Good gifts
UPDATE THEY ARE HERE!!!! Yes! We feel instantly better knowing we have three helpers. Although it feels surreal but we are so happy. Also Aria has been doing really well today, making eye contact and moving around and looking at the TV. All good signs and we are hoping that nasty (but helpful) breathing tube can go tomorrow. Or better yet it can stay and she will get organs tonight.
Asher has gone to spend the day and maybe the night with the Arms family and Hamish and I are super grateful. Asher is such a joy and we are so pleased he is part of our family. He is the bright spot in the darkness. Of course he is a two year old boy and full of energy and loudness. Hamish and I can’t really manage so well with that combination so we are pleased for him he is having fun.
Hamish has headed out for the morning for some R&R and Aria and I went down for a CT scan. Actually it was Aria, two nurses and a doctor and me doing what I could. The medical staff were chatting about Christmas and what they got there children. The senior nurse rattled off an impressive list of gifts that she had gotten her only daughter. But she said it was totally worth it to spoil her daughter at Christmas and she was a good girl.
My dear friend Shirley shared this verse with me and today’s conversation brought it all back.
Matthew 7:11 (New International Version)
11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
There are many many people praying hard and petitioning God for Aria’s gift of life. Some are seasoned prayers and for some, praying is new. BUT God hears. And He loves to gives us gifts just as human parents love to support and love their children with gifts of support, words, finance, affection and just ‘stuff’ that kids enjoy.
Aria is doing ok. They are going to reduce her sedation and hope she wakes up so they can remove the breathing tube. Not that she is needing it. She is managing around 30 breaths per min and the machine is set to 16. So if Aria’s breathing was to drop to 10 the machine would pick up the slack. Her blood work is still looking good.
We have an amazing sense of peace. Still lots of tears and struggle but right now I am not shaken but steady in the knowledge that I believe organs will come.
We were pondering the gift of people today. I can’t believe I have people that will walk into Aria’s room and hug me and I can feel free to cry on their shoulder as they hug me tight. People who will provided accommodation, transport, love and support to the family when they come. People who will say ‘you can be honest with us tell us how you are feeling’ People who will pray with us and open the Word with us! These people were strangers a month ago but have opened their heart to us. You know who you are- thank you.
See God is giving us gifts and bringing us thru- please may He see fit to give Aria the biggest gift.
26 Responses to “Good gifts”
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# 2 Jan at 7:31 am
Ah yes! Little boys with their wonderful sense of fun and endless energy! He is a gift but I really get you needing a break. Amazing though how life just goes on for our boys and even though your world is revolving round Aria, his world revolves only around him. I love how precious that is!
You sound stronger in this post – awesome! No one will give up on Aria – we are all here with you in spirit! Hugs to you , wish I could be there to support you xxx
# 2 Jan at 8:02 am
Hello. My heart just aches for you and many prayers and pleading are being said. Anita you do sound stronger. I am so glad family are coming to support. I was awake at 3 am this morning and read your 3 am blog. In part I can relate to things you share as looking after a long term sick person is draining but also uplifting in ways with the. soul searching you do. You are blessed to have the beautiful people of Omaha supporting you. We need the gift of organs now for beautiful Aria so you can all start the new journey of well being. Much love.xxxx
# 2 Jan at 8:18 am
X O X O Shirl
# 2 Jan at 8:25 am
Last night when I read your update I went and swapped the white candles in my room for pink and purple ones and lit them (they remind me so much more of Aria with her fabulous big smile). She is such a strong wee thing to be able to “beat the machine” and still be breathing on her own. I will be praying that as they reduce her sedation you will once again be greeted by that smile. I haven’t slept as Elijah is facing battles of his own so it was lovely to walk him around the room in the candle light and pray…for you…for Elijah…I feel physically tired but emotionally stronger. I will try and read your updates from the hospital. Love from the Lemon family!
# 2 Jan at 8:44 am
Wish I could be there to give you one of those hugs and pray with you. Nevertheless am praying from afar. Am home from holidays now. If you get a break and want a chat give me a call on skype. Love you all.
# 2 Jan at 9:28 am
God is good – Big Hugs from us here
# 2 Jan at 11:02 am
Ah Anita! What a wonderfully uplifting post – although that doesn’t mean your “down” one’s are bad – I find your honesty, and your faith so refreshing and encouraging – keep on keeping on.
# 2 Jan at 11:23 am
I too am praying for you all for strength through this tough time. We’ve never met, but I have followed your journey (also via Samantha) and wish I could do more other than convey my heartfelt best wishes. Just know there are many more people like me praying for you – and there is strength in prayer!
May 2010 be the year for miracles and good health xxx
# 2 Jan at 12:06 pm
Just about out of words here. Much love and many prayers though. So grateful to hear about wonderful uplifting caring people who are helping to carry you through this difficult part of the journey.
# 2 Jan at 12:20 pm
MASSIVE HUGS to you all
Bless the Arms family
# 2 Jan at 1:13 pm
Many prayers from New Jersey. Liverfamilies will keep you in their prayers as well. Prayers for your miracle!
# 2 Jan at 2:08 pm
I have nothing wise to say, just wanted you to know my whole family are thinking of and praying for you daily. We are all holding onto the hope that Aria will receive the gift of organs soon. Love you all heaps and heaps.
Ali xoxo
# 2 Jan at 2:38 pm
My 3-year-old son was looking at this page over my shoulder while sitting on my lap and when he saw Aria’s photo said, “Wow! That girl is so booful!” (beautiful). Awwwwww!
# 2 Jan at 3:21 pm
so pleased to hear that Aria is better today and that your family has arrived to support you as was so worried and upset for you all yesterday. Will be praying for more good news.
# 2 Jan at 4:25 pm
Hamish and Anita. I admire your courage and you’re non wavering faith. and your total commitment to maintain yuor family life in as much resembling normality as you can. There’s so much i want to say but i won’t, I will say this though. I work with patients pre and post heart transplant.. so i do understand the emotional rollercoaster that it is, and i’ve seen the best and worst of it. I’m not sure if this helps but one of my patient’s relatives said to me, we’re all too well aware that the outcome could not be favourable, but she said she always had it in the back of her mind, but would used to try to take at least one positive point from that day.. and use that as the motivation to get through the to the next day because unfortunately it is living hour to hour day to day most of the time. So she’d take things like (using aria’s examples), Elective intubation, breathing on her own above the set resp rate, bloods holding stable (ammonia level less than the day before etc)..
She found this helpful… and their situation was dire, infact the doctors were all set to palliate the patient and had given him a maximum of 24 hours once they stopped the inotropes, before he passed away and would only keep the inotropes going till his family from interstate arrived, and he got his heart, and his transplant literally at the 11th hour, his last child had just arrived on a plane from Qld, and was making her way to the hospital, the docs were making plans to turn off the medication at 5pm that day, and this was like 3.30 in the afternoon and at 445 there was a phone call to say he had a heart…
I’m not trying to put a damper on things for you guys, and not trying to suggest that this is the course that aria will take, but do just want to point out… that at times things come through at the last minute.. and three and half years on he’s going good guns, he comes in and sees us whenever he’s having his check up’s and things.
As always we’ll continue praying for you here, and praying for organs… and transplantation….
# 2 Jan at 4:45 pm
Wonderful – so thrilled that you now have family with you, and that you have been so beautifully embraced by those others around you. I am sure having Nana and Poppa and Aunty there will work wonders for Aria as well. We all continue to think of you all and send our prayers and our love day and night. – You have a world wide pool of people sending you thoughts of strength!
# 2 Jan at 4:56 pm
My prayers are with you and your family, that the perfect organs come for Aria and that God will cradle her now and throughout recovery.
Lucetta, Mum to Angus from liver families.
Connecticut, USA.
# 2 Jan at 5:15 pm
So glad your family have arrived…. enjoy having them there and hoping you get some great rest and time together as a couple. Much love.
# 2 Jan at 7:47 pm
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and trust that God will do what is right and best for Aria. Hopefully those much needed organs will arrive very shortly. We hope that you are comforted in the fact that you are all in our minds, heart and prayers.
Lots of love, hugs and kisses Uncle Graham, Aunty Nat and Steph. XXXOOOXXX
# 2 Jan at 8:45 pm
You are in my thoughts, always. Kia Kaha, you can do this, they will come. God Bless x
# 2 Jan at 8:55 pm
Hooray for the helpers!!!!! So so glad to hear! x
# 3 Jan at 12:51 am
So pleased to hear things are a little better. Love, thoughts & prayers from some Aussie friends (Liverfamilies). It won’t be long now.
# 3 Jan at 1:51 am
My son, Anthony, had his liver transplant at UNMC in Omaha almost six years ago. It’s like being taken back in time seeing the pictures and reading about Dr. Mercer and the rest of the medical team. Dr. Mercer was finishing his fellowship in transplant medicine when we were there!
My prayers are with you all as you wait. I wish there was more I could do; we live in Louisiana (about four states south, and a bit to the east of Nebraska) and are 1600 miles away. It was hard traveling that far for transplant; I can’t imagine being on a whole other continent. Again, prayers and love coming your way.
Tell Amanda I say “Hi!” She is a good friend, always took care of us while we were there.
Laurie, Anthony’s mom
# 3 Jan at 3:33 am
Sending prayers from texas for your beautiful daughter.
# 3 Jan at 11:18 am
Oh yes, boys are full of energy! My nephew Benjamin went from crawling to running, lol. I am so happy that you have made some wonderful friends in Omaha, who can help you out, let you be honest, & listen to you! That is a wonderful gift from God! I wish I could be there in person to help you too, but I live in Michigan. I pray that you will continue to receive comfort & peace! I fervently pray that Aria will get new organs VERY SOON! God Bless you!
# 3 Jan at 9:48 pm
My prayers are with your family – particularly beautiful Aria. I pray that she receives her precious gifts soon.