Amazing News

 I am excited to announce that starting in August, Alex will be attending

Dallas Baptist University 

What a crazy ride this has been...this university was not even on our list to visit. But a few weeks ago we made the impromptu decision to go for a Campus Visit. From the moment we stepped on campus, Alex and I both felt like that was where he was supposed to be. He applied that same day and they accepted him one week later. We went for a second (longer) visit today and our feelings were confirmed. From the president to the professors to the admissions counselors there is something special about this place. It is built on community and faith and is a perfect fit for Alex! It doesn't hurt that the campus is gorgeous! Thank you for our friends and family who have stood beside us through so many ups and downs on this journey. For so much of Alex's life we just prayed for another day or another year with him, college seemed like a distant unreachable dream. To be at this moment with him is the answer to so many prayers and the love of so many people who have cared for him and loved him. I have no doubt that God put Alex on this earth to touch lives and make an impact. I am so excited for this next step in his life and so happy he has chosen to put his faith at the center of it. May God continue to work in and through Alex as he touches lives and teaches others to CHOOSE JOY despite your circumstances!

Ali

Off and Running

 We have jumped in with both feet to the new year! 

Maddy is back to the barn and loving every minute she is there. Moving to our new barn has been such an incredible transition. Maddy has ridden and loved many horses since she first started hippotherapy and therapeutic riding. But there has not been a connection with any horse like her PD. Watching the two of them form a relationship and grow has been so amazing to watch. Maddy is head over heels in love with PD and PD will do anything for her girl. We actually see PD try to "help" her if she is working on something new. The love between them is building Maddy's confidence and with the confidence and trust, her skills are improving by leaps and bounds. It is truly special to watch. 

Maddy will start school, tutoring and ballet this week and we will be back to our crazy schedule! Medically it has been a bit of an up and down for my girl. After losing 8 pounds last year we made some pretty significant increases to her tube feeds and added a medication and she is finally back to the weight she was and not as weak. Her GI was happy with the progress and wants us to stay the course as she is still on the lower end of the growth charts. She also had a good report from hematology.  We have had an increase in joint issues and some increased dizziness lately. She is also having some bladder/kidney issues that had us adding a new specialist this week. We are hoping we can get a handle on what is going on and help her quickly.

Alex is back to his online Forensics and Criminal Profiling classes. He has applied to both TCU and UNT and recently decided he would like to visit a few more schools so we are busy all month with campus visits at 4 more universities! He continues to enjoy the most stability medically he has in his whole life! We are so grateful for this blessing and the timing as he is excited to take the next steps to attend school and gain some independence! Both GI and Hematology were thrilled with his medical status and don't want to change anything. He likely needs an iron infusion, but we will wait on labs for final confirmation.

Thank you for your continued prayers for us as we try and live each day to the fullest and enjoy this time of "normalcy" in our lives!

Ali

Happy New Year

 This year has been a year of ups and downs for the Beckwith's! 

We have seen some amazing blessings...the biggest being this is the first year since Alex was two that we never spent a night in the hospital! We are so very grateful for continued health and stability for him and the excitement of new beginnings and adventures on the horizon! Maddy continues to thrive in both school and horseback riding. While she is still painfully shy, we are watching her push through and show her personality in settings where she is comfortable. I am finally mostly recovered from my knee surgery and have been able to take a little more time for myself this year. Bruce is still in remission from his colon cancer and loves his job.

As we begin the new year, our prayer is for continued health and happiness for all of our family and friends. We pray that you look around and are filled with gratitude at the blessings surrounding you. May 2023 be a year of love and amazing memories!

Ali