At birth, Callie was diagnosed with several health complications that included a rare genetic disorder called Williams Syndrome. Williams Syndrome is a genetic disorder in which half of the 7th chromosome is missing. People who have this condition face a lot of difficulties with their health and development. She didn't know what else to do so Callie's mom prayed and it changed her life.
[rsnippet id="3"] Fourteen years later, Tabitha is able to share openly about her daughter's experience and how this sweet girl has changed their lives for the better."The doctor said, ‘I guarantee you she won’t see her first birthday’ … I just remember running out of the office, grabbing Callie out of my mother’s arms – and just running.”
In 2003, the family learned they would once again have a new addition. While they hadn't been trying for another child, Tabitha and Keith were happy to welcome another baby. Just like the other pregnancies, there were no major problems and everything seemed to be going smoothly for Tabitha and her baby.“We were going about life, doing our thing every day,” Tabitha says. “My husband started pastoring in a church, so I was known as the pastor’s wife, and things were good.”
“When they got her out,” Tabitha recalls, “they held her up over the screen and she was really stiff. I think I knew then that something was wrong, even though they told me everything was fine. That night, she cried continuously, and I felt like a failure because I couldn’t get her to stop.
RELATED: Girl Born Without A Face Surprised Doctors And Defied Internet Trolls The time of joy was quickly becoming full of fear. Doctors were baffled. Callie's blood pressure was high enough to cause an adult to stroke.“With that episode, she went lethargic, she went limp and had a bowel movement,” Tabitha explains. “We called 911 and went to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where we were told that her blood pressure was sky high.”
That's when Tabitha and Keith were told about the possibility of Callie truly being different.“They sent in a cardiologist and a geneticist,” Tabitha says. “He immediately asked us if Callie looked like our three other children, and I said yes, but in my heart, I knew she was different.”
“He wanted to order tests,” Tabitha continues. “He said she would be overly friendly, very lovable, and that (Williams syndrome kids) don’t know what fear is. They love everyone.”
RELATED: Sadness Could Kill This Sick Girl, So Her Parents Are Asking For Your Help The doctors prepared the couple that Callie could die at any moment.“Usually, they have narrowing in just the curve of the aorta,” Tabitha explains. “Unfortunately, for Callie, there was only a pinhole for blood to go through.”
“The doctor said, ‘I can’t tell you that she has two days or three minutes,’ ” Tabitha recalls. “ ‘We will do what we can with blood pressure medications – but if you could take off work, I would suggest doing it.’ They guaranteed us that Callie wouldn’t see her first birthday.”
[rsnippet id="3"] Tabitha was in a prayer service when she felt a tugging at her heart. She needed peace and had been missing something important. That's when she felt God spoke to her.“A lot of people don’t believe in the Lord, or that he could take care of things that others have given up on,” she says. “I kept praying that God would heal Callie, I begged him to heal her… kept getting discouraged. I have been living for the Lord and trying to do right – but my child is sick, and we want her healed.”
“I was in a prayer service, and God said to me, ‘She’s mine, I gave her to you – I want you to pray for my will to be done in her life,’ ” Tabitha says. “So I prayed that day – whatever your will is, take her now, 10 years from now – whatever it is, that’s what I want.”
RELATED: Their Baby Girl Was Supposed To Die, So The Family Prayed For A Miracle While the troubles weren't over, this tiny miracle was huge for Tabitha and Keith. They believed God was in control and would use this experience for good. The couple continued to pray. When her one-year birthday came close, Tabitha found herself facing fear again.“The doctor said, medically, this does not happen,” Tabitha recalls. “It’s never grown again, but it’s held its own.”
Sometimes Mom knows best! Callie was able to wear that onesie for her first birthday!“I remember shopping with my mom one day, when Callie was a baby, and I saw an outfit that said ‘My First Birthday,’ and I picked it up and cried,” Tabitha says. “My mom said to pick it up and buy it for her.”
Even in this daily struggle, there is a huge blessing. Those with Williams Syndrome have a special way of connecting with the world. They have no fear, no understanding of hurtful emotions- only love and joy. This can mean that Callie often misunderstands someone's responses but it also means that she is always able to see good in things. A very special gift.“We live our life like we have tomorrow, or just tonight,” Tabitha says. “Callie’s taught me that we all need to cherish the things we have and the time we have with everybody. Live your life like this.”
“She has moderate mental retardation,” Tabitha explains. “She’s very vocal and outgoing. She retains everything she hears, both good and bad. She can use things in the appropriate way but doesn’t understand the meaning. To hear her carry on a conversation, you think she’s wise beyond her years – she has no spatial awareness and left-sided weakness (from strokes). She needs help going up steps, putting on clothes, combing her hair, and she can’t read.”
‘I’m gonna be OK - if I don’t make it through the surgery, I will be in heaven, and God will take care of me.’
"...the main thing we have in common is love, laughter, and happiness!" She continues, "...he actually stole my personality away from me!"
“I think the world would be a better place if we just had a little bit of the love that Callie has”, her mom Tabitha TrueLove told SBSK.In 2016, the Truelove's faced most obstacles. Callie's older sisters were in a bad car accident. One of the girls was bedridden during healing. But during that time, Callie was able to use her gift as an encouragement and love for her sister. Tabitha's faith continues to be tested but she holds strong and takes each day as it is given.
“God just shows me that every day is precious,” she says. “And we have to be thankful. We may not have the best of everything or a lot of money, but we just have to be thankful for what we have.”Those who have gotten to know Callie through her Facebook page or other means all say the same thing: She's truly a blessing.
“The strength, love and courage she has, it’s changed our lives. She’s been such a blessing. She’s taught me more than I could ever teach her in a lifetime.”
