Since our baby is a sick little pumpkin, I'll be updating everyone via my blog. Here's the first email I sent out to some of our family from Thursday morning. It will get up you to speed on what happened the first 24 hours.
Our precious boy is here, but he desperately needs your prayers. He was born on Tuesday, July 14, at 1:30 a.m. as a seemingly healthy and VERY big boy (8.9 pounds and 22.5 inches) via a very uneventful and quite easy delivery. We got to hold and love on him for about 30 minutes. He went to the nursery for his bath and routine care while I was moved to a regular room. Around 8 a.m., we were told he had been moved to the NICU because he had turned blue in the nursery and was having a lot of trouble breathing.
The Harris Southwest NICU team did everything they could for him (including intubating him Wednesday morning), but his breathing and blood oxygen levels never improved. Because he was classified as a critical newborn, he was transferred via ambulance to Cook Children's yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon to their newborn NICU. He has a condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension, which means the arteries in his lungs aren't dilating enough to allow his blood to get the oxygen it needs. This is a good website about PPHN: http://www.persistent-pulmonary-hypertension-newborn.com/
He continues to be on a ventilator, and his docs have put him on nitric oxide to help relax the blood vessels in his lungs so they can better deliver oxygen to his body. Our family spent lots of time with him in the NICU yesterday. We can't touch him, and he's heavily sedated, so he can't hear us either, but I believe he knows we are there. And I know God is with him even when we can't be.
Please put our baby and his medical care team on your prayer list. We need as many people as possible lifting our baby up to the Lord at this time. I know God has a special plan for this baby, or he would not have blessed our family with him. I'd also ask that you pray for Griffin and Carter. Griffin got to see the baby in the NICU at Harris SW, and he understands that baby brother is having trouble breathing. Carter just knows that baby is not in Mommy's tummy anymore, but that he's not ready to come home from the hospital. Grif is a very sensitive boy, and he's having a hard time with all this. Carter is struggling with being separated from me. All four of us are at home (Thursday morning), so hopefully we can give the boys some peace.
On a lighter note, no, we have not named him yet. As most of you know, we like to get to know our babies before we name them, and we haven't had that opportunity yet. Jason and I have had no time together alone to discuss our angel's name, but we will soon.
I will do my best to keep you updated, but please be patient with me. Things change with him on a seemingly hourly basis right now, so it’s hard to stay up to speed myself. The last 48 hours are a blur for me.
Lord, I know you are the Great Physician and that you minister to us through many ways, doctors, nurses, technicians, machines, everything is at Your command. Please send your mercy and grace in a special way to this precious child and his family. I ask boldly, through the blood of Jesus, for complete healing of his lungs. Help his mother and father to be strong during this time of trial, let them feel your strong presence, knowing that You are in control. I ask that Your will be done and that in all things Praise is given to You. Give Peace and Strength to all who care for him that they may not grow weary but have power to stand against the Evil One who puts fear in their minds. Guard his brothers with your ministering angels. Provide rest to Jill and Jason as they care for their children and each other. We only have Hope because of you.
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 40:31 - but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Praise and adoration to You. I am ever thankful for your Love and ask all through Jesus Christ, Amen.
Jill & Jason – I will continue to keep you in my prayers. Wait upon the Lord, He provides miracles in His Time.
Teena & Lynn – God is in Control.
Enjoy the Journey
Barbara Thomason