Yeah. So, I am having a tough time with this -- we found out today that Andrew also now has meningitis, and some signs of NEC. I'm trying really hard not to get discouraged or be negative, but Emily and I are just kind of punch-drunk... is this really happening? Is this what their lives are going to be like? Life threatening events every few days with a day or two to stabilize in between until they finally just can't fight anymore? Well, no. It isn't. Something I've learned through this experience that I knew before but now I really KNOW, is that darkness and discouragement are temporary circumstances, and trials are temporary life experiences. Blessings are coming -- we just can't see them yet. That's what faith is for. Father is there and holds us close.
So, here are some more reasons to be grateful:
#1) Andrew was going to have surgery tomorrow to remove the EVD and put in a reservoir -- if they had detected the meningitis after that, he would have needed another surgery to remove the reservoir and put in another EVD -- so we are saved two useless surgeries.
#1) Andrew's meningitis is from a gram positive bacilli -- likely not quite as aggressive as Ethan's e. coli, and hopefully easier to kill. Plus they detected it right away and started him on antibiotics immediately -- lets kill those stinking bacteria!!
#1) Ethan is stable on the ventilator -- they haven't needed to increase his settings lately. I really hope he will be strong enough so they can start weaning him again soon.
#1) Ethan's blood cultures have been negative (no growth) for three days in a row now! The doctors are pretty sure he's killed his blood infections!
#1) Ethan's NEC hasn't gotten any worse, and we are hopeful that he will be able to recover from that with medication, and hopefully won't need any of his intestine removed. Much better than pneumatosis throughout.
Why are they all #1? Because each of these is something my boys need to survive. I am humbled at their miraculous strength. Thank you for your prayers and faith -- I believe you have allowed the Lord to give us blessings that He wants to give us, but are made conditional on our faith in His power to heal and save. I thank him for letting us have these two wonderful warriors for a little longer!
So, here are some more reasons to be grateful:
#1) Andrew was going to have surgery tomorrow to remove the EVD and put in a reservoir -- if they had detected the meningitis after that, he would have needed another surgery to remove the reservoir and put in another EVD -- so we are saved two useless surgeries.
#1) Andrew's meningitis is from a gram positive bacilli -- likely not quite as aggressive as Ethan's e. coli, and hopefully easier to kill. Plus they detected it right away and started him on antibiotics immediately -- lets kill those stinking bacteria!!
#1) Ethan is stable on the ventilator -- they haven't needed to increase his settings lately. I really hope he will be strong enough so they can start weaning him again soon.
#1) Ethan's blood cultures have been negative (no growth) for three days in a row now! The doctors are pretty sure he's killed his blood infections!
#1) Ethan's NEC hasn't gotten any worse, and we are hopeful that he will be able to recover from that with medication, and hopefully won't need any of his intestine removed. Much better than pneumatosis throughout.
Why are they all #1? Because each of these is something my boys need to survive. I am humbled at their miraculous strength. Thank you for your prayers and faith -- I believe you have allowed the Lord to give us blessings that He wants to give us, but are made conditional on our faith in His power to heal and save. I thank him for letting us have these two wonderful warriors for a little longer!
2 comments:
I didn't see this until right before bedtime and it was too late to try to write. I can say that I totally agree with there being blessings you can't see yet. Therefore, try to continue to "accentuate the positive" , because there IS
always a positive, sometimes we just have to look really hard to see it or wait to see it looking back. I pray for y'all to continue to hold to your faith and to each other.
We are really thinking about your family now and we admire you so much. Thank you for your example of faith and longsuffering. We will pray for the best for you and your new little ones.
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