! In late February, we were excited to announce that Reese had been weaned off of the oxygenator but that lasted only about 2 days. Reese just wasn’t quite ready but we are so grateful the doctors and staff feel she is strong enough to push and try with. We know we will get there again soon. This last week, Reese has struggled with some severe stomach pain which had been masked by a medicine she no longer takes. We ask that you please say a specific prayer for the relief in stomach pain and that Reese continue to move forward in her healing process. Pray for no stomach pain, pray for healing lungs, strength to push forward in physical therapy and overall improved health. Pray for her medical staff who love and care for her day end and day out and pray for her family who supports her every want and need. This Easter Sunday we have so much to be thankful for. We are thankful to have our family together, we are thankful to have Mom (Patricia) with us and have Reese still fighting her way back to good health. We are thankful for the many friends who have stood by us for 10 ½ months, the new friends we have met and the strangers who have loved us and prayed for us. We look for signs from God each day and know that He is with us and caring for Reese as best He can. I wanted to share with you today two signs from God that are our reminders that Reese is in His loving arms each day…on one of her hands, where she had some skin grafting done, there is a cross that has formed…Reese noticed this herself and we see it as a sign that He is with us each step of the way. On the back of the other hand, there is a tiny heart that Justin likes to call the “Healing Heart”. We feel these are small kisses from God and are reminders for each us that He is with us and loving us and keeping a special watch over sweet Reese. So, from our families, to yours, we wish you a Blessed and Happy Easter.
There are many to show your support for Reese.
- Online donation
- Call the hotel and pay for a night for Claire and Justin: Baltimore Harbor Hotel 410-752-1100
- Order a Team Reese shirt or hat: https://www.tinyurl.com/teamreese
- Send gas cards for Claire and Justin: 8656 Corner Road Mercersburg, PA 17236
