Family

My child's life, like many others at Vanderbilt, hangs in the balance. Dr. Bichell refers specifically to hypoplasts as "flaming babies." We know not what to expect from them. Living and appreciating moment to moment has been something that has brought us close to two other families of hypoplast children. Hospital life-- the fears, the dangers, the sadness, the victories, the joy-- contributed to lifelong friendships; we are family. We know what it is like to go without a shower for days, to wash our hands so many times that they bleed, to miss one or two or three meals... a day, to be too tired to pick up the phone to call friends or family, to advocate daily for our children. We also know what it is like to celebrate our children sucking on a pacifier, eating food, passing swallow studies, peeing and pooping, tolerating feeds, surviving surgeries, having chest tubes pulled, recognizing our voices, smiling and laughing.

You have met one of these families, the Dowdles. We humbly request prayer for their son Jude. This afternoon, a string of events put Jude in an emergent situation, and he was given CPR and put on ECMO. (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gabrieljude)

We have crawled and cried down that road, and we will do it again with Jude. Matt and Diana, we are with you three. We are loving you in prayer.

We have also grown to adore the Huggins family. Their story is incredible-- their faith and joy even more so. Kyle and Christie are the parents of Blake, Lauren, and Tristan. Blake is almost three years old and was just discharged from Vanderbilt after having overcome the third surgery, the Fontan. Lauren is his twin sister and does not have a congenital heart defect. Tristan recently joined his Father in Heaven twenty-three minutes after he was born. Hearing the Huggins family story has been inspiring and beneficial. Please pray for the Huggins and Blake as they return to their home in Virginia. Blake, keep eating poppy seed chicken!  (You can follow their blog at http://kyleandchristieplus3.blogspot.com.)

God has so blessed us with placing just the right people in our lives. We will forever be changed by having met them.