Consent forms. You know how many consent forms Laura and I have filled out since this journey began? Consent for a blood transfusion; consent for the ECMO; consent for the surgery; consent for the study...
But the consent form Laura had to sign yesterday was a bit different. The Today Show is going to do a segment on the NICU of the Children's Hospital where we are located. They are specifically going to interview Ira's roommate's parents. They had Laura sign a consent form just in case Ira's mug got caught in the action.
The segment will be taped on Monday and will air on Thursday, July 16. Tape it, TiVo it or watch it live (does anyone do that anymore?) and you'll get a feel for what our NICU is like.
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We are looking forward to Laura's mom coming in this afternoon. We are at a point where we need the help with Sophia. We find ourselves exhausted all the time. In fact, we are learning to function exhausted but it's taking its toll on us. Kay, as I've mentioned before, is a huge help. We are extremely grateful to a friend in the D/FW area who gave us her frequent flier miles in order for Laura's mom to make the trip.
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Have I mentioned lately the ways that Laura and I are being taken care of by our friends and family?
Just a couple of days ago a family in Nashville sent my entire family packages containing gifts for the kids and snacks for Laura and me to munch on as we sit at the hospital all day.
A teenager from church is taking care of Sophia today. She graduated from high school this past week and has every right to sleep in and do a whole lotta nothing. And a couple of days ago we had a some help with Sophia from friends who are working full-time jobs.
My grandmother in Abilene sent us money not long ago that paid for another monthly subway card. And my mom made sure we had a enough money for gas and parking for those days that we drive.
We continue to be lifted up by the cards we receive from all over and the comments made on this blog.
And the Manhattan Church of Christ and Christ's Church for Brooklyn continue to make sure that there is not a day that goes by that we don't have a meal prepared for us.
And there's more. I could go on.
You who are helping us are like the friends of Mark 2. They lowered their paralyzed friend through the roof in order to get to Jesus. Upon seeing the faith of the friends, Jesus healed the paralyzed man.
In so many ways, our family feels paralyzed. But because you have cared for us and lowered us through the roof to Jesus, we are being healed.
For that we are grateful.
But the consent form Laura had to sign yesterday was a bit different. The Today Show is going to do a segment on the NICU of the Children's Hospital where we are located. They are specifically going to interview Ira's roommate's parents. They had Laura sign a consent form just in case Ira's mug got caught in the action.
The segment will be taped on Monday and will air on Thursday, July 16. Tape it, TiVo it or watch it live (does anyone do that anymore?) and you'll get a feel for what our NICU is like.
-----------------------
We are looking forward to Laura's mom coming in this afternoon. We are at a point where we need the help with Sophia. We find ourselves exhausted all the time. In fact, we are learning to function exhausted but it's taking its toll on us. Kay, as I've mentioned before, is a huge help. We are extremely grateful to a friend in the D/FW area who gave us her frequent flier miles in order for Laura's mom to make the trip.
-----------------------
Have I mentioned lately the ways that Laura and I are being taken care of by our friends and family?
Just a couple of days ago a family in Nashville sent my entire family packages containing gifts for the kids and snacks for Laura and me to munch on as we sit at the hospital all day.
A teenager from church is taking care of Sophia today. She graduated from high school this past week and has every right to sleep in and do a whole lotta nothing. And a couple of days ago we had a some help with Sophia from friends who are working full-time jobs.
My grandmother in Abilene sent us money not long ago that paid for another monthly subway card. And my mom made sure we had a enough money for gas and parking for those days that we drive.
We continue to be lifted up by the cards we receive from all over and the comments made on this blog.
And the Manhattan Church of Christ and Christ's Church for Brooklyn continue to make sure that there is not a day that goes by that we don't have a meal prepared for us.
And there's more. I could go on.
You who are helping us are like the friends of Mark 2. They lowered their paralyzed friend through the roof in order to get to Jesus. Upon seeing the faith of the friends, Jesus healed the paralyzed man.
In so many ways, our family feels paralyzed. But because you have cared for us and lowered us through the roof to Jesus, we are being healed.
For that we are grateful.
posted by jch at
9:58 AM
7 Comments:
Joe & Laura,
We love you guys and keep praying for you every day and check Ira's status online most every day. We would love to send a card, but don't have your regular address. Could you please post it?
Thanks, Jena Coffey in St. Louis
Somehow, I doubt the paralyzed man did as much for his friends as you guys have done for all of us. People help because they see their friends hurting. Friends who have helped them and been at their side in the past. Anything you need that we can provide, you got it, brutha. :)
Jonathan
Thank you for allowing to be lowered, so to speak. Truly it's the least we can do in helping you bear this burden of doubt, fear, and worry. We carry you guys in our hearts and minds everyday.
Joe, I am praying for you guys. I ran into Jake about 3 months ago and that was the last "update" I have heard about you guys. Praying and will be keeping up with you now through your website. I don't have your email address and am not technologically saavy enough to find it on this page. Richie (richmondmalone@yahoo.com)
You have learned firsthand about the Fellowship of the Mat. Long ago I laid the mat of your family at the feet of our Comforter and Healer.
I don't know how others make it through difficult times without this fellowship of mat-carriers. They are God's hands and feet and heart at work on our behalf.
Continually praying for you all...
Joe and Laura,
This is the first time I have posted a comment, but I have been reading (somewhat obsessively) this blog since the day sweet Ira was born. Jackie Jo is my dearest friend in all the world and because I love her, Ryan and Isaac so much, I cannot help but feel affection for you as well. I have prayed, cried, and prayed some more these past weeks. As I have read your posts and the comments of others, I cannot tell you how it has impacted my personal walk with Jesus. Every thought you've both expressed, every emotion you've both been willing to share has in some way exemplified for me what it is like to live out, in flesh and blood, a life of faith...blind, unknowing, at times, desperate faith. I've heard the expression, "this is where the rubber meets the road" all my life. As silly as it sounds I have thought of that expression so often when I think about y'all. Except I'm thinking, "this is where the rubber meets the road and the wheels are stripped bear until the steel belts are showing and there are sparks flying from all the friction!" When faith is tested like this, as I see it, only 1 of 2 things can happen...the car completely kareens off the road and crashes (normal and acceptable, by the way) or the car begins to settle and some measure of control is gained. Either scenario, God is still who He says He is and there's where the comfort lies. This is what I have learned, AGAIN, by watching you in this unbelieveable circumstance with Ira. In the good and bad, GOD is GOD. Period. How awesome that we are NOT at the mercy of a God who acts on whims or human emotion, but rather on His Word and Spirit with our eternity in mind! I am thankful too, that Ira has parents who will not only walk through this fiery hell of a physical trial with him, but who are preparing a way for him to know the one, true, eternal God. For in this, Ira's struggle will not be in vain.
We long for the day Ira comes to Aggieland for the first time...we are praying for that day and we'll be waiting, with awe in our eyes and love in our hearts, to meet him!
Kelly Wilson and Steve, Darby and Tayler too!
You don't know me, but I feel blessed to have found your blog purely by accident (actually, it was God's providence!) and I just saw the post about a songlist. Well, I know this is the wrong place to post this, but I wanted you to see it. An amazing song to listen to is "Held" by Natalie Grant. It's fairly new, and the lyrics and melody will blow you away:
" Two months is too little.
They let him go.
They had no sudden healing.
To think that providence would
Take a child from his mother while she prays
Is appalling.
Who told us we'd be rescued?
What has changed and why should we be saved from nightmares?
We're asking why this happens
To us who have died to live?
It's unfair.
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.
This hand is bitterness.
We want to taste it, let the hatred know our sorrow.
The wise hands opens slowly to lilies of the valley and tomorrow.
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.
If hope is born of suffering.
If this is only the beginning.
Can we not wait for one hour watching for our Savior?
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held. "
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