Back to Life as We Know It
By Kendra | July 23, 2008
Life post-ICU is moving at lightening speed and I find it difficult to keep up! Mighty Joe is doing beautifully, and although his MRI is scheduled for August 8th, we sure wonder if they’ll find anything of permanent concern. He’s a healthy little 11-week-old boy.
I will be giving my Preschoolers, Preparation, and Peace workshop this Friday at the Valley Home Educators Convention as planned. Mighty Joe gets to come with me and we’re both excited to meet any of our blog readers who might be coming. Please make sure you say hello!
My oldest son and I’ll also be helping Linda Hobar in her Mystery of History booth both days. Super excited about that!
I have a couple of posts in the hopper, and I hope you’ll enjoy reading things that aren’t all about our Mighty Joe. It’s back to life as we know it!
Topics: Musings and Miscellany | 8 Comments »
Enjoying Babies
By Kendra | July 18, 2008
How come their babies sit so still?
Topics: Uncategorized | 15 Comments »
Psalm 23 Revisited
By Kendra | July 13, 2008
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
I have heard these words for the past 38 years of my life, but never have I understood with such gravity the depth and width and height of God’s comfort in times of trial.
For the past two weeks, our family has walked through the valley of the shadow of death, and in that journey God never left us or forsook us. In fact, for the first five days of Mighty Joe’s stay in the PICU, I was not fully aware of the severity of his illness, nor had I really grasped what the outcome might be. The first day we spent in the PICU, Heather and Lisa came to the hospital as a support to me, and Heather looked me straight in the eye and said, “You need to take every thought captive. There are no “what ifs” in God’s sovereign economy.” God was speaking through Heather, and from that point on, my mind could only do the next thing. I rode every tiny and every massive wave firmly in the grip of God’s hand, or as I have been saying, in an insulated bubble. This was His Grace.
On day six in the PICU, God allowed me to see what was going on, what He had been doing, and what He had ahead, at least in the short term. I began to fully realize that our lives had changed from the very moment I found Mighty Joe (who at that time was simply “Joe”) white, cold, clammy, and unresponsive in the little Moses basket where he lay sleeping in our closet. Suddenly, everything that was so important that morning became the most foolish things in the world. Flip flops left on the back porch had annoyed me, a dish left to soak in the sink had made me audibly sigh, and impatient chatter between sisters was getting on my nerves… again.
On day six, I realized where I had placed value all these years, and as I gazed at my smallest child still fighting for his life, hooked up to leads monitoring his pulse, heartbeats, and breathing, supporting two intravenous lines carrying medication that would help to heal him, gaining nourishment through a tiny tube threaded through his nose and into his stomach, I knew that so much of his suffering was about God’s work in my life, the life of my family, and the lives of thousands who were touched this month by Mighty Joe’s story.
But Mighty Joe’s story is God’s story. Were I to walk away unchanged from all that has transpired, I would be exhibiting blasphemy. I would be rejecting the gift that God has given us through Mighty Joe. I would be the old Kendra, the one who idolizes the outward, frets over the opinions of man, and values what is but dust, blown away by a simple little snuff of God’s prevalent breath. The new Kendra, changed by God’s faithfulness and abundant grace, fears only God, trusts implicitly in His care, and knows He holds the future in His hand. When in the past week I have experienced discouragement or fear, I realize that I am no better than the fickle Israelites, and my need for God’s righteousness and unwavering faithfulness is made evident once again, each day. Praise God!
The words of Psalm 23 are no longer a passage I memorized for a gold star in Sunday School 35 years ago. They are what I heard whispered by the still, small voice while in my insulated bubble:
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Topics: Mighty Joe's Story | 13 Comments »
A Healthy Mighty Joe
By Kendra | July 12, 2008
Mighty Joe, 9 weeks old
Five days out of the hospital
Joe had his first check-up yesterday and guess what? He looks perfectly ok. We have no follow-up visits to schedule at this time with a cardiologist, nephrologist, or neurologist, all of whom we were told we would have to see for awhile at least. Amazing! Yes, our God is amazing.
If you haven’t been following Mighty Joe’s story, this is what he looked like less than two weeks ago today.
Amazing.
Topics: Mighty Joe's Story | 30 Comments »
A Full Heart
By Kendra | July 8, 2008
I am writing with a full heart today. How could I not? To see God’s hand at work in such a way as we have these past two weeks leaves my heart spilling over with gratitude.
I have more thoughts swirling around in my head that I would like to share with you. I am particularly thankful for your prayers and concern, especially because the majority of you don’t even know our family or our Mighty Joe. That you would follow his story, cry with us and cheer with us leaves me speechless with thankfulness.
This Saturday is our Homeschool Encouragement Day and I’ve been asked to tell a bit about what God has done in our lives these past two weeks. I want to share my heart with my church family first, and then I’ll post the text here to share with you all. In the meantime, I’m stepping away from the blog and keeping my eye on Mighty Joe. And all the other young superheros growing up in our home. I’ve missed them so!
~Kendra
Topics: Uncategorized | 21 Comments »
…the final score
By Kendra | July 7, 2008
Human Enterovirus, 0
Mighty Joe Fletcher, 1
Kendra just called me to say Mighty Joe donned his cape and soared out of the hospital breathing fresh air and soaking up the California sunshine!
Praise the Lord for His goodness!
Topics: Mighty Joe's Story | 69 Comments »
Even More Good News!
By Kendra | July 6, 2008
Fletch again (sorry, Kendra is too busy feeding the baby!):
Joe’s doctor visited today and reported that almost all of his lab results were normal (I asked the doctor if he was making “smart pee” and he had no idea what I was talking about). This is remarkable! They have stopped all medications (for seizures and high blood pressure) and while I was typing this entry, the nurse just removed his nasal food tube and his picc line. Wow…kind of boring to only be monitored for heart rate and oxygen saturation…it’s like he is healthy or something (go figure…).
The best part (check this out), Joe’s doctor told us that if things go well tonight…Joe could go home tomorrow…
WOW!
Has someone out there been praying or something? A week ago Joe had a 50:50 prognosis and now we are ready to go home…c’mon…one of you must have been praying. Raise your hand if it was you, because I can’t believe we are on the verge of taking Mighty Joe back home.
His hospital release comes with some strings attached, because we’ll need to return for an MRI in the next week or so. We’ll post tomorrow if Joe is really getting booted and then you can look forward to multiple photos from our party!
Thanks again for your prayer and support through this week!
Andy and Kendra
Topics: Mighty Joe's Story | 72 Comments »
Up, Up and Away! Mighty Joe soars out of the PICU!
By Kendra | July 5, 2008
“Not” as Intensive Care!
Fletch Here:
Allow me to begin by repeating the great news from Deuteronomy Chapter 10:
“For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the Great God, Mighty and Awesome.”
Hey! Great news! Joe has been demoted from the PICU to a regular hospital room (Yay!…Now we are in the regular hospital!). We walked in this morning and Dr. Montes greeted us with our departure orders. He will check his progress daily, but didn’t believe Mighty Joe needed the intensive nursing care anymore (of course he doesn’t…what superhero needs intensive nursing care?).
We met our new doctor and nurse on the main floor (this is Aunt Laura’s old stomping grounds…so we’ve been “name dropping” like crazy). They have reviewed his chart and will be following up with him until we are booted home…
His new room is spacious and he is still right across from the nursing station, it’s a much more active floor with kids up and down the hallway (and more healthy!).
How to Pray:
***We are trusting that God will continue to bring his kidneys back to full health. We are guessing he has about 50% usage right now.
***Once his kidneys are 100%, he will get his MRI done.
***For his potassium to regulate on it’s own.
Estimates:
If he does excellent…we leave in 2-3 days.
If he does good…we leave in 4-5 days.
If he does average…we are here for another week.
We aren’t in a rush to leave and we want him to be healthy, but we love to see God defy the odds with this little guy! What a witness to His power!
(By the way, does anyone recognize who that is in the background? I’ll give you a hint)
Topics: Mighty Joe's Story | 15 Comments »
Friday Update
By Kendra | July 4, 2008
Sorry it took so long to post this update. Mighty Joe has had several visitors today and he had a room change (no, not out of the PICU, just a trip down the hallway). Fletch will have photos on his blog later.
We hit the one week mark early this morning and Joe is doing much better. He looks really good and we are excited to report his progress matches his appearance.
His doctor told us this morning that the only thing keeping Joe in the PICU was his fluid balance and electrolytes (both require close nursing supervision). They are both dependent on healthy functioning kidneys (unfortunately Joe does not have those yet), so we continue to pray for them to start working.
We’ve gotten used to hearing mixed news this week and there is nothing new today. While they regulate Joe’s potassium and kidney disfunction, his blood pressure has been all over the place today, so now they are needing to control that with medication as well.
Digestively, he has enjoyed his four-hour feeding schedule and he only gets supplemented through his nasal tube when he doesn’t eat enough from the bottle. We love it, because we get to feed him and hold him every time!
Once he moves downstairs (acute care) one of his big tests will be an MRI to evaluate his brain.
Prayer Requests
***His kidneys need to start working, they are still acting “dumb”
***His electrolytes need to balance
***His blood pressure needs to regulate
***We were told that the MRI mentioned earlier this week is still needed to evaluate the extent of brain trauma. That will require sedation (approx. 2 hour procedure), but they didn’t mention when it was going to take place.
Happy Fourth of July!
Topics: Mighty Joe's Story | 11 Comments »
Thursday Morning Update: Improvement!
By Kendra | July 3, 2008
Getting ready for the PICC line
Fletch Here: I called Kendra today and after a barrage of questions, she finally handed her cell phone to the doctor and let me talk with him. In general, his condition is the same. After the morning rundown of blood tests and lab cultures, he gave me today’s good news:
***Viral activity has slowed, so blood tests have all improved. (Liver numbers, clotting factors, etc…)
***He is able to eat out of a bottle and he is tolerating all of the food very well.
***They are able to place a PICC line today and replace his central line and his regular IV.
***The only things keeping him in PICU at this point are his non-functioning kidneys and some elevated blood pressure.
So, those who like to pray for specifics:
Pray for his kidneys to kick in today!
Pray for a successful PICC line placement (some risk)!
Pray for his blood pressure to be controlled!
Of course all this means that we merely transfer from one wing of the hospital to another, but we are so jazzed, because it means one step closer to home and one step away from critical care!
All along we have prayed for great things from our Mighty God, but in case you’re coming in late or you have missed seeing his hand in action, let me highlight a few of them for you…
ER in our hometown
1. We were greeted by staff that knew us personally and we were visited throughout the day by other hospital employees who heard we were there.
2. Quick decisions by the ER doctors and our family doctor to transfer him to a children’s hospital.
3. Super care from the ER nurses and support staff.
3. Readily available Critical Care Transport units.
Children’s Hospital
1. Of the five Children’s Hospitals available in Northern California, the one we were sent to is only 1.5 hours from our house, 20 minutes from Kendra’s parents, 10 minutes from her brothers family and her sister-in-law works at this specific hospital as an RN.
2. Our doctors were right on the money with their initial diagnosis and began treating Joe accordingly. They have been available personally to take phone calls and answer all of our questions.
3. Our first nurse, when asked if she liked Joe replied, “Like him? I love him…” - she wins the award for best answer!
4. The hospital has full hookups for RVs and my folks immediately parked their “wonderbus” for Kendra to use.
5. Kendra’s high school friend is an OB in the area and was able to examine her and prescribe the right medication for her to begin to feel better.
Mighty Joe’s Body
The doctors prepared us for the possibilities of multiple treatment scenarios, but Joe responded better than they hoped:
1. He has not needed dialysis.
2. He has not needed a ventilator.
3. He has not needed surgery.
Back at Home
1. Our kids have been cared for in loving environments.
2. Hot meals have been provided by a church that has wrapped its arms around us.
3. My office staff has gone above and beyond to make my work week peaceful.
These are the practical ways in which God has gone before us to answer prayer. There are many more relationships and situations where we have seen God’s hand and many others to come. Praise the Lord for His goodness to His people!
Thanks for praying for Mighty Joe!
Fletch
Topics: Mighty Joe's Story | 20 Comments »
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