Jonathan Cooper Update

We have had a wonderful week of growth and improvement. Jonathan is doing such an awesome job! Every day we watch him do more and more things on his own. It is just remarkable to watch him. At Monday's therapy, his teacher started working with him in the office. During the first activity, she commented on how much better he was standing and balancing on his own. She decided to take him downstairs to the gym and work on the machines. He did 5 minutes on the treadmill, 5 minutes on the stationary bike and then worked for several minutes on a machine that does something like squats, using both legs and then each leg separately. He did a great job with all of that and seemed to enjoy it as well. That evening, we watched Jonathan get up and walk different places, just holding our hand. He dressed himself for some pictures we were trying to take, and even tied his shoes. He undressed himself after we were done as well. He showed so much motivation to get up and do these things without help. It was neat to watch. On Tuesday, Jonathan did therapy in the office and did a lot of balancing exercises. At the end of his class, his teacher took him on a long walk down a long hall outside the office without his walker. She said he really was not relying on her much at all. I stood there watching Jonathan walk, praising God for the real life miracle of healing this crippled boy, just like Jonathan had portrayed just a year ago in the Easter production of 8 Days That Changed the World at our church. Who would have known that God would use Jonathan to tell the story of His healing power in a play, and then show the world, through his life, that God still has the power to heal today, just as He did when He walked on this earth. Today we made a visit to the dentist to have our teeth cleaned. Jonathan got x-rays and a cleaning, and handled it all beautifully. Later in the day we went to visit our piano teacher and enjoyed our time with her. He went to church for Awana again and passed another section and then spent about an hour with Mom in choir rehearsal to end the day.
Please say a prayer of praise to the Father for His abundant blessings to Jonathan and our family. Every day, we know the Lord a little more intimately as He continues to show Himself to us through this journey He has called us to make. Pray for all of us as we prepare to share our experience with those who will attend Welcome Home Jonathan Day this Sunday. Pray for Dad as he speaks and for Mom and the kids as they sing. Continue to pray for Jonathan's strength and endurance. Pray that he will have a good attitude and that his determination to do things on his own will continue to increase. Pray for us as we continue to work on schooling. We started back this week and it seems a little overwhelming right now. Pray that we will find a good routine and that we will be able to accomplish what we need to so that we can be ready for the new school year in the fall when it comes. God is so good. Thank you for your continued prayers.