Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Heavy Hearts, but still hoping

After consulting with a neurosurgeon, our doctor determined that Sara needed a CAT scan this afternoon because the bleeding on the brain was worse. The results of that were not good. The hemorrhaging was and is serious, they may have to do a reservoir or shunt at any time. Worse, Sara has had a stroke on one side of her brain. We will meet with a neurologist tomorrow to discuss that in more detail. They do not know the consequences of that stroke other than that it is serious. They have asked us to to begin considering DNR orders if she deteriorates quickly, which is a possibility.

They actually let Jenny and I hold her this afternoon and at some point our two girls, Abigail (7) and Emma Grace (4) will get to see her.

You all have been so kind to us and supportive. Please pray that our good and loving Father in Heaven would give us wisdom beyond our years, strength to stand in Him, and faith to walk step by step and day by day. Can God turn this around instantly for His glory and our good? Yes, and we pray he would. We also pray for Him to be merciful to Sara and do what is best for her.

19 comments:

  1. Oh I'm so, so sorry to hear this news. I pray that the Lord will surround you with supernatural peace as you face decisions that no parent should ever have to make. Thank you for keeping us posted and I will send out a blog to ask others to pray for Sara Rose. God bless you.

    Kelli
    ugottafriend.com

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  2. I'm praying for you and sweet Sarah. God and his grace be with you all.

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  3. I'm praying for you guys! Thanks for keeping us updated.

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  4. I'm a friend of Catherine Asher and my heart is hurting for you tonight. I am praying a miracle for you! God is able to do abundantly more than all we could ask or imagine. Eph 3:20.

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  5. I woke up in the middle of the night with Sara on my mind and prayed for you all. We will keep praying herein Christchurch New Zealand. "Mercy, wisdom and strenght Dear Lord and your peace. We put our trust in you Lord.

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  6. Catherine Asher sent me to your blog. My boy/girl twins were born at 25wk6d, and my son had a Grade 3 IVH and subsequently received a shunt. My heart is heavy for you tonight, as I know the feelings of uncertainty are overwhelming. We are praying for you in Mississippi and will continue to check in.

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  7. Hi,

    My name is Leslie Moore. Karen Fairchild Lensing sent this prayer request to me. I am originally from Lake Providence, LA. My husband, Chad, and I live in Tyler, TX. Our little ones were born at 29 weeks and spent 2 1/2 months in NICU in Dallas. So, we know all too well about the obstacles these tiny, precious babies can face.

    We are praying for you that you will have peace, rest and wisdom. We pray that Sarah Rose will also rest comfortably and that she will not experience pain or stress. We pray that she will be spared any further complications and that she will experience total and complete healing.

    In Christ,

    Chad and Leslie Moore
    Gus, Kate and Claire Moore (born at 29 weeks)

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  8. Jarrod & Jenny,

    You guys are in my thoughts and my prayers as are all of your precious girls. May God provide you the strength, courage, and patience to make it through these daily battles with little Sara. I am praying for God to heal her little body as only the Great Physician can.

    Jamie Winderweedle Wall

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  9. Jarrod and Jenny,

    Prayed all night for your family and especially sweet Sara. I just kept thinking, "God is our refuge and our strength, an ever present help in time of trouble" and praying that it would be so true for you last night and in the days to come. Praying for miraculous healing for Sara and for peace and rest for you. Catherine Russell Asher

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  10. Jarrod,

    We are praying for your sweet Sara and your family. We'll be keeping up with you. ~Susan Loudon Burk

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  11. I stumbled across your blog from Kelly's Korner. My heart is heavy for your dear litle one. I will pray for Sara, and for your family.

    Praying in GA,
    Leanne Wilson

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  12. Praying for you family... Thank for a kind and loving Father! I pray healing over this family...

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  13. I found your blog from Kelly's Korner and just wanted to encourage you and let you know I will be praying for your daughter. My son had a very serious stroke before he was born in early January and we were told he probably wouldn't survive. He turned 5 months old yesterday! God is an amazing God and always knows what is best for us and our children. You will be in my prayers. Dee

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  14. I too found your blog from Kellys Korner. I will be praying for little Sara Rose and that our Loving Father will place his hand upon this child and heal her. I also pray that you, as her family will be given a sense of peace during this time.

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  15. AS the parent of a preemie I know the fear of the unknown you all have right now. We will be praying for you all today.

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  16. From Kelly's Korner too...also, been in similar shoes as yours. Our little boy was born 10 weeks premature, weighing 2 lbs 3 oz. He also had a severe brain bleed (Grade IV) on the left side and small amount on the right, but mostly on the left. His cranial pressures did get up to 55% at one time and he bordered on having to have a shunt or drain, but because he was not showing any signs of increased pressure our neurosurgeon (who is absolutly awesome!) said that as long as he was tolerating the increased pressures, we would leave him alone. Thankfully, we avoided having to shunt/drain him in the NICU and have avoided it ever since. A shunt is not the end of the world, but you don't want one unless you HAVE to have it. One thing jumped out at me when I was looking at your pictures and that is that little Sara Rose is already on the nasal canula, that in itself is evidence that she is doing extrememly well all things considered. I hope your Doctor is looking at her clinically and not just on paper before he makes the decision to shunt or drain her. Keep in mind EVERY story is different and just because ours turned out one way, doesn't mean that any other story will turn out the same, but they did tell us that our son may never walk or talk and that we might need to consider caring for him for the rest of his life. He is 4 1/2 now, and if you saw him today, you'd never know he was born premature, much less that he had a severe brain bleed. He does have minor cerebral palsy on the right side (Hemiparisis) as a result of his bleed, but like I said it's very minor and you wouldn't know it unless you observed him physically for a while or I told you. You can see our story here (This was shot when we were the Ambassador Family for the March of Dimes just after he turned 3, and like I said he's 4 1/2 now):

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_4GPM3p0LU

    You can read our full story here:
    http://www.shareyourstory.org/webx/.ef611bd

    (click on my profile name staceyd in pink to read the long version)
    This is a great website, provided by the March of Dims, to find other parents going through the same thing you are and you can search specifically for stories that are similar to yours.

    I see that your faith is VERY strong, so NEVER lose HOPE. They have to give you worse case senerio, but as you already know, miracles happen everyday. If you would like, I'd love to talk to ya'll and share more of our experience with you and answer any questions you might have. Although, I'm not a doctor, I have done lots of research on all of this stuff you're dealing with and will actually be starting nursing school soon. So, I do have a lot of knowledge as far as preemies and brains go. Just remember, Doctors are good and I am ever so thankful for all they have done for my son, but they are not God, they are humans just like us. They don't have a crystal ball, they can only tell you what happens a certain percentage of the time. I guarantee you if 10 doctors looked at my son today, not one of them would guess he had a Grade IV bleed at birth without looking at his scans or medical history. You can email me at staceydanford@hotmail.com if you'd like. I will keep you and your baby girl in my thoughts and prayers!
    Take Care,
    Stacey Danford

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  17. Found your blog by way of another...I have 3 girls, too; Abby, Emma and Sarah! Small world! Praying for your precious family.

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  18. Jarrod and Jenny,

    We are praying here in MS for your little Sara, and for you as well. I will place her and your family on our prayer list at church.

    Praying for the best and His ultimate understanding,
    Jennifer Childs

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