Saturday, December 26, 2009

Week 3- Trying to find the faith of Job








Oh God! I come to you in desperation, heart aching, for my son Harrison. I pray that if it be your will that his precious life be spared of the diagnosis in which the doctors are saying. Lord I am crumbling, falling apart, and dying on the inside. I need the strength to carry on, and I need the faith and energy that only you can provide. I praise you for the beautiful child that he his, and I know that he is yours and that you have given him to us to love and raise in your likeness. But God, I want him to grow and be healthy..if it is your will please bless him with this opportunity. Let his little body be a testament of your power..In your name I pray..
Lisa

Week 3 has brought the tidal wave of all decades. The week we were told we would be bringing him home is the same week we learned he may be fighting for his life.

Liver- After feeding for several days, doctors noted that Harrison's stools were not the consistency or color they should be. His lab results showed elevated bilirubin and liver enzymes. A ultrasound of his liver was done and on Christmas Eve we were informed that further testing will be needed to rule out biliary atresia. Biliary atresia is not curable and is a liver disease. It requires a surgery pretty quickly in an infant's life and the surgery only works in about 50-80% of patients. If it is successful, at some point a liver transplant will be needed. 50% of infants who have had this surgery have had a liver transplant by the age of 2. Then you deal with the prognosis of a liver transplant. In Harrison's case, his prognosis with the initial procedure is considered not great due to the fact he has other anomalies such as the heart defect and polysplenia. He will be undergoing a HIDA scan to be followed by liver biopsy and an interoperative procedure to diagnose or rule out Biliary Atresia. He also has what appears to be 2 cysts on the biliary tree. These can be choledochal cysts or something else but choledochal cysts can occur with biliary atresia. In addition, another test has to be performed to look at malrotation of the gut which can also occur in these cases. Please pray that test results will reveal exactly what the doctors need to see.

As for the other areas, it all seems so minor at this point. Nothing has really changed other than he will be at full feeds at noon today. Praise God! Please pray that he will get bigger and stronger.

Prayer- Pray that God's will be done but also pray for a miracle. Pray for strength for Jamie and I as we face the road ahead. Pray for Emily as she tries to understand it all. Pray for wisdom and knowledge of all the doctors involved.

Praise- For love and support of family and friends. It is a reminder that we will make it and get through it.

This is the hardest thing I have ever had to write. My mind is in turmoil, my heart is in pieces, and my stomach is in knots. Christmas has been a blur, and happiness seems a million miles away. Yet I feel selfish to wish for anything better for myself while my child's body struggles to maintain life itself. Love is powerful and I am searching for healing powers of God's love as I give all that is in me to my family and son.

7 comments:

  1. Lisa, I am so torn for you and your family. Harrison is in the fight of his life and may God bless him. There are no words, but only prayers that I can send to you as you go through such a unbelievable ordeal and the pain in your heart I could not imagine. My heart breaks for you. Harrison is so beautiful.

    May God's loving arms craddle him and heal him of all his illnesses.

    Lord, look upon Harrison with eyes of mercy. May your healing hand rest upon him. May your lifegiving powers flow into every cell of his body and into the depths of his soul, cleansing, purifying, restoring him to wholeness and strength for service in your Kingdom. Amen.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tracy and Phyllis WithersDecember 26, 2009 at 9:48 PM

    Lisa,
    We are praying for all of you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lisa, Jamie, and Emily,
    We are praying for your family, for the strength that only God can supply. We are lifting little Harrison up in prayer. In Sunday School today, Emily's class....the other children prayed for her and for Harrison. They will continue to pray for Emily and Harrison each Sunday!
    God bless your family,
    Teresa Neely

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lisa,
    Harrison is so beautiful!!! My heart and prayers go out to you and all your family and especially Harrison. Your faith is amazing.
    Psalm 62: 5-6 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
    Cathy Petersohn

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lisa,
    Harrison is a beautiful baby boy! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you go through the upcoming days of tests and trials. I know that through Christ all things are possible and with that thought in mind I will pray earnestly for healing and the best possible outcome for little Harrison.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lisa~ I'm crying inside for you. You don't know me but a friend or family member is forwarding your story for prayer.Being a mother myself, I prayer for your strength, faith, and patience during this terrible and trying time. Little Harrison will be in so many peoples prayers and I wish him peace, strength, and love. May god be with you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  7. "I can't manage" God says: I will supply all your needs.

    ReplyDelete