Perspective

Perspective: If you want a new perspective on things spend a few days around an intensive care unit. There are so many stories here that will rip your heart out. So many ministry opportunities with families that are hurting. Families from all over the state end up at our hospital and it is tough for them not having family here. We have got to know Zack’s family and it hurts to watch them as their son is so sick. We met Angela and she has been here nonstop for days, her husband is a truck driver that was across the country and has been trying to get home all week. So many other stories that just break your heart.

We have seen joy as kids move to the floor which is one step closer to home, we have seen sadness from families that wonder if their child will even survive. All of this has taught me a few things. First never take anything for granted a very small injury can be very serious like in Zacks case. It has made me thankful for the many blessings that God has given us. It makes me appreciate my children and their health even more. We are so thankful that we live close to the hospital and are able to go home in shifts, we are thankful for our boys and friends that have helped with the other girls. We are thankful for the wonderful doctors and nurses that we have worked with. We are thankful for the good reports that we have been receiving and the encouragement that the staff here.

Overall this week has been an emotional roller coaster. We were not mentally ready for this procedure and the sudden change to open heart was hard. We were not emotionally prepared for sitting in PICU for so many days yet. All of this is said to say that I have no clue how a non-Christian could get through having a sick child. I have had to trust God in ways I am not used to. I have had to trust that he has His hand on Maria and on the staff. I have had to trust that He is totally in control and I have to accept that. He has given us peace in difficult times and has sustained us. With the exception of about 1 hour early Thursday morning He has given us such a peace and even during that hour as we prayed we became at peace as we saw God work around us.

There is so much need here and such need for the church to be here actively ministering to broken people.

On to the update, Maria had a great day yesterday; she was alert most of the day and in a good mood. Yesterday at about 5 they finally closed her chest. She did great through the procedure. They gave her a good dose of sleepy medicine and she slept most of the night which allowed us to sleep too. Today they are weaning her off the breathing machine and some drugs. The goal is to get her off the breathing tube around noon. She is MAD today. She wants that tube out. I asked her if she was mad and daddy and she nodded yes. She wants mommy and she wants that tube out. Today she will not even look at me as she must somehow feel I have failed in protecting her. Oh well she will some day understand that she needed this surgery to make her well.

Pray that the tube comes out and that she continues to respond well. Pray that we keep seeing improvements with her. Pray for these other families, for Zack, for Angela’s little girl. Pray that God’s love will be seen in this place. Lastly continue to pray for orphans around the world. We learned last night that Chase a little guy at New Day where Maria used to be lost his fight with heart issues. At least he experienced love at New Day. It breaks my heart to think of the children that die in orphanages where they have never had love and where they have never experienced Gods love through His children. What can each of us do to help a child in need? Ponder that question and see what your perspective is?