Hospital

Sitting in the ER.
It is offical, Luke is in the ICU.

Papa helped by hanging at the hospital so Rob and I could go to a couple of Ry's softball games.

Tried to bring our boy back by reading him some of his favorite books.

Then it was diagnosed he had the flu and isolation here we come.

Then, the bright eyes opened up and the smile was back.

The bed table was always full.

Lu was on a special diet and special liquids.

So many monitors

By the end, Lu was his own doctor. He was even listening for the placement of his NG tube.

October 23rd, we were finally out of there.

17 days ago I sat next to my son’s bed. I was told that his liver was not functioning, he was in complete kidney failure, his lungs were badly damaged from pneumonia, and that he had the flu. His body was severely dehydrated and his sugar level was all over the place. I was also told that we needed to stop two of the seizure medications that seemed to actually make a difference and that any other medication was not working properly because his body was not able to absorb it. Luke was unable to open his eyes, and I began to fear that I may never see that smile again. My heart wanted to believe the best, but my mind would not let me. I kept thinking, Luke has been through so much, at what point does God say okay this is it. The ER had him logged as being there 39 times in 2 ½ years. He has been in the hospital for heart, RSV, seizures over and over again, asthma, pneumonia over and over again, and now a complete shut down of two of his organs. I sat next to my son praying, “Please Lord let me see those bright eyes and smile again, please let my boy open his eyes.” I was trying to prepare myself for what if this was the time it was not in God’s plan to recover? I was doing my best to trust the Lord and rely on his strength, but I admit I was weak.

Then I asked for help. I asked for prayer and you responded. What a difference a prayer makes? Thanks to technology, prayers were reaching the Lord from all over the world. People who did not know us or Luke were praying for complete healing and strength. Then came the overwhelming amount of support, cards, comments, meals, offers to help with the kids and love. In all that Rob and I have been through with our kids I have never felt such an outpouring of love and I knew that we were not alone.

You prayed and God listened. There have been times in the last 12 days that I have felt like I couldn’t do it any more. I was tired and felt this tug of war between complete hope and complete despair. I have never doubted that God had a plan for my life and that there was a reason he gave Rob and I these extraordinary kids. But for the first time, I actually felt like I didn’t know if I could do it anymore. Could I continue to trust when I felt so scared and overwhelmingly sad? You would think that I had never seen a miracle before. Just 5 years ago I watched God bring my mom out of an accident that she should never have survived. I have seen the Lord work in the lives of my kids over and over again. Yet, I felt like I was at my breaking point, but God was with me. In those extra dark moments someone would visit, I would get a call of encouragement, food and coffee would appear, my dad or sis would show up to give Rob and I a break, my mom or Rob’s mom would call and let me know that Ry and Jake were okay and I was told over and over again “we are praying for Luke and you guys.”

Tonight I am feeling overwhelmingly humbled and small. Luke’s liver is almost completely recovered, his kidneys are coming back and he may be off dialysis soon, his lungs are sounding clear, and miraculously the new seizure medication seems to be almost controlling his seizures. But most of all, today I saw my bright eyes and smile. He is still recovering, but once again I had the privilege to see a miracle. Thank you for being a part of this incredible miracle. Please know that prayer does make a difference and God does listen. I do not know what the future holds for us, but am grateful for the here and now. I pray that I can continue on this path and that those feelings of despair can disappear. You all, whether I know you are not, have impacted Rob and I in an incredible way. I do not know how I can express my thankfulness. What a difference a prayer makes?