It's Tuesday night and Allison was kind enough to bring the computer to the hospital again. Laura and I just left Ira and he seems to be doing good. They won't start the weaning until tomorrow. So hopefully there won't be much action tonight. Laura and I will stay in the NICU suite tonight and will probably check on Ira frequently throughout the night.
At some point I'll post about the amazing support we are getting from the Manhattan Church of Christ and the Brooklyn church plant, Christ's Church for Brooklyn. Let me just say this for now: my mom, dad and sister are staying in a three-bedroom apartment not even ten blocks from the hospital. The three girls who live there have made that space available especially for us. And we have been served lunch and dinner every day since coming. That's an amazing feat in the city as these people are riding on subways to deliver the food.
It's this physical manifestation of God's Spirit in these people that reminds us that God is at work.
At some point I'll post about the amazing support we are getting from the Manhattan Church of Christ and the Brooklyn church plant, Christ's Church for Brooklyn. Let me just say this for now: my mom, dad and sister are staying in a three-bedroom apartment not even ten blocks from the hospital. The three girls who live there have made that space available especially for us. And we have been served lunch and dinner every day since coming. That's an amazing feat in the city as these people are riding on subways to deliver the food.
It's this physical manifestation of God's Spirit in these people that reminds us that God is at work.
posted by J-Wild at
9:16 PM
22 Comments:
We are Holly Root's grandparents. I am the minister for the Martin Church of Christ in Martin Tn. We will be praying for You, Laura and the Baby.
In our prayers, Joe. Keep the faith brother.
Hi there guys,
My name is Aaron Hollingsworth you guys may know my wife Carrie Hollingsworth (Davis). She showed me this site and I cried like a baby. Our son Austin was born 6 weeks early with multiple medical problems. He spent 7 weeks in the NICU at St. Johns Mercy Hospital in Ladue, MO (a suburb of St. Louis) and went through several surgeries. Four to be exact and number five is coming very soon to correct his vision. I really can identify with what you guys are going through. Please, if you need anything even just to talk with parents who have been there don't hesitate to call. Debbie Davis has our phone numbers. Best wishes and God Bless. Our prayers are with you guys.
Love,
Aaron, Carrie, and Austin Hollingsworth
St. Louis, MO
Almost forgot. We are members of Florissant Church of Christ. Their number is 314-837-8000. We will put Ira on our prayer list soon. I would really like it if you guys could call them and give updates or if you prefer you can count on us to do so. Again Best Wishes and God Bless,
Aaron, Carrie, and Austin Hollingsworth
St. Louis, MO
we too have been there...thank you for your testimony to God's provision. praying his blessings and presence in all that you are living through. joy will come in the morning.
Still praying, still holding Ira so close to our hearts...Christ Covenant Church family...Beaumont, TX. BTW-Tom and Dixie are Karise McLeod Gililland's parents
Joe and Laura, May you feel peace tonight knowing that you are covered in love. When you start to doubt pull each other close and pull that blanket of love all around you and feel God's mercy and grace surrounding you. You are completely tucked in with prayer from all sides. Let us all keep you warm with our prayers for you, and Sophie and baby Ira. I have been carrying you in my heart for these last few days and pray often. I know there are people all over who are doing the same.
grace, Julie
Joe and Laura, I feel blessed to be experiencing this with you through your blog. Thank you for your candor. I am praying for strength for little Ira and for courage and patience for the rest of his family.
Love, Jenny Gelber
Joe and Laura, I feel blessed to be experiencing this with you through your blog. Thank you for your candor. I am praying for strength for little Ira and for courage and patience for the rest of his family.
Love, Jenny Gelber
Joe, Laura and Sophia,
We look for updates a dozen times a day. Thanks. This is the text from a newspaper article I write every week. I post my writings on my blog, too, and a few have emailed me to say they are praying for Ira. Our prayer: "Today will be a good day for all of you."
Some friends in Manhattan are in the NICU with their baby who is struggling to live. My friends are one in the struggle with their infant son named Ira. Their struggle is not physical, though. It is emotional and spiritual. Why does their baby have to be on extreme life support while other babies in that hospital were born perfectly healthy? Why wasn’t their baby formed with organs in the correct position when baby after baby is born with organs in perfect order? I know these questions are out there. If they are not on lips, they are on hearts. Now, they are on paper.
One of the doctors asked my friend, a preacher, if he would preach Sunday. He responded that he just doesn’t have anything to say these days. I’ve been there. Maybe you have, too.
The truth is, not many of us have an arsenal of helpful things to say at times of heavy grief and fear. What has helped my friend the most is the attention from his church family and the promises that people are praying for him and his wife, for their daughter, and for their son.
We can offer some help for you in your times of struggle. Our answer box isn’t empty. We’ve got some answers for some struggles. But what we can offer in endless supply for you is love from a caring church family and the promise to pray that God will see you through. That’s Life at Work!
My name is Amanda Wooley. I live in Chattanooga, TN, and Holly Root was one of my roommates at Harding. She sent me an email explaining the situation and requesting prayer and gave the link to this site. A phrase I hear a lot from fellow Christians in situations like this is "All we can do is pray." I know I have used this phrase many times myself, and I realize people don't mean it the way it sounds but it sounds like we are undermining God's power. The most powerful thing we can do in this case is pray. God has more power than any doctor, any medicine, or anything we can do to help little Ira. I am going to be praying and eagerly awaiting the next update on his situation. I also forwarded the request to my mom at church (my dad is the preacher, mom the church secretary) so that she can put it in our bulletin and the family at Brainerd Church of Christ can be praying for you too. I know that you will see God's hand and his blessings through Ira's life, no matter what the outcome. In Christian Love, Amanda
We are former members at First Colony. We are praying for your family. We have also asked our church in Monroe, Louisiana to pray as well (Forsythe Ave CoC). We put our hope in Him. In Christ, Lisa
Hang in there! I know you have Ira's bed, clothes, etc. ready for him to come home. That's good - because he'll be home soon! I just KNOW God's going to help this precious little child of His to wean from that life-saving ECMO, & come home soon to his family who loves him so much. What a wonderful day that will be! Still praying for all of you in this stressful time, as is the Brownfield,TX church family. Anxiously awaiting the 24 hr. report. Love you all so much! Keep the faith!
Weedon
You are in our prayers. We check the blog routinely and feel deeply for your family.
God is a warrior.
-JL
Wanted you to know that Dave has all of his classmates at Fuller praying- which means people from around the world and in many languages are lifting you still to the Father of all good things. We love you and hope and pray for all the best.
Love,
David, Karise, Keely & Kinlie
Last night Keely was praying for Ira and her cousin Jack, who has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor. She whispered something first, and cried out "HELP! In JESUS' NAME AMEN!" I think it got through!
Im happy 2 hear that Ira is doing well.Im still praying..
Love Jackie
Still praying and our Christ Covenant community still praying...our hearts are with you.
DM Beaumont, TX
Joe and Laura, we are continuing to pray fervently for Ira and for all of you. We love you dearly. Aunt Jackie
Dear Joe, Laura, and Sophia,
You may not remember me well, Brielle (Venables) Gage, friends of Abbie and Denise and others from the AFC.
Since we have lived overseas for the past 4 years we have been involved with several different churches and believers. I want you to know that believers in the UAE (United Arab Emirates), South Korea, and Houston are fervently praying for your son and your family. I am half a world away from you and yet what I can do for you I am in prayer as the power of our God is unleashed to work for you.
I have prayed that God would allow all of us to help you carry this burden. And I think He is because I daily cry, lament and fast for Ira.
I really look forward to when our family can join with yours and we can sing, laugh and dance with joy!
We have a daughter, Julia, who is Sophia's age.
Love,
Brielle, Jason, Julia and Bryce Gage
Ira is in our prayers, as is your whole family. We pray that your weeping may last only a night, and that God would replace it with rejoicing.
kevin, charity, josiah
we keep praying. let us know if there is anything else we can do. love you guys.
Father, We don't know your plans, nor will we know until we meet you face to face. What we do know is that you are almighty. You are able to move mountains. Lord, we pray for little Ira. We pray that your healing hands touch him. We pray that your loving hands comfort him. We also pray for Ira's mommy and daddy and big sister, Father, that you hold them in your arms and fill their anxious hearts with peace and calm, filling their minds with the knowledge that you are in control and that you also love your child, Ira. Thank you Father for all that you have provisioned for us. Thank you Christ for your love and your grace. Thank you Spirit for your guidance and reassurance in times such as these. We pray to You, Amen.
I received the e mail this morning from Beth Nathison. I am a neighbor of hers. I am not one to say, "I will pray for you", I just do it, otherwise it wouldn't get done. You are in my thoughts. Best wishes to you and your family.
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