Intercession

Today, a year ago.......

After a much needed nights' sleep, we went in to check on Peter. The cardiologist was there doing rounds and he told us that he was disappointed in Peter's heart function. He was hoping for more improvement. The purpose of Peter being on ECMO was for Peter's heart to rest and recover from the bad "event" the night before. The Dr. also briefly mentioned that without improvement, the next step would be a heart transplant. Again, it was like someone had punched us in the stomach.

We spent the day much like the previous day, between Peter's room and the waiting room. Tom's family were on their way down from Pennsylvania. We had visitors off and on throughout the day. Peter had to be taken back to the OR early in the day for Dr. Watts to place a drain in the left ventricle of Peter's heart because it wasn't draining the blood properly and it had pooled. I can remember feeling numb facing this procedure. I was too tired to even get that worried, which was probably a blessing.

At some point in the day (I can't remember exactly when), Tom and I were in the room with Peter and he was turned on his side. Tom was right beside his face and suddenly blood began leaking out of Peter's mouth and down the side of his face. Tom immediately alerted the nurse and they suctioned out Peter's mouth and nose. (You can see the dried blood on the tape around his mouth in the above pictures.) Tom didn't tell me this then, but this was his lowest point. It was at this point that Tom thought we would not be bringing Peter home. Later in the day, they brought in a gastrointerologist to do an endoscopy to see what was causing the bleeding. It turned out to be something fairly minor - Peter had a small tear in his esophogus. The Dr. said he wanted to watch it because he thought it would probably heal on its own. He said he didn't want to subject Peter to more surgery unless it was necessary. This did heal over time, but it was an overwhelming sight to Tom and to me to see him bleeding like that.

In the evening, the same cardiologist returned to do rounds again. This is the same Dr. that I've mentioned several times that was always so brutally honest, yet he was our favorite. On the night of Peter's surgery, I talked to him in the hallway and he was the only one to predict that Peter may have a rough road because that lung wasn't used to functioning. He later told me that he didn't think Peter would have THAT rough a road as it turned out. This cardiologist is an incredible doctor! Anyway back to Feb. 26th, the Dr. said that we needed time and prayer - basically, a miracle. Oddly enough, those words brought me tremendous strength instead of the discouragement you would think. I knew that when man's knowledge has reached its limit, there was huge opportunity for God to show off His glory with a miracle. I began to feel a conviction from the Holy Spirit to intercede for my son that was almost physical in its strength. We had some visitors and I can remember thinking, "If they don't leave soon, I'm going to have to excuse myself. I've GOT to pray!" Please don't misunderstand, I had been praying throughout this journey, but this conviction was different. It was a specific calling by the Lord Himself. It was time.

The visitors left soon, and Tom and I headed back to our sleep-in room. Tom began getting ready for bed and I grabbed my Bible and told Tom I had to go pray. Tom asked if I wanted him to go with me and I said no. This was business between me and God. I headed to the meditation room, which became a safe refuge for me to go many times during our hospital experience. There, I went before my Lord. I recounted to Him my own miraculous life (another story for another time), the miracles I could recall from His Word, and asked for another. It was worship! So many things I've recounted here were beyond words in a sorrowful sense, this worship time was beyond words in the best way possible. Some things are just between a woman and her Lord.

I went to bed later that night with peace. A miracle was on its way..........

Quick update: I took Peter back to the pediatrician's office yesterday for a weight check. He's gained over a pound since last week. I guess all that bulk food helped! A big relief to me.