August 28, 2008

Dear Friends and Prayer Warriors,

We have reached a point in Samantha's recovery that we must move on and away from the trauma we've endured this last three and a half years. We are definitely over the crisis and shock of that terrible car accident and are in the process of redefining the life we once knew.

The support we've received from so many good people was one of the many blessings God provided to get us through to this point. Your words have been encouraging and have inspired us in lasting ways. My heart will always be grateful that God used our journey to inspire many of you as well.

The Internet is a tremendous resource but for all it's anonymity brings concern and vulnerability to our lives that we just don't have room for.

In this respect, I have made the decision to bring this public chapter of her recovery to an end. We will be moving forward in her continued recovery, creating our lives much as any other family would - privately.

We have all been blessed by your presence in our lives and are eternally grateful for your presence through these stages. We wish God's wonderful blessings to all of you who have so generously offered prayers Samanhta and our family.

My hope is that you all know that "with God all things are possible", even surviving something as heartbreaking as a catastrophically injured child. He promises to always be there for us, if we only ask, and help us through the trials we face in this world.

He did just that for me and my family.

It is not accurate to say that "God will only give you as much as you can handle". He did not create her accident or use her as a sacrifice for His glory. It IS accurate to say that "God will give you as much as you need to handle what life throws your way".

in His love,

Diana Palumbo