Day 1, Tuesday: In alot of pain, but we were able to take Isaiah down to CHOP's atrium in a wagon to play BINGO and to watch a ballet show by performers from the Philadelphia Dance Academy. He pretty much passed out as soon as we put him back to bed. He has very little endurance because of the pain. Pastor Connors and Pastor Grogan, from our church, came down in the evening to pray over Isaiah.
Day 2, Wednesday: Viviane, Chris's mom, spent the day at CHOP watching Isaiah. This allowed Chris to go to work and me to spend the day with Josiah celebrating his birthday--he turned 5!!! Can't believe it--time just keeps on flying by. I brought Josiah down to CHOP to spend a little time with Isaiah. He has really missed Isaiah. He has been praying daily, "Dear Jesus, please let me see Isaiah again. I really want to see him." It breaks my heart to see how much it affects them when they are separated. They are best buds. Chris then took Josiah home to have some daddy-time on his birthday. We keep trying to make things work even when life keeps handing us crap.
Day 3, Thursday: Still having an insane amount of pain and continues to be medicated around the clock. He could only tolerate being out of bed for 1 hour today. He did play a bit, which was a small improvement from the past 2 days. Uncle Dave Solt came for a quick visit and prayed over Isaiah. He started on Pedialyte today, but didn't tolerate it. Please pray that Isaiah's bowels start working, that he can tolerate the feeds, and poop. He would do so much better and feel so much better if he could poo.
As of right now, Isaiah will need to stay at CHOP until Tuesday/Wednesday. He is progressing so slowly that his doctors don't expect him to tolerate full feeds anytime soon. We are all exhausted and want to go home. Please pray for a miracle in Isaiah's body. One huge praise--we did get a room at the Ronald McDonald House in Philly--Thanks, Doug! This weekend, we will bring Josiah down to spend time with all of us. We are looking forward to being together.
Thank you to everyone who has been helping us out with watching Josiah, meals, praying for us, and for encouraging us. We really appreciate it!!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
RECOVERING SLOWLY...
Isaiah is such a trooper. His surgeries took 4 1/2 hours, in the OR at 8:30am and out around 1pm. The procedure to fix his stomach took longer than expected due to a large amount of scar tissue from his prior surgeries. It took Dr. Collins over an hour to just release the liver, diaphragm, stomach, abdominal lining, etc. from all of the scarring. Overall, she felt the partial Nissen went well. After the stomach repair, Dr. Zur did the adenoidectomy and replaced his ear tubes. She was also very happy with the results. Thankfully, Isaiah remained stable during the different procedures.
Isaiah has had a lot of pain post-op, and has required both pain and anti-nausea meds around the clock. He is sleeping on and off. It's hard watching him struggle. We can't wait till he is back to his normal, happy self. Please continue to pray. He will be in CHOP for approximately 1 week. Dr. Collins doesn't want to rush the stomach and will slowly reintroduce food/liquids starting tomorrow. This will be a long and slow recovery.
Please continue to pass on our updates. We are unable to make a lot of phone calls right now. We will do our best to update daily. Thank you.
Isaiah has had a lot of pain post-op, and has required both pain and anti-nausea meds around the clock. He is sleeping on and off. It's hard watching him struggle. We can't wait till he is back to his normal, happy self. Please continue to pray. He will be in CHOP for approximately 1 week. Dr. Collins doesn't want to rush the stomach and will slowly reintroduce food/liquids starting tomorrow. This will be a long and slow recovery.
Please continue to pass on our updates. We are unable to make a lot of phone calls right now. We will do our best to update daily. Thank you.
SURGERY TODAY
We have an urgent request for prayer today! Isaiah is going in for a partial Nissen Fundoplication--the surgery we have been trying to avoid for the past 2 years because of its complications and failure percentages. However, at this point, we have no other options. This is our last option in trying to help Isaiah stop throwing up every day, to help prevent damage from his severe reflux. For 2 years, Isaiah has thrown up at least once a day. For the past 4-6 months, that has significantly increased to the point he has actually destroyed several of the floors in our home. He is uncomfortable and has become limited in the amount of activities he can participate in. Running, jumping, sneezing, laughing, coughing, standing, etc. can cause him to vomit. There is no rhyme or reason, and nothing non-surgical has been able to prevent this. It has been incredibly frustrating.
This abdominal surgery takes the top of the stomach and wraps it partially around the esophagus, tightening up the sphincter. The purpose is to make it more difficult to burp or vomit or to allow for reflux up the esophagus. Isaiah is also having adenoids removed, due to increased congestion/trouble breathing and his ear tubes replaced due to crusting.
Please pray specifically for:
1. That the surgery is successful and Isaiah will be free from discomfort, reflux, and vomiting.
2. Wisdom for Dr. Joy Collins (General Surgery), for Dr. Karen Zur (ENT), and for the anesthesiologist.
3. Isaiah CANNOT, under any circumstance, throw up post-op. Vomiting can destroy the surgical site and cause a whole new set of complications. He absolutely needs to rest and feel comfortable.
4. For our family--we will not all be together for 7 days. Pray that we will survive all the driving back and forth and separation.
5. Josiah turns 5 on Feb. 15th and Isaiah turns 3 on Feb. 20th. It's been hard for Chris and I knowing we can't be together as a family to celebrate on their birthdays.
I'll be honest--I am completely worried about Isaiah going under general anesthesia again and this complex surgery. I don't want it, nor does Chris. We just don't know what else to do. I don't have the capacity to trust God right now; so, I am asking for the faithful prayer warriors to intercede on my/our behalf. Thank you for praying.
This abdominal surgery takes the top of the stomach and wraps it partially around the esophagus, tightening up the sphincter. The purpose is to make it more difficult to burp or vomit or to allow for reflux up the esophagus. Isaiah is also having adenoids removed, due to increased congestion/trouble breathing and his ear tubes replaced due to crusting.
Please pray specifically for:
1. That the surgery is successful and Isaiah will be free from discomfort, reflux, and vomiting.
2. Wisdom for Dr. Joy Collins (General Surgery), for Dr. Karen Zur (ENT), and for the anesthesiologist.
3. Isaiah CANNOT, under any circumstance, throw up post-op. Vomiting can destroy the surgical site and cause a whole new set of complications. He absolutely needs to rest and feel comfortable.
4. For our family--we will not all be together for 7 days. Pray that we will survive all the driving back and forth and separation.
5. Josiah turns 5 on Feb. 15th and Isaiah turns 3 on Feb. 20th. It's been hard for Chris and I knowing we can't be together as a family to celebrate on their birthdays.
I'll be honest--I am completely worried about Isaiah going under general anesthesia again and this complex surgery. I don't want it, nor does Chris. We just don't know what else to do. I don't have the capacity to trust God right now; so, I am asking for the faithful prayer warriors to intercede on my/our behalf. Thank you for praying.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
HOME ON THE SAME DAY...
God heard your prayers and Isaiah did extremely well through the procedures/surgeries. This is the first time he recovered from general anesthesia without any episodes. Also, for the first time, we were able to come home on the same day!!! Yep, we can't believe it ourselves! All three procedures went well.
The ear tubes went in without complication and Isaiah had much less pain this time than the first time. Dr. Germiller was very happy with the results. Dr. Flick performed the upper endoscopy with biopsies. He said his esophagus/intestinal track looked healthy and normal. The only slight abnormality he saw was a puckered pyloris, but he doesn't know what that means yet. The next step is to wait a week before the final results from the biopsies come in.
Interventional Radiology, Dr. Keller, placed the GJ tube. He had trouble threading the tube because of Isaiah's abnormal intestinal structures. He is hoping Isaiah will tolerate this new tube. There is a chance this new tube is the wrong size---Isaiah fell in between the 2 sizes they use. Just our luck, huh!?!? Pray that with this new tube there will be no shifting, migration of the tube back into the stomach, leaking, vomiting, diarrhea, infection, or increased pain.
Thank you again for all your prayers, support, emails, notes, and meals. You encourage us more than you will ever know. You are all a part of our extended family. It's great to be loved this much.
The ear tubes went in without complication and Isaiah had much less pain this time than the first time. Dr. Germiller was very happy with the results. Dr. Flick performed the upper endoscopy with biopsies. He said his esophagus/intestinal track looked healthy and normal. The only slight abnormality he saw was a puckered pyloris, but he doesn't know what that means yet. The next step is to wait a week before the final results from the biopsies come in.
Interventional Radiology, Dr. Keller, placed the GJ tube. He had trouble threading the tube because of Isaiah's abnormal intestinal structures. He is hoping Isaiah will tolerate this new tube. There is a chance this new tube is the wrong size---Isaiah fell in between the 2 sizes they use. Just our luck, huh!?!? Pray that with this new tube there will be no shifting, migration of the tube back into the stomach, leaking, vomiting, diarrhea, infection, or increased pain.
Thank you again for all your prayers, support, emails, notes, and meals. You encourage us more than you will ever know. You are all a part of our extended family. It's great to be loved this much.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
SURGERY TOMORROW...
Thank you for your continued prayers. Josiah went back to the doctor's office today. His right arm was reexamined and re-xrayed. Thankfully, the ulna bone has not shifted and Josiah DOES NOT need surgery at this time. He will continue with the hard cast for another 2 weeks, then be reexamined and recasted in a water-proof cast. Dr. Minnich was optimistic that Josiah's cast will be fully off by the time of our vacation on July 13th. Please continue praying for a quick and full recovery for Josiah.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 8th, Isaiah goes in for his 3 procedures. We have to be at CHOP Main (in Philadelphia) at 6 AM....ugh! We have to leave the house around 4:30am. Pray for safety as we drive that early in the morning. Also, please pray for Isaiah, the doctors/specialists, and that the procedures go smoothly.
This past weekend we were able to participate in Chris's sister's wedding (Amy) in Lancaster. My 3 men looked awesome! The boys did well and were adorable in their tuxes---will post pictures later. I do have to admit they were quite busy and were always running in opposite directions--pretty difficult when trying to take family pictures. Our friend, Jamie, came with us for the weekend and was a great help. Thanks Jamie!!!! Thanks for praying us through this past weekend.
We will update tomorrow, via the blog, on how Isaiah does through the surgeries. Continue to pray for us as we are quite often too exhausted to pray ourselves. We need the support of our brothers and sisters in Christ. God bless!
Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 8th, Isaiah goes in for his 3 procedures. We have to be at CHOP Main (in Philadelphia) at 6 AM....ugh! We have to leave the house around 4:30am. Pray for safety as we drive that early in the morning. Also, please pray for Isaiah, the doctors/specialists, and that the procedures go smoothly.
This past weekend we were able to participate in Chris's sister's wedding (Amy) in Lancaster. My 3 men looked awesome! The boys did well and were adorable in their tuxes---will post pictures later. I do have to admit they were quite busy and were always running in opposite directions--pretty difficult when trying to take family pictures. Our friend, Jamie, came with us for the weekend and was a great help. Thanks Jamie!!!! Thanks for praying us through this past weekend.
We will update tomorrow, via the blog, on how Isaiah does through the surgeries. Continue to pray for us as we are quite often too exhausted to pray ourselves. We need the support of our brothers and sisters in Christ. God bless!
Friday, June 3, 2011
MORE THAN PRAYERS ARE NEEDED...
Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. Right now things are incredibly stressful and I am especially struggling with God's goodness. Thankfully, Isaiah is doing better and has been gaining the lost weight back slowly, since his last hospitalization. We've had to adjust feeds and try new formulas. The doctors don't know why Isaiah cannot tolerate some feeds and can tolerate others. We've been working with a new nutritionist and new GI specialists. Hopefully, they will be able to find a reason for Isaiah's chronic vomiting.
On Wednesday, Isaiah will be having his 6th surgery. He is having 3 procedures done: ear tubes replaced, upper endoscopy with biopsies, and having his G-tube changed to a JG-tube. Isaiah's original ear tubes no longer function (one is out and the other clogged). Fluid is collecting behind the tympanic membranes and he has had multiple ear infections with hearing loss. The endoscopy is to check for damage from all the vomiting. The changing of his G-tube is for a diagnositic study--the JG-tube should only be in for 4 weeks. The JG-tube bypasses the stomach and the feeds go directly into the intestines. If Isaiah stops vomiting completely, then it means that the source of the vomiting is from the stomach and he will need additional surgery on the stomach for the Nissen Fundoplication.
Just today, God decided to push us again. Josiah decided to climb a table outside that we are constantly telling the boys to get off of. Well, he fell breaking the ulna bone of the right arm. Thankfully, he was able to be casted in the ER and he doesn't need immediate surgery. He will be rechecked Tuesday. If the bone has shifted, he will need corrective surgery.
We have an incredibly packed summer and we are just so overwhelmed with all the trials. Please pray for this weekend: Chris's youngest sister is getting married and both the boys and Chris are in it---kinda tough with a cast and tube feeds. Then, surgery for Isaiah on June 8th, MRI of brain/spine with general anesthesia on June 29th. Also, it looks like Josiah will need surgery to remove his adenoids---they are enlarged and he has been having trouble breathing, pain in his sinuses, and snoring for the past year. Finally, it has been exhausting with all the trips back down to CHOP. Pray for strength, safety, and grace.
Please pass on to friends and family. We need all the help we can get. Thanks!
On Wednesday, Isaiah will be having his 6th surgery. He is having 3 procedures done: ear tubes replaced, upper endoscopy with biopsies, and having his G-tube changed to a JG-tube. Isaiah's original ear tubes no longer function (one is out and the other clogged). Fluid is collecting behind the tympanic membranes and he has had multiple ear infections with hearing loss. The endoscopy is to check for damage from all the vomiting. The changing of his G-tube is for a diagnositic study--the JG-tube should only be in for 4 weeks. The JG-tube bypasses the stomach and the feeds go directly into the intestines. If Isaiah stops vomiting completely, then it means that the source of the vomiting is from the stomach and he will need additional surgery on the stomach for the Nissen Fundoplication.
Just today, God decided to push us again. Josiah decided to climb a table outside that we are constantly telling the boys to get off of. Well, he fell breaking the ulna bone of the right arm. Thankfully, he was able to be casted in the ER and he doesn't need immediate surgery. He will be rechecked Tuesday. If the bone has shifted, he will need corrective surgery.
We have an incredibly packed summer and we are just so overwhelmed with all the trials. Please pray for this weekend: Chris's youngest sister is getting married and both the boys and Chris are in it---kinda tough with a cast and tube feeds. Then, surgery for Isaiah on June 8th, MRI of brain/spine with general anesthesia on June 29th. Also, it looks like Josiah will need surgery to remove his adenoids---they are enlarged and he has been having trouble breathing, pain in his sinuses, and snoring for the past year. Finally, it has been exhausting with all the trips back down to CHOP. Pray for strength, safety, and grace.
Please pass on to friends and family. We need all the help we can get. Thanks!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Home Again
Hi everyone,
We just wanted to send a quick post to say Isaiah is home. Joy brought him home last Wednesday(4/20) around noon. He was doing well with his feeds and was re hydrated, so the doctors felt he was ready to be discharged. Since he's been discharged, he's hardly thrown up during the last few nights. This has been a blessing.
Unfortunately Joy caught some kind of bug and was bed ridden starting Thursday night into Friday. This is why you have not heard from us until now.
We wanted to express our gratitude to everyone who helped provide meals, those who sent encouraging emails and most of all prayed for us and our little boy. We always feel blown away by the number of people who want to help us in this journey.
Chris and Joy
We just wanted to send a quick post to say Isaiah is home. Joy brought him home last Wednesday(4/20) around noon. He was doing well with his feeds and was re hydrated, so the doctors felt he was ready to be discharged. Since he's been discharged, he's hardly thrown up during the last few nights. This has been a blessing.
Unfortunately Joy caught some kind of bug and was bed ridden starting Thursday night into Friday. This is why you have not heard from us until now.
We wanted to express our gratitude to everyone who helped provide meals, those who sent encouraging emails and most of all prayed for us and our little boy. We always feel blown away by the number of people who want to help us in this journey.
Chris and Joy
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