Jogging Chair update....
Alex got in his jogging chair again yesterday after standing for almost an hour on his tilt table.
He did great.
We made it four laps on the driveway, and I am posting a video that my Grace recorded. She did a fantastic job!
You will see in the video how steep and long our driveway is. I want to go to the track at the school so badly because I know we could make it quite a distance there. Both Alex and I are going to build up so much endurance.
Alex used only his diaphragm pacer again while we were jogging/walking, and he said his breathing felt great.
The only time he struggled was when I put him back into his wheelchair. The change in position seemed to make breathing harder for him, so next time I will recline his wheelchair more before transferring him back.
We are making progress.
Again, thank you to everyone who donated to help us get the chair, to those who have prayed for us, and to those who have offered words of encouragement.
Thank you also to Ainsley’s Angels, who do an amazing job promoting inclusion, and to Team Hoyt, who have inspired so many people to get out there, run, feel the wind, and simply move.
Here’s the video…
Comments
I am sure you receive more questions from people than you can possibly answer. However, I wanted to make a personal observation. I just read a couple of your previous blog entries from this year. I am a little perplexed at what seems to be a contradiction-- the book ("the boy who came back from heaven") features various comments from you and the video includes some footage of you as well (presumably with your knowledge that it would be included in the book & video); yet, your more recent blog entries seem to indicate that you do not support the book or its claims. Is it accurate to say that you were once in support of the book and film but now you are not? If so, I wonder what has changed?
~Blessings, Melissa
Thank you for taking the time to ask a question:) I cannot answer everything, nor should I, but I feel ok to respond to you. This response is going to be in two parts.
Have you ever been in a situation where you do not know how to stop what is happening, you do not know how to change it, so what you do is whatever you can in the midst of it. That has been that type of situation. Boy, if I could go backwards and have the strength, knowledge, and wisdom that I have now...yea...but we cannot do that can we so there is no need to do what if's. What I can do is move forward with what I now know, see, and trust God for the strength.
If you have read through some of my previous posts, you will find one(11/20/12) in which I put up a Facebook post that my son Alex put on the book's fan page in August of 2011.
Alex Malarkey ▶ The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven
Aug 6, 2011 •
1 of the most deceptive books ever
Alex pretty much summed up this the book, video, and anything that surrounds it. Deception, manipulation, greed, exploitation...many words could be used but deception is for sure! If you read the post on this blog, you will see that the post Alex put on Facebook was deleted from the page it was written on and he was blocked from further commenting. Why? The post was written by him though, so it remains on his personal page.
What someone or some people have chosen to do with bits of information that they either was given, took, or flat out made up, is one of the main concerns. Speaking for myself, I NEVER signed ANY contracts or agreed to quote for ANY book. I know I am quoted in a book, but where those came from were not Ok’d by me verbally or in writing. AS for my minor son, I still have not been shown ANY contracts with his name on it (yes, I have asked), no specifics were discussed with either my son or I, yet he is listed as an author, and his name has been used and supposed story has been told all around the world. The product that is out and has been being sold, we were both lead to believe that it was more a book talking about the accident, the miraculous survival of Alex, and the perspective was going to be from an author. Neither Alex nor I were EVER told that Alex would be listed as one of the authors nor that it would appear as if at least parts of it would appear to be from his view point. The title of the book is one that he himself voiced very strongly against to which he was told that it basically would not be his decision. Please, he is a kid and he has no say in what to do with even bits of information on him. (I will remind you that the book has "true story" on the cover). I am his mom and have been his ONLY caregiver(There have not been any nurses here to help since October of 2006 and up to that point, they were not here 24/7). Alex and I have gutted the trenches out together with God giving us the strength to endure and persevere. . Why in the world would I not know about these things until after the production of it? If this is confusing to you, imagine what we have had to try to sort through. Why would you not be honest in your intentions? Why would you not respect the wishes of a little, defenseless child? I still have trouble wrapping my mind and heart around this.
Melissa, I could list lots of things that would be a which is true/which is not true list (and trust me, I have it) but that is only part of the problem. Some people have even said that they do not care what is true or not....what? How can you not care???Bottom line...the Bible clearly shows many issues with the contents of the book that you are talking about, one I strongly disagree with, one I NEVER supported, one I discourage others from reading and certainly purchasing. I and I alone, have watched my son deal with the affects that have come because some very greedy adults were bent on taking a few words that did come out of a little, severely injured child's mouth, add words and embellishments, and hide behind religion all to try to sell more products. I do not name names because I know that there are many that, like me and you, that have been deceived or maybe a better word is duped. Sadly, there are others though that have intentionally deceived and profited from it.
I just wish someone would care enough about the wellbeing of my precious child to stop the nonsense. What stress he has had to deal with, beyond what he would just from dealing with living with the injuries he has, is not worth ANY amount of money. This is his life!
Alex Malarkey is was amazing young man who has and is battling daily and achieving much because of his hard efforts as well as the efforts of some precious, other, good-intentioned hearts. Their names are not widely recognized or talked about. They have truly been near him and with him. They actually talk to him not just at him. His struggles are not in the past, they are very much in his daily present. Many tears have and ARE shed. Let him at least have the privilege of sharing from what he has learned through what he has endured when and if he so choses to. It bothers me so much when people let others toil and labor, then they come in and try to capitalize on what that person has done. Yuck:(
AS for the DVD....yea...that was a very difficult time medically for my dear Alex. I could give you dates of the hospital stays that surrounded the making of that video. If you watch it, you will see that Alex is lying in bed in most shots, his eyes look down, and he does not have that bright "Alex" smile that he is known for. Why? His health was really bad at that time. I will not get into it on this page, but it was not because he wanted to freely talk. AS for my part in it, I was encouraged to tell the truth and while I could not stop what was happening, I could speak truth. Truth ALWAYS wins! I did believe that the DVD was going to be more of a story pointing to the inspirational part of the story of struggles and perseverance through them. The people who made the DVD have made other DVD's where the person's story is just portrayed and not connected with any books or items for sale other than possibly the DVD itself in which case the proceeds went to a foundation. In the DVD that you are referring to, I always tried to point to God. Again, I had no idea that the main focus of the book or DVD was going to be about supernatural/near-death experiences. Many of the people that claim to be around Alex or my family are not nor were most of them around during the time immediately after the accident or the year’s right after it. The one church that claims to be my family's church, Christ Our King, is one that Alex and I only intended for a very short time. We have not been there since October of 2009 and do not get visits, phone calls, emails, cards, anything from them. When Alex was homes bound for 18 months except for the numerous trips back and forth to the hospital visits, he and I were abandoned. I am an adult, but how can you do that to a hurting child?
Misleading others has been a large part of this project. I appreciate you asking Melissa. These shenanigans need stopped!
Blessings to you as well....Keep seeking truth in the WORD!!!Dig into what God has to say not man! His word warns us of the deception that would come....
2 Timothy 4:3-5, Titus 1:10-11 2 Peter 2
Beth
It is very sad and disappointing to hear of the greed and deception, and how others willingly exploited Alex & his story and didn't listen to his wishes. I'm so sorry for the hurt you both have experienced in this.
I'm inspired by your example of how you and Alex are clinging to Christ, despite the hurts and deception. It is easy to give into feelings and let questions get in the way...But it is obvious that you have chosen to trust God and live for Him no matter what your feelings and circumstances are like, and it is a beautiful testimony.
My heart goes out to you, and I cheer you on from where I sit! There is no expectation that you would, but if you choose to do so, you're welcome to email me at my personal email address: meln180@gmail.com (*could you not post the email address on your blog?*)
Blessings,
Melissa N
It is very sad and disappointing to hear of the greed and deception, and how others willingly exploited Alex & his story and didn't listen to his wishes. I'm so sorry for the hurt you both have experienced in this.
I'm inspired by your example of how you and Alex are clinging to Christ, despite the hurts and deception. It is easy to give into feelings and let questions get in the way...But it is obvious that you have chosen to trust God and live for Him no matter what your feelings and circumstances are like, and it is a beautiful testimony.
My heart goes out to you, and I cheer you on from where I sit.
Blessings,
Melissa N
I am reading the book now and my fascination with it and your family is what led me to this page. I am sorry to hear that things are not what they appeared in the book, what I mean by that is I am still in a part of the story where your family is united, or at least that is what the book is portraying.
Outside of the book, just reading your blog and seeing your strength, your love, and Alex's strength, love, smile, is really touching. You are an amazing woman and your children are beautiful. May Alex continue to have a big beautiful smile on his face everyday. And may you have all the strength and love you need to get through each day!! You are amazing! Sincerely, Tracy