The Burns Family: Who's EJ?

Some of you may have noticed our new friend at the top of our blog (look to your right). This is EJ, daughter of Jami and Beth Mullikin. We go to church with the Mullikins, and Ryan happens to work for Jami, and we happen to be friends, so any way you look at it we are in this thing with them, and happy to be.

This "thing" is what has been a struggle for the past 8 years for Jami, Beth and EJ's brothers, N and O. EJ, who just turned 9, is diagnosed with Sensory Integration Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. These disorders manifest themselves in her eating, and to this point outpatient treatment and therapy have been the way they've tried to help EJ. The Mullikins and doctors now agree that it is time for EJ to have some inpatient therapy, which for her means being away from her family for 60 days, and for her family, means missing her for the entire summer, maybe longer, all in the desperate hope that God will heal EJ while she is away and return healthy and healed.

Remuda Ranch is their destination for her, and you can click the link to read more about it. Thankfully, financial aid has brought the cost for the Mullikins from a heart-stopping $175,000 to $40,000. Their goal is to raise this money as fast as possible in order to pay the first payment (of half the cost) up front so they can send EJ this summer, so that she doesn't have to miss school in the fall. If she misses school, she may have to be held back a grade, and with a twin brother, that would entirely change their relationship and mark this period in her life in an even greater way.

Will you consider helping? Ryan is participating in the 100 Holes for EJ Golf Marathon on June 22, so if you want to give $1 a hole, or go in with friends and each give $1 or $5 a hole for every hole to 100 Ryan can complete (have you seen him play golf? no? me neither! because he doesn't - $100 a hole would mean you give a total of $100. Love you, Babe!)

Or you can click on EJ's link to the right and donate straight up, and especially learn more about her story.

I have always thought it interesting the challenge we as parents face. Our job once we bring our little ones home for the first time is keep them alive and healthy by feeding them and getting them to sleep; two things you cannot, for the life of you, make anyone do. I try to put myself in Jami and Beth's shoes, as parents of a daughter who won't and can't eat, wondering and hoping and praying that this would not be the rest of her life, or ours. Please pray for EJ and for the Mullikins, and please consider supporting them as they try to get healing for their daughter and their entire family.

I've posted a video of EJ's twin brother N talking a little about how he feels about his sister's disorder. It is precious.