Lyra

Sorry for the month-long absence. I do enjoy blogging but I've not felt up to it recently as I've been fretting over Lyra, our five-year-old grand-daughter, who has deteriorated over the past couple of months ending up in hospital two weeks ago. She was diagnosed with Pervasive Refusal Syndrome, a condition when a child stops eating, drinking, walking, talking and refuses personal care.

`Happy times

Lyra didn't fit the mold on all the above as she doesn't refuse all personal care and also only practises selective mutism, but it was thought that given time she would develop the full-blown syndrome.

It was very hard to see her being fed on a Nasal-Gastric tube in hospital, but fingers crossed it seems to be doing the trick and she's put a couple of kilos on and no longer looks skeletally thin and according to the nurses is now a bit of a chatterbox. She hasn't as yet attempted to walk but everyone is hopeful that this will follow on if she starts to eat regularly. In fact she's made such a phenominal recovery that the psychiatrist is saying he no longer thinks that the diagnosis is correct and the paediatrician is saying that they'll now just treat it as a set of symptoms.

P and I were hoping to go to Wales for the first time since I became ill, but sadly we both got a stomach bug, so we've been marooned here in York, trying to feel well and having to stay away from Lyra in case she caught it as then, as once before, she would vomit up the NG tube.                                    

However, she's in our thoughts much of the time, reminding me of the song I wrote for her a couple of years back, that's constantly playing in my head - it's called Walk Tall. It encapsulates everything I wish for Lyra, I've posted it before but here it is once again for those who missed it.


 

WALK TALL

Walk tall, you can touch the stars in the sky

If you believe you can do it, you can climb the mountains high

Your tiny legs won’t fail you, they’ll keep you safe from harm

Walk tall, little one, walk tall and keep calm.

Run free, chase the wind around the trees

The world is full of wonder, just waiting for a key

Unlock the door and step on through, with feet as light as air

Run free, little one, and shed your woes and cares.

Your eyes will sparkle once again, your smile will light the room

Walk forward into happiness, the future’s there for you…

If you walk tall.

Step lightly through the rainbow, approach that pot of gold

Imagine some new stories like the fairy tales of old

Life’s mysteries and problems weigh heavy in your head

Step lightly, little one, and learn to trust instead.

Your eyes will sparkle once again, your smile will light the room

Walk forward into happiness, the future’s there for you…

… the future’s waiting for you if you walk tall.

P and I are beginning to feel better and more able to enjoy the garden that's practically burgeoning in front of our eyes right now. We're hoping that every passing day brings Lyra a few steps closer to full recovery.

Thanks for dropping by.