Sunday evening update

It has been a relatively quiet day. They did back Lindsay off the paralytic this afternoon and she continues to respond.

There are several major prayer requests tonight:

1. There is bleeding again at the left hand IV site. They have called into someone from surgical to see what can be done.

2. The infection is a little better and its eradication is the key to better options.

3. The big news is that starting within the hour, they are going to start backing off ECMO and with medication support, see what Lindsay's heart can do. Needless to say, the kids are a wee bit apprehensive about this step. Pray for peace, and most of all, that this will reveal that Lindsay's OWN heart can function.

One of our friends, Dr. Judy Jalovick, encouraged me to check out the lyrics to a song from one of the latest Gaither Vocal Band CD's. The song is entitled, THROUGH ...
“When I saw what lay before me,
Lord, I cried, what will you do?
I thought He would just remove it.
But, He gently led me through.
Without fire, there’s no refining,
without pain, no release,
without flood, there’s no rescue,
without testing, no belief.
Through the fire, through the flood,
through the water, through the blood…
Through the dry and barren places,
through life’s dense and maddening mazes,
through the pain, and through the glory…
Through we’ll always tell the story,
of the God whose power and mercy,
will not fail…to take us…through.”

I think that sums it all up for tonight ... Lord, please take Lindsay through!

Sunday Morning Update

Good morning! Trust that you will be blessed today on this Lord's Day. Here is some additional good news:

1. Lindsay had a good night. They were very pleased with how she eliminated fluid during the night, and even backed down what they were trying to take off

2. Her chest xray show more improvement. They are talking about trying to back down the ventilator this morning to see if they can put her back on the smaller unit. This will give them the ability to turn her more often.

The head of the CICIU met with the kids last night and reiterated that she is not out of the woods yet, but was also encouraged by the way Lindsay was handling things. The two biggest issues are the need to get her off the ECMO machine and clearing up the infection. As you pray, these are the two biggest challenges that she will face. She cannot get the Berlin heart or the heart transplant with an infection.

This morning in my quiet time, here are several verses that were in the DAILY LIGHT (http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/daily.light/):

Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortend, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear. In the day I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul. Ah, Lord God! Behold you have made the heavens and the earth by YOUR great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. He delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us. This sickness is not unto death, but for the GLORY OF GOD that the Son of God may be glorified through it. Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?

Thanks again for writing to the kids. They are encouraged by your love and support, and most of all, your prayers.