Hey! My name's Val Clark! I'm 39 years old. My husband's name is Jim and we've been married for 12 years. We have three great kids, Jake-11, Emily-9, and Sam-4. We've lived in Mansfield, Ohio for 7 years and we LOVE it! We love our families, our church family and all of our wonderful friends...We are so blessed!!!
The following is a small excerpt from a posting I put on a Viral Encephalitis website, where thousands of people, from all over the world, go to find answers, and hope, regarding their loved ones who have been stricken with this illness. Viral Encephalitis is an infection/swelling of the brain that most times has devistating outcomes. This is just a small glimpse into what has come into our lives...
"My son, Jake, 10 yrs old, survived and is recovering from Viral Encephalitis. There is HOPE! On July 19, 2006 our otherwise healthy Jake had several Gran Mal seizures, fell into a coma that lasted 5 days, and was on a ventilator... all from a mosquito bite! As we are still early into his recovery, I'm not ready to re-live the details of the onset of his illness, or the days spent in the P.I.C.U., for it is still much too painful. However, our son almost died in the ER on July 19th. Then, we didn't know what Jake would be like when, and if, he woke from his coma. He could have been severely brain damaged, paralyzed, blind, left with no memory at all... but I'm here to give hope. Jake was able to start school with everyone else last September. His personality is back almost 100%, as well as his physical abilities and long term memory. Praise God! At this time, Jake has problems with his short term memory, making school difficult. He now has seizures, which thankfully are controlled by meds. He gets tired very easily and is sometimes extremely emotional, all of which are common... One thing we've learned is the road to recovery is NOT a straight one. There are many ups and downs, and steps backwards, but the steps forward WILL come. We take each day as it comes, never knowing what will come our way, but we continue to trust in the LORD and have faith...
...As dark as things may get, please don't give up hope. There is hope!!! Call upon the LORD, pray for healing, pray for strength. HE will lift you up and carry you through this. You can't do it alone, and GOD is waiting for you...."
29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
12:12 Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
| 
