A Long Road Ahead

(This is Jeff) Samuel is doing very well with the trach, but is heavily sedated until Wednesday because they want to limit his movement to prevent him pulling on it with his hands. It is very hard for Kristy and I to see him like that, but we know it is for a better outcome. They are also increasing his feeds of Kristy's milk and decreasing the IV nutrition. In order for him to come home, Kristy and I will have to be able to completely care for him and be able to change out his trach. I am rather squeamish and the mere thought of doing that makes me shudder, so prayers will definitely be appreciated. He will also need a feeding peg near his belly button that will put the milk directly into his stomach. Burping him will involve suctioning air out with a syringe directly from his stomach. We could not wait for the day that Dawson stopped crying in the night, and now we hope for the day that we can hear Samuel cry. His airway is completely obstructed and it will require him growing and several surgeries before he will ever be able to use the airway or swallow. We got the result of the EEG and he does have electrical activity in his brain, which is a great sign, we pray that more brain tissue will grow over time.

The little guy is a fighter and he has already changed our lives in a profound way. He fought for his life for over an hour after birth while the doctors were trying to get him a viable airway, and he continues to blow us away. God has given us peace about the whole situation and if we had to do it all over again, we would not have done anything differently. We thank you all for your prayers and cards.

Lamentations 3:31-33 For men are not cast of by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.