God's Awesomeness!

A couple years ago, my friend got pregnant with a little boy. Somewhere around the halfway mark, the OB found that he had a couple holes in his heart. They were told he would eventually need surgery. The specialists told her that 50% of kids with his heart defect are Down Syndrome babies. So she and her hubby mentally prepared themselves for that possibility (as much as you can). They instantly started confessing Jeremiah 29:11 over their situation:

"For I know the plans I have for you- plans to prosper you and not to harm you.... plans for a hope and a future!"

 When he was born, they did all of the testing and discovered he did not have Downs (Praise the Lord!!!) He had to spent the first 6 weeks of his life in the NICU. At just 1 month old, he had his first surgery. The doctors anticipated he'd be in critical care for a few days, but he healed so quickly that he moved back to the NICU ahead of schedule!! God is good!

The day he was born!

Had he not had the 2 holes in his heart, they wouldn't have needed to see a cardiologist! Without the cardiologist, they wouldn't have discovered that there was a blockage in his aorta OR that there was a major pressure difference between the pumping chamber and aorta OR that all of his valves were small causing the pressure build up! 

BUT GOD KNEW!!! 

Over the first year of his life, he had testing after testing ... in November, the heart was worse than expected. The doctors told my friend that his condition is rare... that he would need surgery within 3 weeks to correct the pressure issues. 

Side note... I think if MY kid had some kind of medical issues, the last thing I want to hear is that it's RARE! I want it to be something common... I think I'd stress a little less if it was something seen more frequently!! 

Anyways, once again, she held on to the scripture... God KNOWS the plans He has for her son. Plans for a hope and a future... So, she scheduled the surgery! But then he got sick- nothing major, but a bad enough cold that they had to postpone! They finally cleared him for surgery, and they did major open-heart surgery on her precious 15 month old son on January 23rd. After hours and hours and hours  of waiting in a waiting room, this is what the surgeon said: 

Tell everyone that prayed for my hands/God to guide my hands, "It worked" ... He said the results were better than he expected. The difference between his pressure in his chamber and aorta was 110, he was shooting to get it down to 40....drum roll....it's now 10!!!

God is so good!!

Right outta surgery! Looking pathetic, but doing
SO MUCH BETTER than anticipated!

Now today- only 5 days later, he has no IV... his bandages will come off whenever my friend is comfortable with removing them! He is in the normal peds room and not the PICU! AND they're talking of releasing him to go home tomorrow!!!

Yesterday- playing and feeling great!!

He is such a strong little boy with an awesome fighting spirit! They are all amazed at how well he is doing for as bad as his heart was looking! Only FIVE days later and he's about ready to go home!! My friend has such amazing faith and amazing strength! She has been an inspiration to me! I don't know if I would be able to hold up as well as she has. God is an amazing force in her life... His healing power is AWESOME!


In the words of this awesome friend of mine:
"The next time you're faced with something you don't understand, just remember God is in control."

And in the words of GOD: "For I know the plans I have for you- plans to prosper you and not to harm you.... plans for a hope and a future!" (Jeremiah 29:11)