For the first time in a long time I was tempted to not go to church today because my legs were swollen and my lungs were whistling. But I figured if I started staying home every time that happened I would be missing a lot of Sundays and I don't see the need of doing that. I am very thankful that I went because my spirit was recharged.
We have been blessed to have Greg Huntington attending our ward the last few weeks. His parents are members of our ward, Mack and Julie Huntington. Greg lives on the First Ward but comes here with his parents. Greg has been paralyzed for the past 8 years. He can move his arms a bit, and use his clinched fists, but that is about all the motion he has. But he has quite a story to tell. And that is what we all heard today in testimony meeting.
The Huntingtons have gone through a lot of experiences that we all hope and pray we never have to experience. Mack was never active when his children were young. In fact, Greg stated that his dad was full of the spirit, but it was the kind that came from a bottle. Greg would rather be with his dad than with his mother in church, so he was not active either. Julie and the girls did attend church regularly. Their daughter, Amy, is my daughter Tammy's age. She got diabetes when she was 18 months old. When they were in sixth grade, Amy passed away from complications with the diabetes. It was a very difficult time for the family. Mack went more to the bottle than to his family. Greg noticed this and went right along following his dad's example.
Greg had so many automobile accidents that no one could count them all, but through them all he was somehow blessed to stay alive. One 4-wheeler accident resulted in a injury to his eye. After that accident he was not able to move his eye to the left any further than the center. He always had double vision and had to turn his head to look at you. He had seven surgeries on that eye and they were not able to correct his movement.
According to Greg, as time passed his dad started taking gymnastics...at least he did a 180 degree flip and changed his life around. Garth and I were able to be to the temple the day Mack and Julie were sealed in the temple, with Amy being sealed to them, along with Jan, Kyle, and MacKell, but no Greg. It was hard on Julie, but she had most of her family there with her and always prayed that Greg would be able to be sealed to them as well.
Time passed for the family and more problems for Greg. He suffered terrible headaches which resulted in the lost of hearing in both ears. He has about 20% hearing in one ear and 50% in the other (I think that is the number) There were also more car accidents. And on Memorial Day weekend in 2004 his truck left the road in the canyon and he suffered a broken neck. He has been in and out of the hospital so many times the past 8 years for so many different reasons. The last adventure in hospital totally changed his life.
He told us that he was having his stomach operated on. I know Julie has told me what the problem was, but I can't remember. I just remember that he was very ill. While the surgery was going on, he had an experience of seeing 3 men dressed in white coming to him. He knew two were doctors and they were being instructed by the other one. He was telling them what they needed to do as they operated on his bad eye. He said he knew what they were doing and knew that he would be okay. When he awoke from the stomach surgery he was able to move his eye completely and has total vision in that eye. A true miracle. The tears were flowing from everyone as he told how thankful he was for this experience.
He also said that he had been on pain medication for so long. (I knew this from Julie, also.) He said that since that operation he has been able to get completely off the pain medicine and hasn't had a pill for over 3 months now. That is after the constant use of patches and pill for 8 years, please the years for the terrible headaches that resulted in the loss of hearing.
Greg decided that day that he had to change his life. He had a difficult time reading the Book of Mormon because he wasn't able to turn the pages of the book, so his dad got him a Kindle Fire and, as Mack said, "He has been on fire ever since." He has read the Book of Mormon through 3 times, and is still studying and reading. He has been ordained an Elder and is preparing to go to the temple. What a glorious day that will be.
Julie is the true meaning of patience. She has waited for all these years to have her family sealed to her and she has never given up. She takes care of Greg every day, driving to his house to get him out of bed, get his food for him, get him up out of bed and ready for the day. Greg drives with the aid of hand-controls so he can drive his truck. He is in charge of his cows but his dad has to feed them. Julie and Mack take care of him but still give him his independence. They are witnessing a true miracle in their lives. Mack has battled colon cancer but seems to be doing all right right now.
I worked with Julie for about 22 years. She taught 5th grade at our school. She was always so ready to help anyone and still is. She is a true friend and great lady. She is a great example that we should never give up on our children, no matter how far gone they may be. Prayers and pleading are heard by our Heavenly Father. Her prayers were answered in a way that took a long time, but Greg was still here and that was a true blessing as well.
It was a great day in church. I'm glad I went.
1 comment:
You know, I really admire Julie. I don’t know another person in the entire world that has as much grace as she has. I often wonder how in the world I am going to have the stamina to take care of Tyler the rest of my life and HIS! She is truly a inspiration. And she is also the epitomy of waiting for the chairs at her table to be filled. She is true Charity
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