Please pray for Josh's cousin, Matthew, and his family. I blogged previously that his brain tumor had returned. This past week he underwent brain surgery for the second time and unfortunately this time they were unable to safely remove all of it. I am not sure exactly where things go from here, but they are returning to Indiana and will be working with their local neurosurgeon, Dr. Cobb. His previous recovery was nothing short of miraculous and we are all praying for the same result. He has a beautiful wife and daughter now, in addition to the tremendous extended family who all have more questions than answers at this point and are really hurting. Please, please hold them all close in prayer.

My aunt is going into surgery as well today, please keep her in your prayers as well.

Special Prayer Requests

First I want to request prayer for another DH family I just met over the phone tonight. We were introduced through Kaci, Josh's sister. Kaci called to speak with the mother and was astounded at the story she never expected to hear. Little Max was born in April with an undiagnosed left CDH. He was not doing well after birth and was transferred to Riley approximately three hours after birth. Fortunately he was born at Clarian West, just outside of Indy, or Mom feels things may have gone very differently. He went on ECMO at day 3, had his surgery the next week and ultimately went home at about 4 weeks old. We talked for almost an hour. Max's intestine, stomach, spleen were all twisted up and were brought out, untwisted and put back in place. He had some vocal chord paralysis and also deals with tracheomalacia. Because of these complications, he wound up with a trach, so this is a family with a lot to deal with. We had to go home with what felt like a lot of equipment, but they have twice as much. They are also dealing with a LOT of reflux - and that does sound familiar. We know they have a long road ahead of them, but we have hope to offer and share as we move forward. So many helped to pull us through and we welcome the opportunity to return the favor if called upon. Keep them in your prayers, the next winter will be especially challenging.

The next child I learned about through my Mom. One of the doctors that she volunteers with at the Hope clinic has a new grandbaby girl who is beautiful and special. She was born with a syndrome that essentially means part of her brain is missing. Lillie Grace has Dandy-Walker Malformation. Haven't had time to research it too much yet and haven't had contact with the family yet, except through Mom. Despite everything, she seems to be defying the odds and developing normally so far. Obviously there is a lot of uncertainty, but she has been born into a special family and has everything going for her. She has already touched many in her short life and is certainly destined to touch many more. Please keep her and her family in your prayers. I am pasting a portion of an update email Lille's mother sent out:


Hello family and friends,
We are so excited to send you this newest update. I must start by saying, PRAISE THE LORD!!. Lillie Grace has surprised all of her doctors. They can't find anything physically wrong with her through these first six weeks. She had her one month check up a couple of weeks ago and was doing everything a one month old is supposed to do. She is alert, smiling, pushing off on her feet, and eating all the time. She weighs 10 lbs. and 8 oz.! Her head and all of her other measurements are in the 75th percentile, which is awesome. We met with the neurologist this past Thursday and heard more good news. Dr. Boutiller looked at the MRI and confirmed the Dandy Walker but when she did her physical exam she could not find anything to be concerned about. We are not out of the woods yet but what a miraculous start!! We were concerned with what might happen but she told us not to look for trouble when there wasn't any. Our baby girl is truly a miracle and a blessing! I truly beleive that the prayers that have been lifted up are the reason for this wonderful update. We continue to ask for your prayers as the next few months are crucial to her prognosis. We love you all and will keep you posted as we continue on this journey. We look forward to seeing how God will use Lillie Grace in the future because we know she has a special purpose!
Love in Christ,
C. H.

Praise!

I meant to post this more than a week ago, but it has been hectic. I think somewhere along the way I asked for prayers for a friend's father who had bladder cancer. The initial prognosis was not very good. Last week I was told he had received a clean bill of health from both local doctors and Indy doctors. I don't believe this was really expected as when he had his surgery, the cancer had spread more than doctors had expected. He and his family endured some serious chemo and I know they are truly rejoicing over this. On another note, she is due to deliver their second child next month and these past weeks have been a bit bumpy, so I would ask for prayers that the remainder of her pregnancy goes much smoother and for the delivery of a healthy baby boy or girl.

Oh yes, my Aunt is also doing better and did not have to go on dialysis. Her surgery is still scheduled to go ahead as planned! More good news.

Too much noise...

I'm having another one of those nights. I should have gone to sleep over an hour ago. I tried, but couldn't settle down enough to sleep. My thoughts keep bouncing around in my head and the noise from the "little rubber ball" leaping from all of my random thoughts is too great. I am here to try and quiet the noise. There are so many people I have been praying for, and I am not always good about writing them down in one place. There are little notes here and there, but not all together as they should be. I am just going to start listing them as best I can and ask whoever still checks here to help me pray - as was the original intent of this blog.

Josh's cousin: he was diagnosed with a brain tumor - this story is nothing short of miraculous and not a short one - with no hope of a good outcome originally. Long story made short - found miracle doctor from Russia living in Arkansas and he got every bit of that tumor. He has a beautiful baby girl now! Bad news: tumor has returned and has a partner. I don't really know any more. The Russian doctor is out of the country and I think they are waiting to hear from him. Please pray for another positive outcome.

I know three people with dialysis looming. My cousin has been on dialysis for a while now and is on the kidney donor list. A friend of mine has a brother that is facing dialysis and possibly a kidney transplant as well. My Aunt has been facing the possibility for a while, but it hasn't seemed to be an issue lately. Appears that some bloodwork came back suspicious and she may be looking at dialysis soon. Hopefully the repeated bloodwork will have a different outcome. She was getting ready for surgery in August that will likely have to be postponed if she does, in fact, need dialysis.

Jackson Fleig will be having his hernia repair tomorrow - and also moving his kidney back where it belongs. I know his mother is especially worried b/c she is a pediatric surgical nurse and probably knows too much. Keep their entire family in your prayers - that surgery goes well, that the family can remain calm and steady (oh please pray for that one - it isn't easy to sit and wait and feel helpless - yet I know they will want your prayer efforts directed more so towards Jackson and his surgical team) and that little Jackson will be as comfortable as possible during his recovery.

For Victoria who just graduated from high school and is getting ready to leave for her basic training in the Navy. She is very excited and full of optimism. My prayer is to keep her safe and for God to reassure her Grandparents who are full of mixed emotions (understandably so).

I know there is more and it escapes me. The fog of sleepiness is starting to settle again, so hopefully I can get some sleep. It is going to be another busy week - I'll be working more this week than I have since Gabe was born since we will be short-handed more so than usual. I know I am up for it - and I am just going to keep saying that...

Also pray for someone else I hold dear who is sometimes here and sometimes gone. I'm not ready to lose this person yet, but don't know how to hold on and don't know how to help. This is all I know to do...

Away for a while

I don't know why I haven't been on this blog for a while, or if anyone checks it anymore. I guess life happens. I have still kept up with prayers, just not blogging about them. We've done a lot of priority shuffling over the past year with our family and our faith at the top of the list. A member of the family asked for a prayer request and it has jogged me back to this blog. As usual I will cut and past in her own words.

I ask that you add Jacob Rowland to your prayer sight. He is the son of our counselor at school. He is 9 months old and they are not sure what is wrong, but he has some form of cystic fibrosis and is not absorbing food. They are considering a G-tube and of course I thought of all you have gone through. Their family could sure use some extra prayers.


I have a few prayers to add to that, some confidential. I know someone struggling in faith and finances - pray for them please. I pray that they will see becoming bogged down in what is of the world is a distraction. I pray that they will be able to return to God and turn over their worry to Him. We have found in the past that when we are honestly able to do this, answers come. Somehow, they come. That which seems impossible is possible. Help us pray for this person. On another completely different topic - some of you may have seen on the news the story of the young Florida wife and mother who was kidnapped, raped and murdered. This is a tragic story, even if it stops there, but it doesn't. Another motorist was on the phone with 911 dispatchers, following the suspect as the young woman beat on the windows of the back seat. The other motorist gave dispatchers the street name and direction the car turned off on and this information was never relayed to authorities who were searching for the car. Losing someone in this way must be devestating, but also knowing how close this tragedy came to being averted and a young woman saved...well I can't imagine. This story has stayed on my mind and hasn't left me. I have prayed for the young husband and his young boys. I am sure he can't pray for himself right now. That's all.

Our dear friends and module mates, the Hufty's, had some big news on their own blog today. Jack, born with a tracheoesophageal fistula, Jack will get surgery to connect his esophagus and stomach on December 21st. The family has been waiting for news that Jack was ready for this next step for some time now, so this is exciting news. It will be difficult, I am sure, to be back in the hospital over the holidays, but good to get it done and behind them. Mike (Jack's Dad) will also be off for Christmas, so that will help with logistics and big brother Logan - Justin and Kendrick's buddy. Their site is http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jackhufty

Here is an excerpt from their blog with their prayer request:
Thank you for all of the prayers you have said up to this point. We would like to ask for your prayers again during the next several weeks for our own Christmas miracle. We specifically ask that you pray for Jack to remain healthy leading up to the surgery, for Jack's lungs to be strong enough to handle the surgery, that the surgery goes well, and that his recovery goes well. Please also pray for the doctors, nurses, RT's, anesthiesiologists(sp?), and others who will be working with Jack. We have seen how powerful prayer can be and appreciate even the smallest prayers.

This week a teacher that use to work in my building found out that her 7 year old son Gunner has brain tumor that can not be operated on. This little guy is amazing. He was born premature (at 26 weeks) and he only weighed a pound. He survived that obstacle and has grown into a sweet little boy with little health problems but a few learning problems. He was a miracle and now he faces another huge mountain. I am asking that you keep Gunner and his family in your prayers. His family has set up a care page that you can view and see what a neat boy he is! www.caringbridge.org The page name is gunnergillespie

This posting is from Jessie (Beltz) Engledow, a friend from college and my sorority days.