Thursday, August 12, 2010

immediate prayers needed

my brain is officially mush so bear with me if i'm repeating myself.  here's the brief background to a very serious prayer request:
friday, july 30 - we received judah's referral.  we learned that he weighed 4.4 lbs at birth and was 5.5 lbs at referral (at almost five weeks old).
friday, august 6 - we got an email from our case worker letting us know that judah had been in the hospital briefly that week but that he was back in his orphanage now.
monday, august 9 - we heard from our case worker again that judah had been readmitted to a private hospital for severe vomiting and diarrhea related to his formula.  that's when we started to get nervous.  serious dehydration can be serious for the plumpest of folks...it can be quickly fatal when you only weigh five pounds.
tuesday, august 10 - the promised update never came.
wednesday, august 11 - we learned that judah was not only on IV fluids but that he was also on IV antibiotics.  the pieces didn't seem to be adding up.  antibiotics for a formula intolerance?  jack had to see the pediatrician for belly pain stemming from our car accident (everything's fine) so i ran judah's case by our doctor while we were there.  he agreed that there was obviously a secondary issue going on to necessitate antibiotics, and his normally perky attitude turned serious when he told me that to be so young and so small with such poor conditions (related to both judah's physical concerns and third world healthcare) could easily lead to a very grave end result.
thursday, august 12 - our case worker emailed to tell us that judah was moved to a government hospital yesterday and is still on IV antibiotics.  i pushed for more detailed information and questioned the antibiotic issue.  within 30 minutes my cell phone rang.  it was our agency letting us know that they had gotten more information from the orphanage director and that judah has pneumonia.  he was moved to ICU at the government hospital because they have more advanced capabilities than the smaller, private hospital does.  he is very, very sick and very, very weak.

the tears are flowing heavily today.  i know that the lord loves baby judah even more than we do.  i know that god knit every precious part of him together in his birth mother's womb (psalm 139:13) and that even the hairs of his head are numbered (matt. 10:30).  the lord determined the number of judah's days before the beginning of time and nothing outside of the lord's will can add to them (job 14:5) -- including my worry and anxiety (matt. 6:27). 

but there's still pain in the wait and the distance. 

as in the words of our sweet realtor who just prayed with me over the phone, we are asking the lord -- who is the great physician and healer -- to breathe his breath of life into judah's tiny, sick lungs.  please pray for wisdom for the doctor and nurses as they treat him as well as strength for judah to fight hard, to get well quickly, and to come home to us soon.

more as i hear it...

8 comments:

Lora Lynn @ Vitafamiliae said...

sending you love and prayers. here for you. happy to take your kids if you need a mental break.

The Taylors said...

Weak, sick lungs on a newborn are very close to my heart. The boys and I will stop now and pray.

r><> said...

i am sorry i am just now reading all this. i will definitely be praying for God's miraculous healing power for J. i will also be praying for peace, comfort, knowledge and understanding for you guys. my love to you all. if i can do anything pleasssssse let me know.

Jamie said...

Praying for you and for sweet Judah.

Giann said...

Praying for you!! Thank you so much for posting an update!

Jen said...

It breaks my heart to read your post. I can't imagine what you guys are going through right now. Please know that we love you and are praying for baby Judah right now. We are also praying for God's peace to wash over you as you wait for more news. Love you guys!

Rebekah said...

My sweet nephew has not left my mind today. My heart aches for him and for you guys. I know God has him in His healing hands. Praying constantly!

Sherry Strickland Faucett said...

Sending up a prayer NOW also sending it around on our prayer chain.