April 8, 2011

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

A doctor told us today, "Yesterday we stopped moving backwards; today I think we've taken a step forward."  That phrase was music to our ears.  We knew that we needed to diurese her and that she was making good progress with that yesterday.  But getting fluids off was not the end goal.  Getting fluids off was just supposed to help open up her lungs and allow them to aerate.  And opening up the lungs was just supposed to help lower pulmonary pressures.  The end goal is still to get rid of pulmonary hypertension.  Reducing pulmonary hypertension will reduce the load on her right heart and  hopefully prepare us to begin weaning off of ECMO.  So, you can see that "step one: diuresis" is still a long way from the next major goal.

There was evidence today from her chest x-ray and the echocardiogram that not only is she still tolerating diuresis well, but that her chest cavity has less fluid, her lungs are beginning to aerate and that pulmonary pressures may be improving.  This is such a huge hope and encouragement to us.  We are praising God, for we know that this is His doing.  Especially after the news we got on Wednesday, we are acutely aware of Who is behind this change of events. 

We want for you to join us in great thanksgiving, in praise and in adoration.  We are shouting with joy and wonder at God's grace and mercy.  We are humbled and thankful and amazed.  I don't want to discount any of that.  However, I also don't want to lead you to believe that this is over.  We are far from out of the woods.  We have experienced the beginnings of what we hope is a great miracle, but we also know that we are still standing in need of God's love and mercy.  Clara still needs your prayers.  She is still very sick.  She is still in critical condition and we will likely still face some setbacks in the days and weeks ahead.  Please do not stop praying.  God is doing wonderful things through Clara's life and we are eagerly anticipating His next big move. 

The weekend is coming up.  Last weekend was a little scary.  The hospital is usually not staffed as heavily and doctors don't seem quite as quick to make decisions or intervene.  This weekend we are praying for peace and calm.  We are hopeful for continued progress, but mostly want to see nothing get worse.  If Clara can continue to tolerate pulling off fluids and her lungs can continue to fill and grow, we can start next week by thinking about the next steps ahead.  Join us in continuing to pray for these specific things: diuresis, lung aeration, reduced pulmonary pressures, less stress on her right heart, and no further complications.  Of course continue to pray for her doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and other staff who care for her and for her family who loves her deeply and yearns to bring her home safely some day. 

Here are some of the beautiful images of today:

Today's bow of choice: purple, to match that snazzy monitor on her forehead




Thought you might like to see a close-up of how well that incision is healing.  Good work, Dr. Turner!


barely peeking that eye open...

I realized that all my pictures are really close-ups of Clara.  'Cause let's be honest - she's stinkin' adorable.  But I thought I'd share with you just how big and impressive and complicated her whole ECMO machine thing is.  Here's her pump and monitors and everything keeping that tiny little body alive right now:


 And here's that great chest x-ray, showing some aeration and progress in the right direction:


Praise Be To God.

30 comments:

  1. Thanks for the pictures. Those are some awesome machines. Hoping and praying that Clara continues to improve over the weekend.

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  2. Praise God! Thank you for sharing your personal journey of faith and of love for such a beautiful gift from God. Clara is so precious-treasure every moment. I pray that she continues to strengthen and that all your prayers will be answered.

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  3. God is SO good and is still in the miracle business! Praise HIS Holy name! I am praying and praying Clara continues to be that miracle. I too, am praying that you are given the necessary strenght to make it day to day with continued hope. He will carry you if you continue to allow Him to do so. Blessings!!!

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  4. Oh, Chrissy, these pictures made our day, too. Thank you so much for sharing your precious daughter with all of us. She has certainly changed our lives, too. GOD is in her corner ... what a little trooper she is. You and Robert are amazing, too. No wonder the world is praying you guys through. We won't stop ... that's a promise!
    xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

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  5. That just made my night! PRAISE GOD!!! We will be praying hard throughout the weekend. Love you guys!

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  6. Thank you for continuing to point us to Christ in the midst of this trial. Reading your posts encourages me and makes me so thankful for my little girl and for reminding me of what is important in my life. Thank you for being so raw and honest with us, and I love the pics of Clara. She's adorable. I have been praying and will continue. Your specific prayer requests are very helpful.

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  7. Chrissy, Robert & Clara,
    Praying that you all have a stable, peaceful and restful weekend. May you feel all the love and prayers being said (and sung!) for your little family! XoXo (Big hugs... not the wimpy kind!)

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  8. I, too, am praying for a stable, peaceful, restful weekend! And am SO encouraged by your posts! We, along with so many others you don't even know, are praying and praying and won't stop! Our God is an awesome God! Thank you for encouraging each of us in our own faith. Also - I love all her little bows!

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  9. I am praising God for his compassion and love. Prayers and love continue for Clara, you both, and your family from us. You are an inspiration to me; your strength, faith, and love are humbling. ((Hugs))
    PS-LOVE the bows. Adorable!

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  10. Praise the Lord, all that is within me, Praise His Holy Name!!!!!!!!

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  11. Praising God with you and continuing to pray! What a wonderful update and testament to his blessings!

    The Beaver family

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  12. You have the most beautiful little girl! Prayers daily for your family on the CDH rollercoaster!

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  13. God is Great! Praising and sharing in your joy. She is beautiful and we always enjoy the pictures. Praying for a peaceful and calm weekend for you all.

    Thank you for keeping us all posted and able to pray for specific needs. Peace is my prayer. It is such an important thing right now. So happy she has mommy's milk now. It will make her so strong, Chrissy-like her mommy! Good luck. We pray wholeheartedly for you always!

    Love to your beautiful family,
    Nicole Jones

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  14. Praising God with you for the answers to our prayers for baby Clara and continuing to lift her to God for his care and healing. Your blog has been an inspiration.
    Cheryl Sharpley (high school friend of Derek's mom Betsy - Los Altos, California). Cheryl Sharpley

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  15. Thank you, Jesus. I am so happy to read this uplifting news. Thanking God for Clara's improvement and praying for its continuance in the next days.

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  16. PRAISE GOD! He is so good! Praying He continues to work in your beautiful baby´s life.
    HOW AWESOME IS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER!
    Andy&Ale from Mallorca

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  17. Looking at the earlier pictures she looks so much better! We are continuing to pray for her!

    Shelly M.
    Grandma to CDH angel Jayden from CHERUBS

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  18. Thanks be to God! We continue to pray for Clara and for all of you.

    Frank and Laura

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  19. Did you ever imagine you would get excited over an xray image! Praying and thinking of you all daily. God's strength is amazing and his peace beyond understanding. I pray you will feel both over the weekend and in the days to come.

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  20. Prayers never ceasing.....

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  21. Hello Chrissy and Robert,

    We join you in thanking and praising Jehovah Rapha, our God who heals (Exodus 15:26). We know that God is still in the business of healing and performing miracles and we thank Him for what is is doing in the life of Clara. She is quite a blessing to us and so are you!

    In His Love, Pam and Marvin

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  22. YIPPEEEE!!!!!

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  23. Our God is an awesome God! Hurray for Clara! We know with all confidence that HE continues to hold her in the palm of his hand and loves her beyond all understanding. We continue to pray for all of you and are so thrilled for the miracles that continue to occur!

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  24. God is good all the time and all the time God is good! Thank you Lord for a sign that we can all cling to that yes, you are in control of all of this and that you do hear our prayers! Fight on baby Clara, Robert and Chrissy keep whispering in her ear that we are all praying that her fighting spirit gets stronger and stronger! Love and continued prayers!

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  25. Clara is such a beautiful baby! I want you guys to know that we are praying and expecting miracles! And we are so thankful that Clara is blessed with such a wonderful family! And that God is an awesome God!!!

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  26. Praise God! We are so proud of Clara and her improvements. God is truly working in your lives to make Clara'a sweet soul stay alive. It is a miracle and your child is an inspiration to all people. We are seeing God through Clara. She is a miracle baby!
    Love and Blessings, The Welsh Family

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  27. Yes, she is indeed "stinkin adorable". I love, love, love the pictures of Clara. I am so thankful that she is showing positive changes how great or small. Our God is indeed a wonderful, loving God and he certainly has tiny Clara in his hands. Those are the best hands around. Continued prayers.
    MN

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  28. Thank you for pulling the camera lens back to see the magnitude of the most impressive modern technology that is ECMO...I praise God for this technology and I praise Him that He is still in the business of miracles. I do not recall what ECMO stands for, but I know what it means...HOPE. Praying for an uneventful weekend for all!!!

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  29. Clara is so beautiful. God is good. I am thankful that He chose this miracle to show His love and power. I with all your other prayer partners will continue to pray that God will heal Clara.
    Love and hugs,

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  30. Go God! Go Clara! What a team!
    Praying for a quiet weekend of rest and healing!

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