Sunday, July 10, 2005

God once again pours out His strength upon us as we put all our trust in Him

It’s hard to know where to begin in summarizing this past week in both Luke’s life, our family and mine. First of all I have to let you all know that I’m so thankful for your prayers once again. God is so faithful in hearing the prayers of all those that cry out to Him.

It was scary taking Luke back to the Hospital again knowing that we would probably be there for a few days. We knew that Luke was sick but just didn’t realize how bad off he was until Wednesday morning when I went to change his diaper his legs and arms were looking all blotchy, it scared me to put it mildly. We just were not able to get his high fever under control though his arms and legs were freezing cold. Basically all his oxygen was going to keep his vital organs going.

The Emergency Dr. took one look at Luke and said immediately he was not sure what is going on but I do know he will be staying here until he gets better. We then had the x-ray machine come in and x-ray him and they begin taking his blood for tests and also a sample of his secretions to see if he had an infection in his lungs. God began to work immediately at getting Luke better because the Dr. was amazed that his x-ray of the lungs looked as good as it did, though it did show fluid, letting us know that he had pneumonia. Then when we received his blood test back he was once again surprised to see that it was not as bad as he thought it would be.

The hardest part of that morning was trying to get an IV in him so that they could start hydrating him since he was dehydrated from being so sick and throwing up all the food and water we had been putting down him. Since his limbs were so cold it was hard to get an IV in him. One of the IV therapist said that she thought Luke needed to go to the PICU and not even think about putting him on the floor. I kept crying out to the Lord that I can do all things through you who strengthen me, but I beg of you not to allow Luke to go the PICU. I knew that going to the PICU would mean that I could not keep Lily in the room with me over night and I was not planning on leaving Luke alone.

Needless to say God was hearing my cries and when the Dr. from the floor and the head nurse came to see him they thought that he would be able to stay out on the floor. The nurse had meet us before and knew that I had a baby and would need to keep her with me so that I could feed her since she still nurses. The nurse even made the comment that he was looking better by the minute, God in His great mercy and grace opened the door for us to go to the floor and blessed us with one of the best rooms, a double room that they gave to us as a private room and even suggested we bring in a portable crib for Lily. I felt spoiled, as I looked out the window at a beautiful view of Old Tacoma and the waterfront. I could feel the favor of the Lord being poured out on during this difficult time.

As I was looking out the window with tears in my eyes at being back at the Hospital and knowing that they had just put another IV in Luke’s arm and that he would wake up finding a brace on it to keep it straight I was almost at the end of what I felt I could take. But just then I looked out the window and found a church with a cross on the top and I felt the Lord comforting me in the way that only God can. Whispering in my ear that He was there with me and that everything would be okay.

There is so much that I could share but I realize that this is already getting too long. But I will tell you another time that God comforted both Gordy and myself. The Dr. that took out Luke’s trach thought perhaps he was aspirating and wanted to do another swallow gram on Luke. Well as we sat there during the hour and half procedure watching the radioactive fluid that they had just given to Luke to swallow go down slowly we knew that he was aspirating some into his lungs. I sat there with tears running down my face and just as if God was sitting right by my side I once again heard Him say to me in that small still voice, I am the God that is healing Luke, JUST KEEP TRUSTING IN ME! Later as I was talking to Gordy he mentioned that he too was reminded by God, as he was sitting there feeling so discouraged, of the vision that he had when Luke had his trach taken out of him giving Luke to Jesus and Jesus breathing his breath into Luke and then Jesus putting him down to run back to his daddy’s arms. God is so faithful to lift us up when don’t have the strength to go on.

We heard many discouraging things this past week, the Dr. who took out Luke’s trach thinks that he made a mistake and even suggested that we should think about putting it back in. His gastronologist Dr. said that Luke may be refluxing his food and we should think about getting a Nissen Wrap put on his esophagus, which would be a major surgery. I left the Hospital feeling pretty discouraged, but at the same time knowing that God is able to do all things in His timing and looking at Luke these last few days his eyes seem to be brighter and he seems to be getting stronger by the minute. Only God knows what is healing in his brain and I do believe it is being healed slowly, surely and steadily, just as the scripture in Habakkuk 2:2-3 says.

Somehow Luke’s trach whole that was so small got reopened and his secretions are being sneezed and coughed out it, please be praying that this will close soon. Also please be praying that Luke will continue to be able to handle his feedings, he is on many new medications and I think some of them are making it difficult to keep his food down, when fed through his G-port, which goes directly into his stomach. Also be praying that Luke’s pneumonia will be gone forever and he will never have to go through this again. We need prayer for Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Lily, Gordy and myself that we will be touched by His healing touch we are all coughing and feeling a bit under the weather.

If you are still reading this book you truly are a faithful partner and I sure do appreciate you and all your prayers.

Love in Christ,
Luke’s Mommy Sue

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Sue,

Thanks so much for opening your heart to share with us your challenges so that you can share with us how the Lord is carrying you through. There are many steps in a journey, and some of them are difficult, but it doesn't change the direction in which you and Luke are traveling! I praise God for how quickly Luke is rebounding, and will continue to pray to our beloved Jehovah Rapha for the complete manifestation of what was done for Luke 2000 years ago. All my love!
Tiffany

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ said...

Ohhh my heart hurts with you Sue. I can relate to so much with what we went through with Jessica almost 8 years ago. She did not get the trach, but she was off and on oxygen so much, and the feeding tubes, and medications etc etc.It gets so wearing and our hearts hurt so much for our children. My heart, tears and prayers are with you all, and pray that God will strengthen you ALL. Loni

Anonymous said...

Hello Sue, I am so glad that you, Luke and Lily are home. I bet your week was very hard as you said. You are doing so well. You seem to take everything and let it wash over you and give it to the Lord. What a great example you are to so many. I will tell you that my heart was just breaking for you and Luke. Many times I just had to stop what was going on in my own life and pray for you and your family. We love you guys. Blessings to all of you. Love, Shane, Julie and Children

Teena said...

Dear Sue, I haven't posted in a few days but I have been praying for Luke. Last night Wyatt woke up screaming and as I rocked him I prayed for Luke. I am so happy all of you are home but I am still lifting you all up in prayer. You are in our hearts/thoughts and I thank you for sharing your strenghts and weaknesses. I am sorry I haven't written. My dh has been in the hospital for tests (everything ok) and Sunday we found out my aunt died. So things have been crazy but we are all ok and I think of all of you so much.
Our Michael led praise/worship the other night at our comtempory service and just standing there singing and watching him I thought of your Daniel. PLEASE know we think of you often. Do not worry about the post being long we love to hear from you~
May the Lord continue to strengthen Luke and give you HIS strength.
your Georgia friends,
Billy, Teena, Michael, Mandi, Dakota, Alyssa, Wyatt & Wesley

Gwen said...

Do you mind an another prayer warrior? I came across your blog through another blog and I just wanted to let you know My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family! God Bless You!-Gwen

Anonymous said...

I've been watching this blog almost since it first began, and it's been amazing seeing just how much progress Luke has made, and how the family have adapted to it so willingly. My partner is a medical student who saw a child not too far from Luke's age die from drowning. They couldn't resuscitate him. I showed him this blog and it really meant a lot to him, that some children do make it and they do get better. It helped him through a very rough patch in his life, so thank you.

Best wishes for Luke and the entire family.

Rori.