Unscripted

Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21

This verse is the first one that comes to mind when we think of the life-changing events that have taken place over the past 10 days.

We had scheduled a C-section for Erin on the 27th; the LORD had an emergency surgery planned for us late on the 25th and into the early morning of the 26th. We had in mind a normal recovery for both baby and mommy; the LORD had in mind some infections for mommy and a 2-day stay in the ICU for our newborn son, Asher. But as I write this, both Erin and Asher are at home and resting very well, and that my friends is nothing short of miraculous.

Our son, Asher, has some serious birth defects that came as a complete surprise to all of us. We had no indication of anything abnormal prior to delivery. Regardless, here is the list of things that have been diagnosed up to this point: a congenital heart defect known as Tetraology of Fallot (TOF), an absent left thumb, and hypospadius.

First of all, the TOF will require Asher to have open heart surgery somewhere between the ages of 3-5 months. It is a rare condition caused by the combination of four heart defects that are present at birth. These defects, which affect the structure of the heart, cause oxygen-poor blood to flow out of the heart and into the rest of the body. Basically, there is a “detour” in his heart that prevents some blood from picking up oxygen in the lungs before it gets pumped back out into the body. Right now, however, only 2% of his blood is taking this “detour” which means his body has an Oxygen Saturation of 98%! So praise God that Asher is healthy enough to leave the hospital and be at home with us!

…but it will get worse. That number (the O2 saturation) will gradually fall as his heart grows and the defects become more pronounced. At some point, Asher’s O2 saturation will go low enough to reach a milestone percentage, and that will trigger the surgery. In the meantime, we have to check in with his Cardiologist each week to continue to monitor his heart and overall condition.

Secondly, Asher is missing a thumb on his left hand. The plan of action here begins with a visit to the Orthopedic Surgeon at UNC hospital in mid-October. They will assess nerve and structural development and make a plan from there. Asher will need something there to be able to grasp with, but at this time we don’t know what that will look like.

Thirdly, his little “manhood” needs some attention. :-)   

*Warning, medical terminology for sex organs included*

“Hypospadias is a condition in which the opening of the urethra is on the underside of the penis, instead of at the tip. The urethra is the tube through which urine drains from your bladder and exits your body. Hypospadias is common and doesn't cause difficulty in caring for your infant. In fact, surgery usually restores the normal appearance of your child's penis.”  (courtesy of the Mayo Clinic website)

This will be Asher’s first surgery and it will take place on October 12th.

We were initially rocked by the news, but now we have now had several consultations from various specialists here in the area (thank God we are in the Triangle with AMAZING medical universities close by such as Duke and UNC!). We are so much more educated about all of this now! Asher has a 98% chance to immerge from his heart surgery to live a normal life. He will be unable to play contact sports and will always be at-risk for other heart disease, but that is such a small price to pay for a chance to live life along side of him and to see the plans that God has laid out for him.

I don’t want to come across trite in any way - any surgery on any infant is a HUGE deal. Therefore, we welcome your prayers for our family over the next few weeks. You can check here on our blog from time-to-time to get updates, to see pictures, and to learn how you can pray specifically for us as we set off on yet another adventure.

This adventure is one that continues to be unscripted.

 

*This post is far removed from those first few days of raw & unedited emotion: fear, anger, even doubt. But never despair. Why? Because our hope is firmly rooted in the unchanging and unending love of Christ. We welcome any questions you may have about our faith in Christ and how that plays out in our everyday lives.*