How great it is to be home again! We spent all day Sunday just hanging out with our family. Max was so excited to see his brothers and sister Saturday night (Mom and Dad were pretty excited, too).
As I mentioned in an earlier post, Max's social life will be inactive for the next few weeks to give his immune system a little time to catch up from the effects of the heart/lung machine. He has already asked when he can go to class and see Mr. Vic and Mrs. Tracey (his Sunday school teachers).
His recovery continues to amaze us. If you were to see him and watch him play, you'd have no idea he had open-heart surgery 2 weeks ago! He saw our local pediatrician today just for a follow-up visit, which went well (at least the medical part did). Courtney said he cried the entire drive there because he overheard her say the word "doctor". He is still a little "gun shy" of any doctor's office after all he's been through. I think that's understandable!
He will see our local pediatric cardiologist this Thursday morning to assess his progress and begin charting his recovery. He won't be excited about that, but it will be over soon enough.
I've said it a few times over recent weeks...we can't wait to see so many of you and personally thank you for the overflow of love and support you've shown to us! It will take a few more weeks, but very soon the Fortenberry family will be out and about again...TOGETHER!
I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."
PSALM 122:1
HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS LIKE YOU!!!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Saturday, October 6, 2007
HOUSTON, WE HAD A PROBLEM
I can't believe it has been a few days since my last post. Once we got back from the doctor Thursday afternoon, our bodies sort of gave out. Not sick...just fatigued. The adrenaline rush of the past few weeks is gone and we crashed! We'll say farewell to the Best Western in an hour or so (she's been good to us). The "hairplane" will depart for Jackson around 3:30 p.m. which will put us back in Hattiesburg around 7:00 p.m.
The past few days have been good for us, a kinda of decompression period for our bodies and minds. During this time, God's been teaching me a lot about the "heart". I've spent the past 5 years selling cardiovascular medications and the past 2 years praying for Max's physical heart. I've been listening to some teachings by John Ortberg in recent days. God's used him to speak some truths concerning my heart. Max's physical heart is healed, but we all have a spiritual heart that needs daily healing.
Think about this...22 days after you were conceived, a tiny little electrical pulse stimulated the heart muscle, the myocardia, of your left and right atria to contract. It’s called an "atrial kick" and it forced blood into your ventricles. That movement was so faint that it could not be detected, even with amplification, but it was, in fact, the first beat of your heart, only 22 days after you were conceived and it’s never stopped from that day until now—70 milliliters of blood with every contraction, 14,000 pints being pumped every day, 100,000 beats of your heart every day from that day to this one. God gave us these amazing gifts called our hearts, our physical hearts. We try to manipulate and control our many aspects of our life, but we can’t control the beat of our heart (thank God!).
Is anyone reading this a little absent minded at times? Ever forget where your car keys are, where you are parked, where the car is, where the kids are? Imagine if our hearts only beat when we remember to tell it. We would be in serious trouble. But they don’t. God just created them so that that beat goes on whether we are aware of it or not. It’s a gift from God.
But God didn’t just give us a physical heart. God gave us all a spiritual heart. There is an inner me, there is an inner you, that part of you that chooses, that part of you that devotes, that part of you that commits, that part of you that wills, and the truth is that no matter how well you take care of it, your physical heart is going to wear out someday. It’s going to stop beating sooner or later. But your spiritual heart, the core of the core you—that goes on forever. I think that’s what the writer of Proverbs means when he says:
Above all else guard your heart for it is the wellspring of your life.
PROVERBS 4:23
Don’t worry so much, the writer of the Proverbs is saying, about how you are doing in terms of security, physical health, material well being, all of that stuff. That has its place. But above all of that, the top of the list, the first priority is guard your heart, watch your heart, care for your heart because your whole life flows out of your heart. So the question is,
What’s the condition of my heart, my spiritual heart, my heart for God and my heart for people?
Max's physical heart is healed, but please don't stop praying for his heart. I pray that all 4 of my children's heartbeat would be that of our Father's. That Max would one day understand this simple truth: as high and as far as today's "hairplane" ride will take him, it pales in comparison to the flight God has planned for his life!
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
ISAIAH 40:30-31
The past few days have been good for us, a kinda of decompression period for our bodies and minds. During this time, God's been teaching me a lot about the "heart". I've spent the past 5 years selling cardiovascular medications and the past 2 years praying for Max's physical heart. I've been listening to some teachings by John Ortberg in recent days. God's used him to speak some truths concerning my heart. Max's physical heart is healed, but we all have a spiritual heart that needs daily healing.
Think about this...22 days after you were conceived, a tiny little electrical pulse stimulated the heart muscle, the myocardia, of your left and right atria to contract. It’s called an "atrial kick" and it forced blood into your ventricles. That movement was so faint that it could not be detected, even with amplification, but it was, in fact, the first beat of your heart, only 22 days after you were conceived and it’s never stopped from that day until now—70 milliliters of blood with every contraction, 14,000 pints being pumped every day, 100,000 beats of your heart every day from that day to this one. God gave us these amazing gifts called our hearts, our physical hearts. We try to manipulate and control our many aspects of our life, but we can’t control the beat of our heart (thank God!).
Is anyone reading this a little absent minded at times? Ever forget where your car keys are, where you are parked, where the car is, where the kids are? Imagine if our hearts only beat when we remember to tell it. We would be in serious trouble. But they don’t. God just created them so that that beat goes on whether we are aware of it or not. It’s a gift from God.
But God didn’t just give us a physical heart. God gave us all a spiritual heart. There is an inner me, there is an inner you, that part of you that chooses, that part of you that devotes, that part of you that commits, that part of you that wills, and the truth is that no matter how well you take care of it, your physical heart is going to wear out someday. It’s going to stop beating sooner or later. But your spiritual heart, the core of the core you—that goes on forever. I think that’s what the writer of Proverbs means when he says:
Above all else guard your heart for it is the wellspring of your life.
PROVERBS 4:23
Don’t worry so much, the writer of the Proverbs is saying, about how you are doing in terms of security, physical health, material well being, all of that stuff. That has its place. But above all of that, the top of the list, the first priority is guard your heart, watch your heart, care for your heart because your whole life flows out of your heart. So the question is,
What’s the condition of my heart, my spiritual heart, my heart for God and my heart for people?
Max's physical heart is healed, but please don't stop praying for his heart. I pray that all 4 of my children's heartbeat would be that of our Father's. That Max would one day understand this simple truth: as high and as far as today's "hairplane" ride will take him, it pales in comparison to the flight God has planned for his life!
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
ISAIAH 40:30-31
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
MAX @ THE MALL
Max had a big time at the mall today. One of his favorite stores was the Build-A-Bear Workshop. (THANK YOU TO JONATHAN AND ANDREW BURKS FOR SENDING MAX A GIFT CARD!!!)
Here's a few pictures of Max grooming and loving on his new pirate puppy dog, Charlie (he names every stuffed animal this...Charlie Hardee, you the man!).
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
CASTLE FEVER
Well...we're still here! The "castle" has lost it's luster with Max. He's kind of ready to go home (ME TOO MAX!!!). However, we continue to make the best of it. It's not that we're anti-Best Western, but come on. The "best" has yet to be found, and the "western" part is very confusing!
Anyway, we've been venturing out for a few hours a day just for the change of scenery (and food). Rice University is only about 4 blocks away. Courtney and I thought about trashing the campus for all our USM friends since Rice will be in Hattiesburg tomorrow night to take on the Golden Eagles, but the Best Western only gives you 2 rolls of toilet paper at a time...not really enough to do much damage.
So, instead of doing that, Max and I sat in the floor this morning and played with the camera. Here's some of the "better" ones, and I use that word loosely!
Tomorrow we may head to the Galleria and get some take home goodies for John David, Hadley and Caleb (if you guys are reading this...of course, we're gonna bring you something - WE LOVE YOU, WE MISS YOU, WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU!!!!!!).
Anyway, we've been venturing out for a few hours a day just for the change of scenery (and food). Rice University is only about 4 blocks away. Courtney and I thought about trashing the campus for all our USM friends since Rice will be in Hattiesburg tomorrow night to take on the Golden Eagles, but the Best Western only gives you 2 rolls of toilet paper at a time...not really enough to do much damage.
So, instead of doing that, Max and I sat in the floor this morning and played with the camera. Here's some of the "better" ones, and I use that word loosely!
Tomorrow we may head to the Galleria and get some take home goodies for John David, Hadley and Caleb (if you guys are reading this...of course, we're gonna bring you something - WE LOVE YOU, WE MISS YOU, WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU!!!!!!).We should know for sure by tomorrow morning the exact time of our follow-up appointment on Thursday. Max will have an echocardiogram, a chest x-ray, and a few other physical exams to clear him for the journey home. We continue to marvel at God's grace and providence as we watch Max just be Max! What a joy!
Monday, October 1, 2007
THUMBS UP!!! Please Keep Praying
Max continues to amaze us with his recovery. Though it's true that children heal much faster than adults, how short-sighted it would be to leave it at that. For those of us who profess the name of Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we know that God's presence has been actively powerful in this child's life.As you can see, Max feels great, but we do have a few prayer request for his continued recovery:
-- Please pray Max will stay healthy as he recovers. When the heart/lung bypass machine is used during surgery, the body's immune system can be heavily weakened which obviously makes patients like Max more susceptible to germs, infections, etc. We know we can't put Max in a bubble, but when we get home we'll be a little over-the-top on the anti-bacterial gel and wipes (especially since our three other children are all in school).
-- Please pray a supernatural protection over his breastbone. Max is such an active 2 year old. As the days go by, the absence of a hole in his heart could increase his energy to a level we never saw prior to surgery. His sternum was put back together with stainless steel wire, which takes about 6 weeks for the bone to heal, and any type of fall or blow to his chest could potentially harm the healing process.
We can't wait to get home and hug so many of you for your kindness and generosity over the past few weeks, just don't be offended if we spray you down with Lysol first!!!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
HOME SWEET HOTEL!!!
Hi dear friends...we are NOT in the hospital!!! We just got back into our "castle suite" at the Best Western. (It has never looked so good!!!)
We are now here for one more week. Our follow-up appointment will be either Thursday or Friday and our flight home is Saturday, October 6. Max has just settled in for a private viewing of Peter Pan (along with some Peter Pan loot he had waiting for him at the hotel, compliments of the local Disney Store (are we Baptists still boycotting that??? ooops).
Anyway, not sure how active the posts will be going forward, but I may include some pictures of Max throughout the week for his brothers and sister.
All of you continue to overwhelm us with your emails and posts. This has not been a week I'd like to repeat, but it has certainly reminded us of so many precious people and relationships God has blessed us with over the years.
PSALM 147:3 - "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
Max's heart has been healed!!! Thank you God for your amazing love!!!
Here are a some pictures of us getting into the hotel a few minutes ago.
Friday, September 28, 2007
MAX IS ON THE MOVE!
PETER PAN FOUND HIS WAY INTO MOM'S LAP
GETTING READY FOR HIS FIRST WAGON RIDE AROUND THE FLOOR 
KIND OF BASHFUL AS WE RECEIVE WAVES IN THE WAGON PARADE 
WHAT DID NONEE (GRANDMOTHER) BRING US FROM THE DISNEY STORE? 
MOM AND MAX AFTER A BUSY AFTERNOONFRIDAY'S REPORT
We are out of ICU and in a general recovery room (1532). Max is doing very well. In fact, if he continues to progress like he has so far, we could possibly be discharged tomorrow...UNBELIEVABLE!!! We'll be released to the good ole Best Western across the street, where we will wait for his follow-up appointment next week. We are told it will not be until Thursday or after.
The last "not fun" thing to do is remove the drain line from his incision site. He'll get a little morphine before it's removed, so we pray that goes smoothly. Every time anyone in scrubs enters the room he gets extremely upset (that's happening on the hour at this point), but we are able to get in bed and hold him so it makes those moments better for all of us.
Courtney slept in bed with him last night, so I get the privilege tonight. How thankful we are to hold him again!!!
I'll post an update later today and hopefully include some pictures of Max moving around!
The last "not fun" thing to do is remove the drain line from his incision site. He'll get a little morphine before it's removed, so we pray that goes smoothly. Every time anyone in scrubs enters the room he gets extremely upset (that's happening on the hour at this point), but we are able to get in bed and hold him so it makes those moments better for all of us.
Courtney slept in bed with him last night, so I get the privilege tonight. How thankful we are to hold him again!!!
I'll post an update later today and hopefully include some pictures of Max moving around!
Thursday, September 27, 2007
CHECK OUT THAT SMILE!!!
John David, Hadley and Caleb,
Your little brother is getting better! He still gets sleepy and a little sad at times, but that great smile you love is starting to shine through! (the line on his chest is NOT blood, it is a special soap they put on his scar to clean it)
A Few Early Morning Thoughts
Dear Friends, how grateful we are for the last 24 hours. This time yesterday morning I was watching Max sleep in the hotel and now I am sitting in ICU watching him try to sleep. If any of you have been in this situation with a little one before, you understand the process. He is very frustrated with the restraints, the IVs, the bed, the...well, EVERYTHING! When he sleeps, he sleeps; when he's awake, he cries. He's been awake for over an hour but has thankfully drifted back to sleep.
Courtney went to lay down at the Ronald McDonald House here in the hospital around 3:30 after letting me get a few hours myself. We are both exhausted, but it's a good tired...a "Praise the Lord" tired!
Though the huge hurdle of surgery is behind us, we still covet your prayers for a few things:
- Max continues routine chest x-rays to monitor his lungs. As much as his crying breaks our hearts, there's nothing better at the moment to keep his lungs clear. His lungs need to stay that way.
- Max's emotional state. I intellectually understand that his time in ICU will be a distant memory if a memory at all; but, each moment he's awake and frantically trying to process his surroundings, I pray our Father would wipe these brief hours from his mind.
- REST for all of us! Pray that 3 hours of sleep will feel like 6 to our bodies. "For nothing is impossible with God" Luke 1:37
- Please don't forget about John David, Hadley and Caleb back home. Courtney and I miss them terribly!!!
Every post and email continues to be such an encouragement to us. Though we are far from home, we are far from lonely. We have all of you to thank for that.
Courtney went to lay down at the Ronald McDonald House here in the hospital around 3:30 after letting me get a few hours myself. We are both exhausted, but it's a good tired...a "Praise the Lord" tired!
Though the huge hurdle of surgery is behind us, we still covet your prayers for a few things:
- Max continues routine chest x-rays to monitor his lungs. As much as his crying breaks our hearts, there's nothing better at the moment to keep his lungs clear. His lungs need to stay that way.
- Max's emotional state. I intellectually understand that his time in ICU will be a distant memory if a memory at all; but, each moment he's awake and frantically trying to process his surroundings, I pray our Father would wipe these brief hours from his mind.
- REST for all of us! Pray that 3 hours of sleep will feel like 6 to our bodies. "For nothing is impossible with God" Luke 1:37
- Please don't forget about John David, Hadley and Caleb back home. Courtney and I miss them terribly!!!
Every post and email continues to be such an encouragement to us. Though we are far from home, we are far from lonely. We have all of you to thank for that.
THIS PICTURE IS FOR JOHN DAVID, HADLEY AND CALEB. MAX WANTS YOU TO SEE THAT HE IS O.K. I ASKED HIM TO SMILE FOR YOU BUT HE IS VERY SLEEPY. HE LOVES YOU GUYS A LOT AND KEEPS ASKING TO SEE YOU!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
LIONS, TIGERS and MAX, Oh My! (and an orangutan)
Since we had an unexpected "extra" day in Houston due to surgery being postponed, we decided to take Max to the Houston Zoo. It was nice to have a little down time, but I have to be honest...delaying the inevitable has been pretty hard for us. Even so, Max had such a great time today laughing and playing, and the animals were exceptionally active (Thank You Lord!).
To be perfectly transparent, seeing him enjoy himself as much as he did made me want to get on a plane tonight and bring him home. Courtney and I both feel like we are betraying him, because he has no clue why we are really here (I KNOW IT'S AN IRRATIONAL THOUGHT BUT IT'S THERAPY FOR ME TO WRITE IT!). The desire to put myself on the operating table instead of my baby is so strong as I write this sentence. When we release him to the anesthesiologist tomorrow morning, I can only imagine the enormity of that desire!
Once again, Max is teaching me a lesson I'd rather not learn at the moment. Max does not belong to me. God's purpose for Max is much higher than mine! A testimony is being built in this child's life that surpasses anything I could ever create, manipulate or control!!! Does this change how I feel at the moment! NO. Will this simple truth impact my life forever? YES!
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” ISAIAH 55:9
Max and I just finished a great talk before he went to sleep. He can't stop talking about all the animals he saw today. So, enjoy some of Max’s favorite pictures from the zoo…they were hand-picked by him.
To be perfectly transparent, seeing him enjoy himself as much as he did made me want to get on a plane tonight and bring him home. Courtney and I both feel like we are betraying him, because he has no clue why we are really here (I KNOW IT'S AN IRRATIONAL THOUGHT BUT IT'S THERAPY FOR ME TO WRITE IT!). The desire to put myself on the operating table instead of my baby is so strong as I write this sentence. When we release him to the anesthesiologist tomorrow morning, I can only imagine the enormity of that desire!
Once again, Max is teaching me a lesson I'd rather not learn at the moment. Max does not belong to me. God's purpose for Max is much higher than mine! A testimony is being built in this child's life that surpasses anything I could ever create, manipulate or control!!! Does this change how I feel at the moment! NO. Will this simple truth impact my life forever? YES!
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” ISAIAH 55:9
Max and I just finished a great talk before he went to sleep. He can't stop talking about all the animals he saw today. So, enjoy some of Max’s favorite pictures from the zoo…they were hand-picked by him.
Monday, September 24, 2007
"MAX"imum Control
I can not begin to tell you how amazing Max was during all of his pre-op testing today! The extensive blood work was a little tough, but we never saw more than a few crocodile tears and a quivering bottom lip. He's a tough little guy!!!
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Hairplanes and Castles!!!
Hi dear friends! All of your emails and posts have been a tremendous encouragement to Courtney and me. We have gotten every one of them!
We are settled into our hotel room (Best Western Inn and Suites Medical Center in Houston) and awaiting the activities of tomorrow. We report to the pediatric cardiologist clinic at 8:00 am to begin a myriad of tests (EKG, echo-cardiogram, blood work, etc.) that will take most of the morning. We are scheduled to meet with our surgeon, Dr. Fraser, at 1:00 pm to discuss the details of Tuesday and the days to follow. I'll update everyone on the time of surgery once we find out tomorrow.
Max had the best time on the flight to Houston today...he says he loves "Hairplanes"! If I had to guess, he had a much better time than the people sitting around us...he barely stopped talking from take-off to touch-down!!! (actually he was an absolute joy)
The minute we hit the downtown area, he began to get so excited over all the "Castles". Any building over 3 stories tall seems to be a castle in his eyes. He was so thrilled to get in our "castle suite" (hotel room) that he didn't want to leave to get a bite to eat.
By the way...for all our football fans out there, a little heads-up that Peyton Manning and the Colts were playing the Texans at Reliant stadium this afternoon about 1 mile from our "castle" would have helped. A quick 2 mile drive to the local Olive Garden took well over an hour! Thank goodness we were surrounded by "castles" with "hairplanes" around every corner!
For those of you who have been so precious to pray for Max, Courtney, and me in recent days, please remember his brothers and sister. John David (age 10), Hadley (age 8) and Caleb (age 5) have a big week ahead of them back home. Leaving them this morning was really tough for us. We are soooooooooo thankful that Courtney's sister, Erin, will be taking care of them this first week. She has stepped up to the plate in a mighty way to bring a sense of normalcy to their life! She is awesome!!! (love ya e!)
Early this morning, before the rest of my house was awake, I got a text message from a friend I admire so much, Eddie Baker. From his hospital room in Jackson, MS, he encouraged me to "enjoy the affirmations of God today" and reminded me "He is already at work!" Eddie just went through a brain biopsy this past Thursday and is waiting for his oncologists to give him the results of the pathology report. His words resonated a simple truth in my spirit...Eddie has not lost sight of the fact that God's mercies are new every morning; that God is not hindered, distracted, or intimidated by a diagnosis, a surgical procedure, or ANYTHING that we face! The unknown, the unexpected, the unbelievable...in the midst of it all, God is there. "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:8)
Tomorrow we begin a journey with Max that won't be fun. We know the procedure is not new, the process is not unique...many of you have already walked a similar road. Even so, the task at hand is new for us. Max's "hairplanes and castles" attitude is teaching me a huge lesson. At this moment he is sound asleep. He's not worried about tomorrow. As long as we stay by his side, he is content to take each moment as it comes (needles and all)! Max looks to us for comfort, sustenance, and rest.
Your tomorrow may not be fun either. So join me in a Max-like act of faith. Our Father is near...there's no reason to be afraid!
We are settled into our hotel room (Best Western Inn and Suites Medical Center in Houston) and awaiting the activities of tomorrow. We report to the pediatric cardiologist clinic at 8:00 am to begin a myriad of tests (EKG, echo-cardiogram, blood work, etc.) that will take most of the morning. We are scheduled to meet with our surgeon, Dr. Fraser, at 1:00 pm to discuss the details of Tuesday and the days to follow. I'll update everyone on the time of surgery once we find out tomorrow.
Max had the best time on the flight to Houston today...he says he loves "Hairplanes"! If I had to guess, he had a much better time than the people sitting around us...he barely stopped talking from take-off to touch-down!!! (actually he was an absolute joy)
The minute we hit the downtown area, he began to get so excited over all the "Castles". Any building over 3 stories tall seems to be a castle in his eyes. He was so thrilled to get in our "castle suite" (hotel room) that he didn't want to leave to get a bite to eat.
By the way...for all our football fans out there, a little heads-up that Peyton Manning and the Colts were playing the Texans at Reliant stadium this afternoon about 1 mile from our "castle" would have helped. A quick 2 mile drive to the local Olive Garden took well over an hour! Thank goodness we were surrounded by "castles" with "hairplanes" around every corner!
For those of you who have been so precious to pray for Max, Courtney, and me in recent days, please remember his brothers and sister. John David (age 10), Hadley (age 8) and Caleb (age 5) have a big week ahead of them back home. Leaving them this morning was really tough for us. We are soooooooooo thankful that Courtney's sister, Erin, will be taking care of them this first week. She has stepped up to the plate in a mighty way to bring a sense of normalcy to their life! She is awesome!!! (love ya e!)
Early this morning, before the rest of my house was awake, I got a text message from a friend I admire so much, Eddie Baker. From his hospital room in Jackson, MS, he encouraged me to "enjoy the affirmations of God today" and reminded me "He is already at work!" Eddie just went through a brain biopsy this past Thursday and is waiting for his oncologists to give him the results of the pathology report. His words resonated a simple truth in my spirit...Eddie has not lost sight of the fact that God's mercies are new every morning; that God is not hindered, distracted, or intimidated by a diagnosis, a surgical procedure, or ANYTHING that we face! The unknown, the unexpected, the unbelievable...in the midst of it all, God is there. "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:8)
Tomorrow we begin a journey with Max that won't be fun. We know the procedure is not new, the process is not unique...many of you have already walked a similar road. Even so, the task at hand is new for us. Max's "hairplanes and castles" attitude is teaching me a huge lesson. At this moment he is sound asleep. He's not worried about tomorrow. As long as we stay by his side, he is content to take each moment as it comes (needles and all)! Max looks to us for comfort, sustenance, and rest.
Your tomorrow may not be fun either. So join me in a Max-like act of faith. Our Father is near...there's no reason to be afraid!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Max and Band-Aids
I guarantee that the activity on my posts will pick up once we get to Houston on Sunday evening. You guys have been awesome already with your encouragement and blessings. For now, I have to share what may seem like a strange request.Max does not like band-aids.
Big ones, little ones, colored ones, plain ones...he wants them off. I was reminded of this yesterday when he fell and scraped his knee. I then thought about all the IVs, wires, post-surgery dressings, etc. that our little man will be exposed to over the next few weeks. The rational mind says, "We may have a problem." God in me says, "Be still and pray." (I've been hearing that a lot lately!)
So, dear friends, if you've never mentioned band-aids in a prayer before...this would be a great time to start! Max doesn't have to like 'em, just tolerate 'em! GOD IS SO GOOD!
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Please Begin Praying for Max's Surgeon
Please begin praying for Max's surgeon now. His name is Dr. Charles Fraser, Chief of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery. We are so thankful for the way God assigned our case to Dr. Fraser...I'll tell you more about that later.
Pray for Dr. Fraser's work days leading up to the 25th; pray for his family and his daily practice; pray that no unnecessary stress or diversion of focus will take root in his life while Max is under his supervision.
We love you all so much and are grateful for the faithful prayers of our friends!
Friday, September 14, 2007
SURGERY IS ALMOST HERE!!!
Max is scheduled for open-heart surgery on Tuesday, September 25th. We will fly out on the preceeding Sunday, the 23rd to get settled in and begin all the pre-op procedures. Please pray for us this week as we begin to 1) prepare for our journey, and 2) get everything at home organized so Courtney's sister, Erin, won't lose her mind trying to take care of our 3 older children and their busy weekly schedules!
How We Got to This Point
We slowly began researching our options and basically interviewing pediatric cardiologists and surgeons. First was UMC in Jackson, MS. We liked all the doctors and got great recommendations from other patient families, but a snag with our insurance pushed us to keep looking. After being impressed with Ochsner in New Orleans, LA, we were told that the current pediatric cardiovascular surgeon had just been recruited away to another hospital. Sooooo, off we go again.
So often, God denies what seems like OUR best options and leads us to His perfect plan. We finally drove to Houston, TX for a visit at Texas Childrens Hospital http://www.texaschildrenshospital.org/. From the minute we walked in the door, there was no doubt that this was the place where Max would have his surgery.
So often, God denies what seems like OUR best options and leads us to His perfect plan. We finally drove to Houston, TX for a visit at Texas Childrens Hospital http://www.texaschildrenshospital.org/. From the minute we walked in the door, there was no doubt that this was the place where Max would have his surgery.
How the Journey Began
During a routine check-up at 7 months old, Max's pediatrician noticed a very slight heart murmur. He ordered an EKG for Max to make sure there was no serious problem. The EKG showed a hole about the size of a quarter (which is pretty big for a little guy like Max). The "official" term is an ASD (Atrial Septal Defect).What It Is: The septum is a wall that separates the heart's left and right sides. A defect between the heart's two upper chambers (the atria) is called an atrial septal defect (ASD).
When there is a large defect between the atria, a large amount of oxygen-rich blood leaks from the heart's left side back to the right side. Then this blood is pumped back to the lungs, despite already having been refreshed with oxygen. This is inefficient, because already-oxygenated blood displaces blood that needs oxygen. If this defect is not repaired, over time, the body and it's organs wil begin to suffer because they are not getting the necessary out-flow of oxygen.
We were told then that it would need to be repaired. Though, immediate surgery was not necessary, it did need to be done.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
