SPINAL CORD SURGERY MONDAY, MAY 6th...

We know this is a really late notification, and we apologize.  It's just been very crazy here over the past few months.  Last we posted, Isaiah was in the hospital in January.  Thankfully, it was just a short stay.  February, he was sick the whole month, but able to stay home.  In March and April, we spent the months visiting many of Isaiah's specialists and having multiple tests run. He's been having increased problems over the past few months which needed further investigation.

After all the testing and specialists, we were told that Isaiah needs to have his spinal cord released from the tissue (phylum) that is holding it taut.  Because the nerves of the lower cord are not free flowing, Isaiah has been having increased bowel and bladder problems, as well as lower leg pain, tightness, weakness, and tip-toe walking/running.  The surgery is to release the cord and prevent any further nerve damage.  The damage that already has been done is not reversible.

Dr. Sutton, top neurosurgeon at CHOP, will be performing the surgery.  Please pray for wisdom, grace, and steady hands for him.  Pray for Isaiah, that the surgery and recovery period will be painless, easy and uncomplicated.  Pray for Josiah, as having Isaiah back at the hospital always stresses him out.  Thankfully, my mom, Lois, was able to come up from Tennessee to stay with him and help us out.  We are so grateful to her for all her help.  She definitely needs a lot of prayer as she has been up here for the past month away from her husband and home.  First, she helped Dan and Steph. Then, spent 3 weeks with Dave and Lori, and now she is with us.  I don't know what we would do without her.  She is such an incredible support person.

Lastly, please pray for Chris and me.  We are really struggling with going forward with this surgery.  We are pretty freaked out.  Though it is supposed to be "easy", according to the surgeon, it has been a terrifying road for us.  We've prayed and consulted many doctors, and have all come to the same conclusion--surgery is necessary.  However, Chris and I are very scared, more than we have ever been before.  We don't want Isaiah to come out of surgery having more disabilities or struggles than he already deals with on a daily basis.  We just need peace.

We do have 4 very important praises that have happened over this past year!  They are:

1. Josiah asked Jesus into his heart this past year.  He now understands that Jesus is his personal Lord and Savior.  He knows without a doubt that he is on his way to heaven.  It was all very exciting!!!  Tears of joy were shed.  Josiah is such a sweet boy with a tender heart.  We just love him!

2. Last June, Chris's sister, Theresa, gave birth to Kaitlyn!  We get to celebrate her 1st birthday soon!  She is too cute and we love her bunches!  Josiah and Isaiah can't get enough of her--they have been praying for a baby sister for over a year now--I keep telling them to take it up with Jesus, and they do!  Gotta love their faith!

3. In March, our newest nephew, Jude James Emr decided to make a surprise, early appearance at only 25 weeks gestation.   He is the 3rd son of my brother Dave and his wife Lori. Even though he is early, he has been stable, growing, reacting, eating, peeing, and pooping.  He has some hurdles to overcome, such as a brain bleed and apnenic episodes (where he drops his heart rate and oxygen levels).  Please pray for the whole family as this is an exciting time, but also a stressful and heart-wrenching time.  Thankfully, Jude is now over 5 weeks old.  It has been wonderful to watch him grow and move!  He is a perfectly made, beautiful, little man, and we can't wait until he is able to go home with his parents, sister and 2 brothers!

4. My brother, Doug, and his wife Sarah, are expecting a little girl in September!  We are thrilled to pieces for them.  We are grateful to God for these little blessings that keep coming!

Thank you again for all your support and prayers.  We feel them.