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.