Friday, October 21, 2011

Our Little Fighter

Today...

I am not sure how to describe today. I guess I can start off with saying that I am grateful to be on the closing end of the day.  And that I am grateful for the ways the Lord walked us through...and preserved my baby's life.

Jude's blood pressure problems worsened throughout the night.  By morning, his blood pressures were super low and his white blood cell count had rocketed to 57,000.  Oxygenated blood wasn't  pumping well throughout his body, and we could no longer feel his pulse in his feet.  It quickly became evident that our little guy is battling a pretty massive infection.  So, the doctors quickly began to treat him for meningitis. And, we were told that he might not survive this infection...that he might not survive beyond today. 

An echocardiogram showed a heart that looked basically the same as it had been looking lately.  That indicated that it wasn't a change in his heart that was causing the new problems.  There was, however, more fluid accumulated in the area surrounding his heart...most likely caused by the fluid shifts he has been having with his kidney issues. After the cardiologists looked at the images, they decided that they would take him down to drain some of that fluid off with a needle.

After accompanying our little guy downstairs as far as they would let us, we left him at the cath lab and went up to wait in Jude's room.  We were told that the procedure would be about thirty minutes.  While we waited, we prayed.  We took turns reading psalms.  We prayed some more.  I took some pictures of his room.  And we waited.

Thirty minutes turned into an hour.  An hour turned into two.  Eventually, we were told he would be up shortly.  Just before we saw our baby, the cardiologist who performed the procedure came up to let us know how things had gone.

This is what she told us:  Our little boy was doing okay, but he had scared everyone.  Soon after we had left Jude downstairs to come up and wait, they went to move him on to the table where they would be performing the procedure.  As soon as he was on the table, his heart rate and blood pressure dropped significantly and his sats plummeted.  Immediately, the cardiologist began performing CPR.  Jude was coding.  After five minutes of chest compressions, he started to stabilize.  They then proceeded with the procedure.

Soon after he was back in his room, he opened his eyes and looked around at us.  I can't tell you how sweet it was to see our little boy responding to us after he had just been through such an ordeal.  I can't tell you how much I love those little eyes.  Such sweet, sweet eyes.

The rest of the day has continued to be intense, but our little boy is fighting.  He still has low blood pressure, and they are giving him epinephrine along with countless other antibiotics, blood products, and medicines.  He is requiring two nurses for all that he needs right now.  Thankfully, they are wonderful.  We are both staying the night tonight...sharing a bed that is less than the size of a couch.

And now we hope and pray and wait.

Our baby almost died today.  The Lord has given us more time with him, and we are so thankful.  We don't know how long that time will be, but we want to make the most of all the time we have.  The Lord in so many ways prepared us for this.  We didn't know it, but He did.  You can see some of that in this post I wrote in early August.  His fingerprints are all over our baby boy's life...and our journey.

Please continue to pray for us.  We are pretty broken and tired...and grateful.  Please pray that the Lord would guide us in how to love our sweet pea as he needs to be loved right now.  And please continue to pray for our baby's healing.

Thank you.




19 comments:

fizznick said...

I am praying right now, guys!!! I love you guys! God is good, no matter what! Hang in there little guy!

Anonymous said...

I lift my eyes up, unto the moutains where does my help come from? My help comes from You, maker of heaven, creator of the earth

Oh how I need you Lord. You are my only hope. You're my only prayer. So I will wait for You, oh God. To come and rescue me, to come and give me life.

Praying for you my sweet, sweet friend. Much love to you. -- Adrienne

Heath Haussamen said...

At Tara in this fateful hour,
I place all Heaven with its power,
And the sun with its brightness,
And the snow with its whiteness,
And the fire with all the strength it hath,
And the lightning with its rapid wrath,
And the winds with their swiftness along their path,
And the sea with its deepness,
And the rocks with their steepness,
And the Earth with its starkness
All these I place
By God's almighty help and grace
Between myself and the powers of darkness!

- St. Patrick's Rune, from A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Madeleine L'Engle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Swiftly_Tilting_Planet

amyfaith said...

Praying the Lord's comfort and peace for you guys. Holding up Jude to Our Father,praying each moment with Jude is guided by God. Love from colorado.

Alex T said...

Praying!

Anonymous said...

Praying that Jude turns that corner very very soon and that his whole body would be healed. Praying also that he would be comfortable and that you and Brandon would be able to rest and spend quality time with Jude. God is doing such awesome things in and through Jude and your family. Thank you so much for sharing!
-Laura and Colin

Jen said...

Psalm 23. Maybe it will help. Love you. God is with you, holding you in the palms of his hands. Keep holing onto each other. Love you.

Anonymous said...

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

They LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.

Miss Crys said...

And as a testament to all including you...dear Pelton's; I was there last night, and I saw the deep love of a mother and of a father. I saw the tears, heard the cries, yet saw the smiles and heard the laughs as well as you cuddled your baby and embraced each other in such a difficult time which leave no words for expression. It is simply to painful to express, I know this. You all are so very beautiful, and whatever lies in store for you all and Jude, it is the Lord's will. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh...Blessed be the name of the Lord. I love your sweet tender family!

sandy said...

weeping and praying~ sandy r.

Krista Trepod said...

I am praying so much for you guys right now!! I love that verse at the end and can't even imagine how much you're learning about God and how true that is. IT reminds me of this awesome john piper video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTc_FoELt8s

I hope it encourages you.

Anonymous said...

Jude is blessed to have a Mommy and Daddy that love him so passionately and who love and serve the Lord. And you are blessed to have him, a precious gift. Though circumstances are hard, you are enjoying eachother and clinging to your faith. God must be so pleased with your faithfulness and He will surely bless it! Lifting you up in prayer! Xoxoxo

Jacqueline Rivers said...

I am praying for you all and for God's healing and comfort and joy. Your sweet son and your entire family are such a testament to Him.

In times like these Jeremiah 29:11 always makes me feel better.

God bless!

Anonymous said...

I know you don't know us and I have been following your precious story (through a mutal friend) and I just want you to know you are held tightly in the arms of a mighty God and believers all around. We are here and we are praying and interceding for you. Blessings and love for baby Jude.

Phoebe said...

Dear Mandy and Brandon! God and his love through you and the doctors and nurses is keeping little Jude alive. May his power that raised little children from the dead, just as Jesus said tenderly "Talitha koum!" to the little girl, raise Jude to newness of life.

missy said...

i really have no words...just love and prayers.

Anonymous said...

baPraying for you all and sweet Jude.

Jenny said...

Hello sweet Peltons.
I just wanted to let you know I am thinking of you and sweet Jude everyday. I am sorry I haven't been in PICU to help care for you all. You and your sweet boy are forever in my thoughts and prayers. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you. Miss you and hang in there.

Jenny

Tara O'Connor said...

Love and prayers to you all! xox

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