Like many of you, Kristen and I watched the Super Bowl on
February 1st. I wouldn’t call myself a die-hard fan of either team.
However, I believe Bill Belichick is one of the more intelligent coaches in
professional sports. He and Tom Brady have done something remarkable with that
organization. It’s hard to count the New England Patriots out when it comes to
the playoffs. However, after the first four games of the season, people did
just that.
New England opened the 2014 season with a loss to their
division rivals, the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots hadn’t lost a season opener
since 2003 when Drew Bledsoe and the Buffalo Bills beat them 31-0. After the
first four games this season Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were 2-2.
Many people wrote them off. Don’t mind that there were still 12 games to be
played. Tom Brady was finished. Bill Belichick’s era was coming to an end. The
life that the New England Patriots had known for so long was now over. No one
believed in them, except, themselves.
You can call me crazy if you want to. I told my wife and a
small group of friends before the game what I am now about to tell you. I
believe with all my heart that there are some similarities between Tom
Brady/Pats and our son, Truett. I believe that God spoke to my spirit
concerning this.
No one has given Truett a chance. Very early on, Kristen and
I didn’t even give him a chance either. His life was going to be over soon after
it began. I do believe that God has led us here. I believe He will continue to
lead as long as we follow. We may lose some games early on. People might write
Truett off saying there is absolutely no hope for him. But I believe in God. I
believe God is stronger. I believe God is greater. I believe God is wiser. I
believe God is gracious. I believe God is kind. I believe God is love. I
believe God is able. I believe God! And because I believe God, Truett has a
chance. Truett has a chance to be healed. Truett has a chance to live. Truett
has a chance to grow. Truett has a chance to be loved. Truett has a chance,
because I believe God.
You can’t simply discount the New England Patriots after
four games. That’s crazy talk. It’s the New England Patriots. They find a way
to win. They find a way to succeed.
You can’t simply discount God after you receive some
devastating news. That’s crazy talk. He is the creator of life itself. He spoke
the world into being. He is the defender of the weak. He is the rock. He is
salvation. Time and time again Jesus did things that were impossible. Blind men
can see. Dead people are now alive. Crippled people now walk. These things, according
to man, are impossible.
We left our friend’s house after the halftime show. My mom was
watching Anniston at our house and we didn’t want to be out too late and make
my mom stay late. We got home and Kristen went to bed. I normally would have
gone to bed as well but it was the Super Bowl. Not only was it the Super Bowl,
but, I personally felt like I had something riding on this game. At the end of
the third quarter the Patriots were down 10 points and things weren’t looking
good. The Seattle Seahawks had scored 17 unanswered points and it seemed as if
the Seahawks were going to repeat. But, they were playing the New England
Patriots. You can’t count the Patriots out just because things don’t look good.
The Patriots took the lead with a little over two minutes left in the game.
Then I began thinking of Truett. I started thinking about
what God had spoken to me. If you ask anyone in the medical field they will
tell you that Truett has no chance at all for survival. We asked 3 different
doctors what they would do if they received the same diagnosis we did. All
three said we should terminate the pregnancy. We spoke to four or five other
people in the medical field. We received four or five more votes to terminate
the pregnancy. Early on, people wrote off the Patriots. Early on, people wrote
off Truett. Truett has now been alive in his mother’s womb for about 30 weeks.
When his skull was supposed to develop, it did not. Around 20 or 21 weeks we
found out that Truett has “hardly any brain tissue left” (Dr. Million). He
still has a good strong heartbeat. Kristen and I still get to feel him moving around
inside her belly. Sometimes Anniston gets to feel her little brother kicking
her while Kristen is rocking her to sleep.
I have to admit, when Russell Wilson threw that deep pass to
Jermaine Kearse, I had some doubts. I guess I didn’t believe what God had said
after all. Seattle had the ball inside the five yard line. It was too easy. The
game was over. It was going to be too difficult for the New England Patriots to
stop them from scoring.
But, the miraculous happened. Even when I doubt, I believe. I
can’t tell you what I felt inside my soul when the game was over and the New
England Patriots were Champions. No one in that organization knows us. They
don’t know Truett or his story. When the game was over I felt like Truett was a
champion. The Patriots defied the odds. With their backs against the wall they
won, they conquered. I believe Truett will live longer than people think he
will. I don’t know if that will be a few days or weeks or how long that might
be. But, the miraculous can happen. Truett may not ever have a skull and his
brain can be forever gone, but the miraculous can happen. Truett will live. We
look forward to spending as much time with him as possible. You see, Truett and
Tom Brady really aren’t that different, you can’t count either one of them out.
Thank you all for your continued support of us through this
journey. We love and appreciate you very much. I wish we could give everyone a
hug and let you know how important you are to us. Please continue to pray for
Truett, Kristen, Anniston and myself. I pray that through our journey and
through Truett’s life, you will see Jesus in all of us. Here are a couple of verses that are very close to me.
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24 ESV)
Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. (Romans 4:20 NLT)
