Thank you! Thank you is one of the many words that comes to mind when thinking about all the people that gave their time, effort, love and money to help our baby girl.

When Laura McCann called and asked what I thought about doing a chicken dinner benefit for Lahna, I don’t think either of us could have imagined the extraordinary plan God had in store for this event.

The money that was raised through the chicken dinner benefit will enable us to buy Lahna four pieces of equipment. I cannot wait to see my almost 2-year-old stand in her new stander; sit in her new chair with full head control; lay on her stomach with her elbows propped under her; and take a bath with ease — all the things that we take for granted when we have healthy children.

Thank you to our wonderful church, First Baptist of Natchez, Clark and Susan Smith’s Sunday school class and countless other people that helped. We have a loving church family and each of our Sunday school members have a special place in our hearts. You have reached out, prayed and brought so much love to our family since Lahna’s diagnosis.

Lahna was born weighing 6 pounds 11 ounces, on June 11, 2009. For five months we thought as a family that we had a beautiful healthy baby girl.

On Dec. 3, 2009, she was diagnosed with Lissencephaly, infantile spasms, tonic and clonic seizures. We were told that she would be severely mentally retarded, probably not live to be older than 10 and to go ahead and make funeral arrangements.

I don’t remember a day in my life, or since, that I have cried or prayed harder. I not only prayed, but I begged God to not let my baby suffer. I am not sure what God has planned for her or us, but what I am sure of is that she has touched many people’s hearts and continues to draw us closer to him.

I cannot honestly count how many seizures Lahna has had at this point, thousands! I have watched my baby cry, scream, curl up in the fetal position and make her body do things I had no idea it could do. All the while she is just looking at me with her big beautiful brown eyes that are begging me to help.

As a parent you cannot imagine what it feels like to not be able to help your child.

Life sometimes passes us by so fast that we forget to soak up the small things.

I want to remember each of Lahna’s “big” moments and tell my grandchildren about how she changed our life. Her two big brothers, Landon and Lawson, love and adore her more than any big brother can.

Landon said it best when he said “God gave us baby special, huh.”

The answer is, yes!

Haley Smith is a Natchez resident.