He Answers with a Box

For those of you who know our family well, it's obvious that we are UVA fans (although my husband and I proudly went to JMU-go Dukes!). Johnny has been going to UVA games since he was a young boy. In fact, his father has not missed a home game since the 1980s! We've attended games together as a newly dating couple, as an engaged couple, and as newlyweds. I've gone during first trimester queasiness up to being 9 months pregnant (with Jackson, who was born in September-thankfully not on a game day!). We have taken our children, the youngest starting at 5 weeks old. It's what we do as a family. 

Waverly's first fall, she was able to go to a few games. She was still so small and more easily portable, and relatively healthy. Her seizures started in September of that year, so they weren't as big of an issue her first couple games. The only thing we had to contend with was her feeding. She was so small we could just hold her during the game and hook her up to her feeding pump when it was time to eat. 

Last year, however, she was unable to make it to any games. It just didn't work out with weather and her health. We were disappointed but also want to be careful and cautious with her and her health. 

So far this year, she hasn't made it to any games either. We were hoping to try to take her. But every time it was a possibility it was either too hot, too cold, or raining. We also knew she couldn't come down to our normal seats as easily being much bigger this year and with more equipment/oxygen, etc. So we figured if we took her we could have one of us sit in the small handicap area at the top of our section. Not ideal, but we wanted to be able to include her in something that remains a big part of our family. 

However, as I mentioned, the circumstances just were not working out for us to take her. I figured she just wouldn't go again this year. Not a huge deal, but I was also sad not to have her as part of our family memory with the games for yet another year. Last weekend, though, my heart strings were pulled when Jackson, who's 5, asked if Waverly could come to the game that day. When I told him no, he was so disappointed. He really wanted his sister there. Since he was only 3 the last time she'd attended a game, it was likely he didn't remember it. Since Waverly had such a good week last week, I started thinking...

On Thursday evening I mentioned to Johnny the possibility of taking her. She'd had a great week being off of oxygen most of the week. The weather was looking beautiful. However, I'd been dreaming since last week about what it would be like if we could watch the game from box seats (in a suite). I knew that'd be best for Waverly, since it'd be more quiet, she'd have a place to go in from being outside if it got too warm/cool/sunny. We'd have a place to charge some of her equipment since it needs plugged up during the day to charge the battery for travel home. And, we'd get to be together as a family and watch the game together. The kids could cheer the team with their sister. 

Well, as you may have guessed, God provided that and more for our family. Johnny got a text from a friend Thursday night that something may be available. Yes I cried. Multiple times over it all. It's not about football. It's about family memories, especially that the older kids get to have with their sister. They were able to show her the band, move her hands to the cheers, sing the national anthem with her, tell her about the first downs, and just love having her there and actually sitting beside her at a football game. Enjoy some pictures from our day. 

Thank you so much to those who prayed that something would work out for us to be able to take her. Thank you to the generosity of those who made the amazing accommodations happen. And thank you God for another wonderful family memory!