Miracles on Children's Way

Your prayers are heard. Ayden's life continues to be a miracle.

After Ayden's cardiac arrest, the doctors and nurses have monitored a number of Ayden's organs, including his lungs and (obviously) his heart.

LUNGS: For awhile, Ayden's chest x-rays revealed some cloudy-looking lungs, and he was initially unable to cough or sneeze to work up congestion, so they began a therapy called CPPD, or chest percussion and postural drainage. I refer to this therapy as "hit therapy" since that is what it looks and sounds like. Ayden doesn't mind the therapy if the the respiratory therapist remembers to confine his/her efforts to Ayden's back. Sometimes Ayden will even fall asleep during this process. If, however, the RT temporarily loses his/her mind, and he/she touches Ayden's chest, Ayden's face turns eggplant, and the therapy is officially over. The therapy has been going on for a couple of weeks now, and Ayden's chest x-rays and clinical assessments now show clear lungs. Ayden is also now coughing and sneezing, though the process obviously still hurts him and sometimes causes him to gag or cry.

I'm sure that Ayden will not miss the late night CPPD, and his mama and daddy are thrilled that we have yet another praise to share with you all!

One of Ayden's day nurses, Havilah, made this sign to go on Ayden's bed.

HEART: Ayden's ECHO on the 19th showed a heart clot, so they began him on Lovenox shots to help thin his blood. These shots were given twice a day in the fatty parts of Ayden's legs. (This process reminds me of insulin shots for a diabetic.) We were told that Ayden would receive these shots for 4-6 weeks, and the nurses have been periodically drawing blood to test the therapeutic levels of the drug. Yesterday's levels were too low, so the resident increased the drug amount. Ayden had another ECHO done today, and the clot was GONE, even though Ayden endured the shot for LESS THAN two weeks, AND his blood levels had suggested that he was receiving non therapeutic levels! Bryan and I were overjoyed to hear the wondrous news! (Plus it meant that neither of us had to learn how to give Ayden the shot! PHEW!)

MORE PRAISES: Bryan posted some information regarding our care conference. The meeting is properly named; I certainly felt like our family was/is cared for and cared about. The shear number of people that attended the conference was overwhelming and just super cool. Some of the opinions and events shared that day reminded me just how miraculous Ayden's life is. He has half of a heart. The fact that he can sustain life is alone a miracle. If one adds in the many other medical experiences that Ayden has had, one has to know that God has had His hand in it all. He has never forsaken our little one. I can't get over the fact that Ayden's low temperature during his cardiac arrest helped to preserve his brain, kidneys, and lungs. I can't fathom how well Ayden has recovered from 48 minutes of CPR, a heart rate low of 20, and ECMO. (Whoever contributed to that CPR, you ALL did an amazing job!) I can't believe that he endured a recannulation and a heart ablation while on ECMO. I have no idea how he passed a video swallow study test after having failed one badly the week before.

Ayden should NOT be alive.

But he is.

And I'm beginning to understand that he actually SHOULD be. To think that he shouldn't be is to deny that God is awesome. I have faith that God is mighty, and I will continue to ask Him for the everyday victories.

We experience your prayers with every moment of Ayden's life. Ayden continues to grow strong, and he's so happy. For two days now he has smiled incessantly. He hasn't wanted to sleep during the day because he's afraid he'll miss something new and exciting. He crashes at night because he has played so well all day. He has also begun to develop better coordination with the bottle and took 12 ml at both feeds today. Blessings abound.

God has heard your resounding voices. God has shown us mercy. He has made Ayden a witness of His love. That was my prayer for Ayden's life in the beginning.

Thank you for being part of Ayden's miraculous life.