It's Friday morning and this is the latest Laura and I have stayed at home. It's hard and we feel guilty for not being at Ira's bedside 24/7 but we've called Ira's nurse several times and he had a good night. We are so very thankful.
We are back in that "no touch" zone with Ira. As they started weaning Ira from the ECMO machine yesterday we were instructed not to touch Ira. The same rule was in effect last night as he was recovering from the surgery. I'm sure the same will apply today and the subsequent days as they try to get him off the ventilator. Ugh.
We've made some friends in the NICU. Baby Ava shares a "pod" with Ira and she is also a CDH baby. She's doing quite well. She never had to be on ECMO or the oscillator for that matter. We've shared the ups and downs of our journey with Ava's parents. We've said on more than one occasion how great it will be if Ira and Ava can grow up to be friends. We've met Patrice whose Baby Lily was born on Easter morning. She was a CDH baby too and is doing well. Baby Lily is learning to eat these days and Patrice is finally, after a month, able to hold Lily. There are others but my friend Chris is right about a needed ministry in the NICU of hospitals. What if you bought two or three footlong sandwiches at Subway with chips and drinks and brought them to the NICU waiting room during lunchtime and said, "these are for anyone who needs a bite and break"? Would you mind if they didn't come to your church the following Sunday or weren't really interested in a Bible study? What if the parents, grandparents, etc were too tired to engage you in meaningful conversation and maybe even forgot to say "thanks"? Would you still be interested?
We are back in that "no touch" zone with Ira. As they started weaning Ira from the ECMO machine yesterday we were instructed not to touch Ira. The same rule was in effect last night as he was recovering from the surgery. I'm sure the same will apply today and the subsequent days as they try to get him off the ventilator. Ugh.
We've made some friends in the NICU. Baby Ava shares a "pod" with Ira and she is also a CDH baby. She's doing quite well. She never had to be on ECMO or the oscillator for that matter. We've shared the ups and downs of our journey with Ava's parents. We've said on more than one occasion how great it will be if Ira and Ava can grow up to be friends. We've met Patrice whose Baby Lily was born on Easter morning. She was a CDH baby too and is doing well. Baby Lily is learning to eat these days and Patrice is finally, after a month, able to hold Lily. There are others but my friend Chris is right about a needed ministry in the NICU of hospitals. What if you bought two or three footlong sandwiches at Subway with chips and drinks and brought them to the NICU waiting room during lunchtime and said, "these are for anyone who needs a bite and break"? Would you mind if they didn't come to your church the following Sunday or weren't really interested in a Bible study? What if the parents, grandparents, etc were too tired to engage you in meaningful conversation and maybe even forgot to say "thanks"? Would you still be interested?
posted by jch at
8:59 AM
10 Comments:
Im gratefull 2 hear that Ira is doing great. And that's ice that's he's gonna have a friend. Keep posting..
Oh yeah I pray that you will get to hold Ira very soon. I hear holding ur baby 4 the first time is a wonderful momment
Praise God! I am so excited to hear the good report. I will continue to pray for Ira and his other little friends in the NICU. And I think the ministry is a wonderful idea. I know that here in Chattanooga there are churches that take sandwiches to the ICU waiting rooms. And I think they tell the people where they are from if they ask. But I don't think they give them "tracts" or invite them to church - just do an act of service in Jesus' name.
By the way - after I commented last time I saw the picture and realized I had met you guys and Sophia at the small group when I visited Holly and Jonathan last summer! God bless.
Joe - You understand true ministry. Giving, anonymously even, expecting nothing in return.
Baby Ira is in the Best of Hands.
God is good.
Praise God! I was away from my computer for over a day and was thrilled to come back and see such exhilerating updates about Ira's progress! God has given him the spirit to be a fighter and to overcome! He will remain in my prayers, as will Sophia (I'm grateful you're getting to spend more time with her at home now). I'll miss seeing them both while I'm traveling the next few weeks and look forward to coming back to see your beautiful one-month-old baby boy!
Joe, I am also so grateful to hear in your posts that your spirit seems refreshed. May Ira's progress continue to bring you joy in the coming days and weeks. The Lord is rejoicing with you!
Love, Prayers, Blessings,
Hilary
Are you kidding me? I don't BUY sandwiches. I'm the sandwich MASTER! :)
HalleluYAH for baby Ira's recovery! We know you're not out of the woods yet by a long shot, but praise God for this continued encouragement. You've heard it a lot (and thank Yahweh for it...) but since we live only a few stops from the hospital, if you need ANYTHING, don't hesitate to call us or drop me an email. I can whip up a sandwich in minutes, I tell you, MINUTES! :)
J Root
Hi Joe and Laura,
I am so glad that Ira is progressing well. I have been praying that God strengthens him day by day. Also, that He encourages you both during this difficult time.
Love,
Claudia Etienne
I would be interested in doing something like that. You can see the need on their faces. And cooking is more rewarding when you do it for other people.
LaCanas
Joe and Laura,
How wonderful that Baby Ira is getting stronger. Our Baby Ellabeth stayed in the hospital 11 days after she was born. I remember the odd feeling of leaving her side, yet, we were encouraged and reassured by our nurses that this was OUR time to REST, while she had 24/7 care by capable hands. In fact, when it was time to take her home, I was most uncomfortable: the nursery had been a safe place, the monitors had been reassuring, and she had been with the pro's--now all she had was me (and my husband)! Praise God, she did fine and is now 18 months old and healthy.
All of that is to say: I give your permission to rest, trusting the caretakers Ira now has, and taking the opportunity to fill Sophia's heart with love (I am sure it is full as is!) and attention before Ira comes home.
May God bless you with patience during this time when your arms are empty and wanting to hold your baby; may He grant each of you strength and stamina and joy; and may He grant Ira healing.
In Him,
Beverly McCallon
Abilene, Texas
Blog reader of Mike Cope's and heard and have been reading your story
It's so good to see God working miracles through the lives of all of these little ones in the ICU. And yes, you are bonding with the other parents there. And yes, how much we can all learn from visiting a Children's hospital and the ICU's. And yes, how Christ can be felt by touching each life there, from the children, to the parents, to the nurses, to the doctors. We have been there many times over the last 22 years with Caroline. You are learning, being fed, growing in your faith, and hurting all at the same time. I am so glad Ira is doing so well. He has many lessons to teach you in the years ahead........Ira will amaze you beyond your wildest imagination! God has granted you a special gift and a miracle. You and Ira and your entire family are being held in God's powerful hand!
Elaine Schwenker
To the Hays family,
I have gone back to the beginning to get a feel for your struggle. I had seen where you were looking for a "seed to plant" for the church. This struggle may have been GOD's plan to fuel an additional planting "a seed" for a new church: ministry to those who may doubt GOD the most--the NICU families.
I am pleased to read the updates and pray for GOD's guiding spirit to strengthen Ira and the family that supports him.
Sincerely,
Stephanie
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home