Consider It All Joy

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” -James 1:2

I’ve never been intimately involved in a crisis before.  Sure, Aaron and I have had some difficult times, but I can easily say that none of them hold a candle to the grief, anguish, panic, and sorrow we experienced when we learned that our little Haven had suffered a stroke following a ‘simple VSD surgery’.  We are so thankful to have so many great friends and family who have grieved with us, allowed us to cry and vent, and prayed with us during our time of intense need.

Many thoughts and emotions have gone through our minds throughout the past two weeks:  grief, anger, frustration, sorrow, relief, joy, confusion, calm, fury, confusion, apprehension, pain, longing (just to name a few!!!) Throughout this time, God has been working on our hearts in a way we have never experienced and never expected.  One amazing result of the many prayers that have been offered up on our behalf following Haven’s initial stroke diagnosis is that we have had such peace about her condition and future.  In addition, God has brought scriptures to mind that have been so comforting during our time of need.  (Thanks to our dear friends who have been praying for these specific needs!)  Believe me when I say that the peace we are experiencing is the kind that only our loving heavenly Father can give!  Are we concerned for Haven’s future?  Absolutely!  Does it concern us that she has lost so much function?  You bet!  Do we miss being together as a family, sleeping in our own beds, taking care of ourselves, and living a normal life?  Yep, we do!  But, amazingly we’re not obsessing with worry.  We’re not depressed.  We’re not afraid of what the future holds.  With so much uncertainty about our daughter’s and family’s future we are at peace.  Praise the LORD!!!

The title of our blog, “Blessings and Fingerprints,” comes from our intense desire to offer our lives in service to our heavenly father and from our need for good to come from this trial in the life of our family.  1 Thessalonians 5:16 tells us to “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  Our family takes this command seriously.  The purpose of this blog is to update you on Haven’s condition and to share with you the blessings that we are experiencing along the way.  We see God’s fingerprints all over Haven’s little life and we desire to share those fingerprint moments with others so Christ may be glorified.  

HEALTH UPDATE FOR 4/4/2013

Today Aaron and I had a long meeting with Haven’s rehab team.  I think I counted ten people other than Aaron, Haven, and me in that meeting.  It was great to see all of the people working so hard to help us during this time in one place at a time.  Dr. B. is a great doctor.  He is apsysiatrist.  A psysiatrist is a doctor who helps patients with rehabilitation.  We are blessed that Haven’s team has such a great leader!  Our goal is to be here in inpatient rehabilitation for 2 weeks.  We will work hard over the next 2 weeks to help Haven relearn to eat and drink so that we are able to finally leave here without a feeding tube.  None of us like Haven’s feeding tube,but it is incredibly important that her brain gets the nutrition it needs to heal.  We are also trying to ensure that Haven gets more rest.  Rest is essential to the brain’s healing process.  

One praise that we have is that Haven is now able to eat baby food at every meal.  She is eating 6-8 ounces at every meal.  Today we were able to get her to drink 5 ounces of thickened juice.  This is an answer to prayer!  Gradually over the next 2 weeks that amount needs to increase so that we can remove the feeding tube, but for now we are thrilled that she is willing/able to drink.  Our goal is for the feeding tube to be removed before we leave inpatient therapy.

The next step following inpatient therapy is for Haven to have intense outpatient therapy.  We are on a waiting list for Ronald McDonald house so we can stay close to the hospital during that third phase of Haven’s recovery.  Please pray that there is an opening for us soon.  

Every day Haven stands with a little bit more weight on her feet.  She cannot maintain balance yet.  Things like holding her head up, sitting up alone, moving her arms and legs, and speaking need much more work.  With God all things are possible!