Here we are at the end of another week. We're at Kimmo and Monica Virtaneva's these days. It's been so nice to be here while Kalle is feeling a bit better. He's on about his 37th medication and this one is allowing him to do so much more than some of the others recently.

For those who don't know his story: he was hit by a car when he was 10 and sustained severe brain trauma. Since then the entire family's life has undergone a dramatic change. It's been a crash course, for Kimmo and Monica, on how to deal with brain trauma as there really weren't very many resources for them to draw from. They love Kalle so much and it's very evident in all they've done for him. He's now 17 going on 18.

These past few days we've even been able to joke with him so that is very special as his world has been very dark for a very long time. Yesterday I went with him and his mom to his riding therapy session. It was SO great to watch him ride the horse under direction and see his constant smile for the entire hour!

There are times when things aren't so easy. For just one example: his brain often throws him into unexpected catatonic states. When this happens he can't move at all but he can hear everything that is going on around him. It's such a helpless thing. I really feel for him. While we've been here it's happened several times but luckily always while he's been sitting down. Mika and Kaisa (his brother and sister) were telling me that one time it happened while he was in a swimming pool and he almost drowned. All in all, it makes one very very thankful for a healthy brain and body, eh?

His mom shared something with me that really touched my heart. She said that recently Kalle has told her that he used to pray that he would just die rather than live with his brain the way it is. Now he prays each day that God will just help him get through that day. Isn't that what we all need? I'm thankful that our God is the one God who can help every one of us in just the way we each need.

Hope your week, and the approaching weekend, is a happy one.