Saturday, January 23, 2010

PAINFUL DAYS

Today's post is hard to write. These last 2 days have been filled with such pain...I can't imagine what it must be like for Melanie and Austan. We will never give up hope because our hope rests solely in Christ, our Lord and Savior and Witt's Creator. We are nearing the end of what the medical profession can do and yet I know that God has no limitations. I will continue to ask God to heal Witt but make no mistake that my faith and hope are in who God is and He is Trustworthy. Yesterday, both genetics and neurology talked with Melanie and Austan. Genetics has no real case studies because trisomy 1 is so rare and even the few cases they have are very different. I won't go into detail about Witt's brain but there are several abnormalities. The neurologist doesn't expect Witt to ever walk or talk and honestly, because of the brain abnormalities expects Witt's life span to be very very short. He would not be a good candidate for a heart transplant. Dr. Morales is out of town but he will be consulted early next week about doing any kind of surgery to the heart. We don't know if this is possible or what is best for Witt. What I do know is that God is Mighty...Mighty to Save. I know that God is Trustworthy and He can do nothing less than what is absolutely the best for Witt...His best for Witt! I know that a true success story is a life that brings God glory and has nothing to do with the number of days you are on this earth. I know that Witt's life is the greatest success story I have ever seen!!
For now Witt remains on the ventilator. He wasn't able to be taken off of it yesterday because his carbon dioxide level increased too much during the pressure trial. Please pray that he can be taken off the vent today. Please pray that Witt's lungs will dry up...they are wetter this morning. Please pray that Melanie and Austan are being "hidden in the secret places of God." And please pray above all else that our lives are success stories, that our lives do nothing today but glorify our Christ!

18 comments:

Jenn said...

Mel, Austan, and Witt! We are all praying for you! You are in our hearts, our prayers, and we truly love each so much. I know God continues to take care of our precious baby. God shines through Witt each time we look at him. Only God knows what is really going on with Witt. We continue to believe, pray, rejoice, and thank God for the blessings Witt continues to bring! Love all you!
Jenn & Joseph

Mom and Dad are traveling to Colorado and are unable to post a note. They love you so much and are praying!

Kay Ostrom said...

This was in my devotional book this week...Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt 11:28
Jesus gives us the ultimate rest, the confidence we need, to escape the frustration and chaos of the world around us. Rest in Him and don't worry about what lies ahead. Jesus Christ has already taken care of tomorrow......may these words bring you comfort today that there is no need to worry about tomorrow. Sending love from all of us - Dennis, Kay, Heather, Josh, Granger and Debra.

Raley Family Blog said...

We love you guys so much and are praying for you. We are trusting God completely for Witt's precious life. God has touched so many through Witt. Praying specifically that he can be taken off the vent today! Praying for peace and comfort! Love you all so much. Witt is such a blessing to so many!

Debbie Mueller said...

My heart aches for all of you, especially Melanie & Austan. I can only imagine the anguish you are going through. I know it's hard to understand the "whys", but the example the two of you, and precious Witt, have been has touched so many lives. Thank you for continuing to share precious Witt with us. Thank you, Karen, for keeping the blog updated. I can feel your pain, as a mother and grandmother, of having to watch your child and grandchild go through so much pain, and not being able to do anything. You have truly been a selfless example in your love and support of Witt, Melanie & Austan. I pray that God will continue to hold all of you in the palm of His hand as He carries you through this difficult time. He IS in control! Love you all!

Anonymous said...

Mel, Austan, Witt, Karen and family I can not imagine the hurt the pain. What I do know is that we serve an ALMIGHT GOD, HE IS THE BEST DOCTOR WE KNOW, HE IS THE HEALER OF ALL MEDICINE...I am here is you need anything, I will be here to listen. I love you guys, I will keep all of you in prayer. Please I am sending you all my love from home today. With GOD all things are possible!!!!!!.

See you Monday,
Maggie

cheryl said...

I assure you that Witt's life is a success story!!! Through all of the ups and downs I have watched in complete amazement as Mel and Austan have given God all Glory and Honor! I am humbled and inspired on a daily basis...I love you all so much I feel like my heart could just explode...if I could do ANYTHING in this world to take away or even lessen the pain, I would do it...so, I PRAY! I pray often...sometimes begging and pleading but always PRAISING because to forget to give God all Praise would be an insult to Witt's life and the impact he has made on so very many of us.
I love you all sooooo much!!!

Nancy G said...

Dear Evans, Mel and Austan,
I have no words, just a steady prayer that God continues to hold you tight, that Witt be granted miraculous healing, and that the light of Christ undergirds you and brings solace to your tender hearts. We don't know what even the next hour will bring, but we can be assured that God is already there to hold us through it. I'm sending all the love I have to you and precious Witt.
--Cadou

Biker Chick said...

I echo other's messages. It truly pains my heart to read todays post. Witt continues to brighten our lives with his laugh and smiles. We will continue to keep you all in our thoughts and prayers.

amy said...

Praying all the time for Witt and your sweet family.

Unknown said...

Dear Family: I know how hard this must be. I want to share a story with you only. My only son was born in 1986. He stay too long inside me and because of lack of oxigen he suffered brain damage. Two days after he was born I got woken up by a nursery nurse and I was instructed to go to the nursery. He was been taken away to a German Hospital and I was told to say my goodbyes since they didn't expected him to live. I came home empty handed from the hospital but my baby did not die. He stay with the Germans for 2 months and later was medevac to Walter Reed in Washintong DC. During all this time he was feed by a nasal tube and he suffered aspiration neumonia many times. It took 3 months before they placed a g tube. He never got a sucking reflex so he never ate by mouth. He was diagnosed as profoundly handicapped with prognosis for survival poor to two years. I was told that he will never walk or talk, will never smile and if he did will be a pure reflex,but God...We live in the hospital for the first 3 years. He came close to dying many times since his breathing was compromissed so many times. He develop seizures and his breathing was so labor that when we took him out in public people will circle us wondering why he was breathing like that and why we didn't take him to the hospital. It was so difficult, but I never question, never felt different, I just wanted my son to live and I didn't care about anything else. He bypass the 3 years they said he was going to live. By the four year his health started to get better. He recognized us , got his favorite music, loved his nurses, hated therapy, loved school and grew so tall and handsome. Everybody around him loved him. His smile, his laugh was so contagious, when he laughed everybody followed. He never walked, or talked, or hug me, We would have loved for him to do all those things but for us we learned to celebrate everything, even his bowel movements! God gave us Jose Emmanuel, just like he was and we loved him. God gave us 13 years with him. One day he went to school, spend all day playing, didn't even have a cold. He got very sick that evening and by the time we made it to the hospital his core temperature raised to 109 degrees. I knew then by baby was gone. He was in life support for 2 days, the doctors try everything. There was no specific cause for his death and an autopsy was ordered. It came back with no answers. I knew the answer. God wanted his little angel back in Heaven. He just went back home to Papa God. To this day there is not 1 day that go by that we don't remember him, not with pain but with thankgiving in our hearts. I think that God and our inmense love for this baby kept him here for so long. He was not supposed to live...13 years, hard years, amazing years. I felt so honored that God chose us, nobody could love this baby more than us.Mel and Austin; you have done exactly what God called you to do what he chose you to be, Witt's mom and dad. Just love him inmensely, wholeheartedly. Whatever happens tomorrow will be God's will and I know he will help you no matter what. I believed in healing, I still do. God gave me this verse in a vision 2 months before I got pregnant. He said "My grace will be sufficient" I didn't understand then, I do today. By His grace we stand, by His Grace we breathe, by His Grace we live! I love your baby, I have followed his life and I thank you for sharing Witt with us. I pray that God's grace, mercy wisdom, strenght,love and everything you need will be granted to you in abundance. Praise Him in your pain, Praise Him when you don't understand, Praise Him no matter what. God is good, He is good always. If you ever need to talk I know that I'm a complete stranger to you, not you to me. Love you and have you before God's throne in prayer. Blessings, Marta.
craftymarta@yahoo.com
cell (254)681-7752
Home (254)526-0436

Unknown said...

Mel, Austin and family so sorry, I meant for the comment to be saved and approved by you. This one was for you only. If you want to deleted it after reading please, do so.Blessings, Marta.

Penny said...

Praying for God's covering during such a time of negative news.... but remember Drs. are wonderful but they don't hold a candle to God's wisdom, grace, or plans in general.

Bless little Witt her is SO sweet!

Anonymous said...

I've followed the blog for quite some time. Your family is so amazingly strong, and faces the endless challenges with such grace and faith. I remain in awe.

I pray daily for Witt, and his parents. As a mother myself, I cannot even imagine the heavy hearts, much less being able to find the strength to smile. Although, Witt is so ADORABLE, he always makes me smile.

God bless to all!
Amy Luffey, Mechanicsville VA

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

you know, I would be so thrilled if I felt like my entire life was even a tiny piece of what Witt's has already been in bringing glory to God. This baby just shines.. and your love, Mel & Austan, Karen, Jim, Cheryl... all of you... is right there on his precious little face, in his eyes, his expression and the way he loves you back. It is such a gift for all of us to share him with you and to see the videos and to know the needs to pray for. What a joy his little life is.

I continue to pray with you. "But God"... He who knows him the best, and loves him the most...

Love you guys.

Cara said...

I don't know Witt or your family, but I feel like I do. I was a friend of Evan's in law school, and I have been reading this blog since I saw it on Annalee's blog. I just want to let you all know that, even though we've never met, I'm keeping Witt and your whole family in my thoughts and prayers.

Celine said...

Each day I check in on Witt and think about him often even though we have never met. I am a mother to a child Witt's age and I am so humbled by Melanie. She inspires me to be a better mother. God bless Witt and his family.
Celine Garcia
(sister of Sara Barrow)

trash talk said...

I want you all to know I believe God continues to write Witt's success story. He has shown the doctors over and over again that He is in control and will be forever. Witt may be a tiny guy, but his testament to love and faith is huge.
Reading the comment by Marta makes me fall to my knees in awe of our Father. Thank you for leaving it for us to see. Her words expressed what I had been trying to say all day. I received one very similar to it during the time Bella was in the NICU. Faith is a wondrous thing to behold and there is nothing He cannot and will not do as long as we let go and let God.
I continue to lift you all up in my prayers.
Debbie

David said...

I'm praying for Witt and your family. It hurts my heart to think of the pain you are going through. Yet I am inspired by your faith. Christ is glorified through your words and actions. God bless little Witt and your family.