What I really like about this story, is that they allow her to tell the profound way in which it suddenly turned her life around and didn’t either sensationalize it, nor make her out to be something peculiar. Rather the reporter stressed that the occurrences are rare, but kept the story one of a positive and interesting note. It pulls the audience in to learn more.

I absolutely am thrilled with how Ronda is teaching English to students though she has a foreign accented voice. She is not daunted, but is using her new voice as she points out in a way which actually helps her to interact more with her students than she would have otherwise.

That’s making lemonade out of lemons! Now, if more people will come forward to investigate why this happens and actively seek to connect and study the phenomena, maybe we will see that it is not as rare as it thought. Maybe the medical research will endeavor to actively study those of us who wish to offer ourselves and our experiences for the sake of scientific improvement in this area. At the very least, this is getting legitimized by reputable reports such as this, so that less ignorant and vile statements will be made to those who suffer from a malady which can as of yet not really be easily explained.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Keep on being kind to one another : )

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Therefore, I am very happy to add to my blog these links to these news stories which were done by JAX TV station in Florida. It is exciting to see some media attention being given to the disorder. Let some people who believe that this is not a “real” problem become less ignorant by getting a little exposure and also help those who are currently dealing with similar stories to take heart.

Here are recent videoes done with fellow Foreign Accent Syndrome friends of mine done by local Florida news TV stations.

This first one is a longer raw interview with Dr. Jack Ryalls from University of Central Florida. He is well known for his expertise in this field of study of the very rare disorder. So it is especially good to hear his insights in this more lengthy piece on what is involved in Foreign Accent Syndrome from his perspective.
Interview with Dr. Jack Ryalls Fox30

Pattie Yakaboski,
Pattie: Finding Her Voice

Video of Paula Westberry
Paula on JAX 2011.11

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Should this happen in an area that is not frequented by road-kill restraunteers (like Kentucky or Arkansas) or buzzards, a few more car tire passes placed across the remains and a couple of days of drying and stiffening; then; wallah… you have yourself a frisbee squirrel.

Now that you have the proper definition, you can better appreciate why I chose to use the “frisbee squirrel” as an accurate descriptor for my body on some days. On really, excessively weak days I even say “transparent” frisbee squirrel day implying run over even more!

If this were a Bugs Bunny cartoon, maybe someone could just pick me up, shake me a little from side to side, and then blow me back up (like a balloon) into shape!

As it is, I have discovered that severe Chronic Fatigue makes my Foreign Accent Syndrome much worse (so no talking), I am too weak to do anything (so bedrest) and confusion makes reading and writing difficult. That is why you may not hear or see me much, but will see … It’s a Frisbee squirrel day @@=~

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Here is what Marty wrote:

Dear Praying Family,
 
Tests revealed Jonah’s Pulmonary veins, those that were rerouted 7 weeks ago and attached to his heart, are collapsing. Thus, when off the ventilator, he cannot breathe.
Doctors told Val that it is only a matter of time before they completely collapse, and he will die.
 
How much time is not known.
 
We still hold out hope. We hope the surgeon who did the operation will still have one more option to try.
 
We hope the Lord will have one more miracle for us.
 
Thank you for your continued prayers.
 
In Christ’s Love,
Marty for Val

Now I am wide awake in prayer for this dear family. The three siblings have not really been able to spend much time at all with Jonah. Marty and Val have been going through ongoing anguish of watching their littlest child struggle to overcome incredible health hurdles. With the latest prognosis, the Silverbergs need our encouragement all the more.

As for my reaction to this traumatic news? “Wow”! Two months young, and this tiny baby has been through so very much. Looking back at all the postings I’ve done of his status updates doesn’t really allow us to appreciate the magnitude of the challenges faced, nor the intensity of the prayers offered up on Jonah’s behalf.

And as variable as our concerns and prayers have been, there is one thing that slows down the inevitable emotional roller-coaster of such an on-going trial. That one thing is not really a “thing” at all …rather…a person. Additionally the term “person” cannot adequately even describe the absolutely awesome God who holds all things in existance. The Almighty has never once turned away from what is happening here.

Our mortal minds are not even capable of understanding “why” God allows certain things that seem so awful to happen, yet there is this “surpassing peace” that remains. God’s grace to us amidst our darkest trials remains … We cling to the steadfast truth of God’s Word which is His way of revealing Himself to us.

GOD IS LOVE ! As such, He is the very essence of love. He loves us more than we can fathom. I cherish that knowledge!! At such a time as this I rely on that fact to help me trust that as observers of Baby Jonahs gigantic struggles, I believe God protects that tiny body from some of the pain we believe he is feeling. I can pray for God’s will and not my own to be done, because my request for something might accidentally not be in the best interest of Jonah or his family.

Therefore, as difficult as it is to know how to pray… As much as I want to encourage Marty, Val and their family after being told that Jonah will most likely not survive this — I realize that saying “I don’t know WHAT to say,” is actually a profound utterance.

It admits to myself, to the subjects of my concern and prayers, as well as to The Almighty to whom I direct those prayers, “I have no power here. I would like everything to be fine, but I am incapable of doing anything but rely on the foundation of my faith…God Himself!

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Romans 8:26-27 that says:
 26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
 27and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

I think that is so comforting!! Even when I can’t find the words, God even provides the interpretations of my groanings into an eloquent petition before The Sovereign God!! Amazing! Then there is the often quoted twentyeighth verse:

 28And we KNOW that God causes ALL things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. {emphasis added}

This does assure me that things that seem to me to be “bad” may actually be viewed in a different perspective. It is like in the Book of Genesis in the Bible when Joseph stated to his brothers years after they sold him into slavery, “what you meant as harm, God intended for good”.

These are just some of the thoughts that I wanted to share with you as I am praying about this entire situation that the Silverbergs are in. My heart aches for Little Jonah and his entire family (even the medical staff who are battling right alongside him). But, I am only human and want to wave a wand to make everything fine. I try to “make sense of it all”. However, I realize that is vanity and chasing after wind. After all: what person could comprehend the ways of The Almighty?

Therefore, I offer you Beloved this:
I do not know what to say. Yet, I will proclaim that God is Love and has His best in store for them. And those “them” is us (those of us who have confessed & repented of our sins and applied the saving grace that God freely gives to all who will believe in the Redeemer Jesus Christ)!

One last thing–
Would YOU (yes YOU) please take a moment to share from your heart in the comment section whatever you feel led to write. I believe God can use YOU and ME to use this opportunity to display some of God’s love to our brothers and sisters.

Remember, you are even saying SOMETHING with “I don’t know what to say.” <3

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Here is what the Silverbergs wrote:

Dear Praying Family,
 
Thank you again for your Love and prayers on our behalf.
 
Jonah was taken off the ventilator last night. He couldn’t breathe on his own. He was put back on the ventilator. Please pray for him to be able to breathe on his own soon. We disagree w/ the decision to pull out his breathing tube so soon after a major surgery.
We wish the doctors didn’t do this. Taking out the tube and the putting back in was very stressful for Jonah. We think this will set back the recovery.
Jonah also has an infection in the stomach wound. Any infection for this little baby is extremely dangerous. Please keep praying for Jonah.
 
Naomi Rider, our friend and helper form Indian Lake NY will be leaving early Wed. morning. She has been a huge blessing.
Val is very concerned w/ leaving Jonah all alone every nite. We have someone we can pay a few times a week, for a little while.
 
Please pray for me. I have been in massive pain. I believe it is from not being able to do my rehab exercises even once a week.
Also sleep deprivation and being on my feet for so many hours every day these past 8 weeks.
 
Val was kind to allow me to do a quick 1 1/2 hour rehab session in the makeshift gym I set up in the basement. I usually hurt pretty bad afterward. However, I followed the workout w/ 1 1/2 hours of snow shoveling today. I did the sidewalk, the driveway, dug out our vehicles, the sidesteps for the dogs, then redug out the vehicles from ice that the plows plowed them in with, twice. Also, the neighbors put 4 foot of snow in front of my car, which must move for alternate side tomorrow, so I had to long toss that. I hurt. I believe Jonah hurts a lot worse.
Thanks so much for your prayers.
 
Jonah will be 8 weeks old on the 22nd.
 
In Christ’s Love,
Marty for Val

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Here is the update:

Dear Praying Family,

Thank you again for your prayers, they mean so very much to us.

Today, Jonah is supposed to undergo a procedure. He will have a catheter inserted into a vein in his leg and a camera will go up to look inside his heart.

The Doctors find nothing wrong with Jonah’s lungs, therefore they think something may be wrong in the heart. They are looking for a cause as to why Jonah cannot breathe on his own.

We are grateful to the Lord for your prayers and support.

In Christ’s Love,

Marty

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Big Hug - c C.Schultz

exploratory surgery of yesterday. Remember, this little baby is only 52 days old!  I was shocked to hear of all the findings, but relieved that they were able to address specific needs with immediate surgical intervention.

Here is what the Silverbergs wrote:

Dear Praying Family,

Jonah is recovering from his surgery yesterday.

Two sections of his large intestine had to be removed.

These sections had been destroyed because of oxygen

depletion probably during the last episode of cardiac arrest.

The intestine was resectioned.

Also, his appendix was removed as it had attached to the large intestine at a wrong location.

Also, the small intestine had become attached to the liver, and it was separated.

The Liver is in the wrong place, as are his intestines.

The spleen was searched for, and it indeed is missing. This means Jonah will be on antibiotics for the rest of his life.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

In Christ’s Love,

Marty for Val

As I read the above news I could not help but recall Psalm 139:14 that says,

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

As mixed-up as this little boys insides would appear to us in relation to what should be where and how it should function … Jonah has been knit together in this unique way. God knows it all!  Despite what seems like impossible odds of living with such variations to his body, little Jonah is being a living testimony to what God can do in even the darkest-appearing circumstances.

It never ceases to amaze me; our Sovereign God chooses to use the weak and frail things to show His greatest glory. Surely, little Jonah, and his missionary family with their own challenges are being used greatly!

Especially with the abundance of discoveries made in this last surgery, I am praising God for His provision of good surgeons and hospital care for little Jonah. God has placed him in a hospital where these specific needs can be addressed. Do you know how amazing that alone is? However, this also shows a great deal of struggle in the future for this family who is already so worn down. May God’s love and peace flood their spirit. We pray not because we intend to “change God’s mind,” but as we love our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ, we hurt when they hurt and we rejoice when they rejoice. We are called as a loving body to uphold one another in Christian love, and how it pleases God that we prayer for one another.

It would mean a lot to them if you could leave them some encouragement. Even to just let them know that you are praying for them. Please leave a comment below and I will make sure it’s attached for them. Rather than flood their email, I will attach it to the posts.

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Here is the note from the Silverbergs:

Thu, 17 Feb 2011
Dear Praying Family,
The situation has changed. Jonah will be having exploratory surgery today. They will open up the stomach area to see what is causing the problem as he cannot eat and keep the food down. They will look for constrictions and obstructions. They will look to see where his liver is and search again for his spleen.If all goes well, they will insert a feeding tube in his stomach.That means an opening in the abdomen and in the stomach. We are very concerned for bleeding, infection, and overall stress. Please pray that he will not have another cardiac arrest. This is a lot for this little baby. Jonah is 51 days old today. We are all not doing that well.  Thank you for your prayers.
In Christ’s Love,
Marty for Val

This poor baby; His tiny little body has already been through so much. Let us pray that this surgery will yield a better undrstanding of his needs as well as be successful in establishing a good method of nourishment. May the stress of the surgery & risk of infection be kept from impacting his recovery, all to God’s glory!

This dear family; they’ve had there heart’s torn as they watch their baby suffer such major trials. Torn between their children at home who want their baby brother home and well. The uncertainties of what will be discovered by today’s operation probably weighs very heavily on them right now!

So I ask you to join me in entering into this situation through prayer. That there is great hope beyond the trials. That we together may enter into the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings as brothers and sisters who are drawn more intimately into relationship with our Lord and Savior and His Body. Knowing that James 1:12 is true; there is a crown set aside in the future for those who endure.

Finally, may the peace that surpasses all we can even ask for be upon this dear family as we surround them with our prayers with the heart of God.

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Dear Praying Family,

Jonah will be undergoing a procedure tomorrow [Feb. 17] to insert a feeding tube into his intestine and remove the tube from his stomach.

Doctors believe this may help w/ breathing problem.

Thank you again for your continued prayers.

In Christ’s Love,

Marty for Val

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Dear Praying Family,   Thank you again so very much for your faithful prayers on this long and difficult journey.  Jonah could not breathe sufficiently on his own yesterday, so he was not taken off the ventilator. When it was turned off, his CO2 levels rose significantly, so he was left on the machine. He was also throwing up. There is now some question as to whether he will ever be able to breathe on his own.Talk of a tracheotomy as well. Please pray that he will be able to breathe without the aid of a machine.Overall, we are thankful he is alive. We hope and pray for things to get easier for him soon. Thank you again.

In Christ’s love,
Marty for Val

I am praying that this little fellows lungs will grow strong enough to get off of the machine for good and that his vomiting subsides quickly. The longer he is tied to the machine, the harder it will be to wean him off of it.

Also, I am praying for Baby Jonah’s family… they have been on this long roller-coaster of ups and downs, the siblings and the parents having to be separated from him in these early weeks of his life is a great burden on them all.

It would be especially beneficial if you would take a moment and “comment” encouragement to them. We are the Body of Christ and called to love one another. If there is a word that you feel lead to give them, this would be a good place to do so.

For me… I tend to draw my strength from music and especially Christian music. And as a visual artist I also think in pictures. Right now, Dear Marty and Val… I visualize little Baby Jonah being held close by Jesus  and you with Him at his side singing “Jesus, Jesus, Lord to me; Master, Savior, Prince of Peace; Ruler of my heart today, Jesus Lord to Me”. . .” and “Draw Me Close to You; never let me go…”. These two songs are some of my favorite to sing like a lullaby while rocking with a baby.

Although I wouldn’t wish such heartache through these trials, I do know that God is there with all of you. I just pray that you are comforted by His presence.

God is the Air that I breathe… and over the next few days, as I draw my breaths, I will be reminded to think of little Baby Jonah and ask God’s grace to show unto you.

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