RECOVERY REPORT
Update for William Goforth

May 15, 2002

 

 

ANSWERS TO PRAYER! Today is the baby's original due date! William is 40 weeks old today!

Yes, our "little conqueror" is now 3 months old and has faced many battles of life thus far. The Lord has been proven faithful on every front. There have been amazing victories of answers to prayer since the last Prayer Alert, particularly one involving resolution of the unspoken prayer request—most astoundingly so! Although the matter of  possible eye surgery involving retina detachment is still pending, there have been phenomenal developments which we are convinced are in direct answer to prayer! At William's most recent eye exam, the doctor was surprised at the measurable improvement of his left eye which showed no traction on the retina, and commented that this was not what he had expected—"unexpected" answer to prayer! Although the right eye had not improved (as of yet!), its condition had not deteriorated—which means more time to be in hope, expecting answer to prayer. Meanwhile, the medical team is gearing up for possible surgery in Houston. Last week Josh and Noelle were able to make an appeal  for an alternate referral, if  needed, of a qualified specialist in a closer location instead of the proposed specialist in Michigan. It is our hope that the next eye exam on Thursday will show marked "unexpected" improvement so that Baby William will not need eye surgery at all. Which leads us to another type of "unexpected" answer to prayer...

 

RECOVERY REPORT—UP TO THE MOMENT. . .

Because of our absence from the home front, and the unexpected scheduling of surgery last week, we were not able to inform you, our prayer partners, of William's most recent operation for placement of a shunt, which was necessary to divert the accumulating cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Although our ultimate prayer request was for a total healing of the hydrocephalus, Josh and Noelle have found peace in the resolve of the issue of the shunt placement, since it will mean that William is that much closer to being ready for his release from the hospital. He is recovering remarkably well from surgery. Praise and thank the Lord! 

 

In fact, he has not only recovered ground that was briefly lost, but he has made first-time advancements in two key areas of prayer needs. He was on the ventilator and IV's only shortly during recovery. He is presently on only 25% oxygen, (you may recall that we need 21%). So far that's the lowest concentration ever! And he has most recently taken, by bottle, 22 cc's at his last feeding, so far the most ever! (We're nearly half way there, to 40 cc's.) He has continued to gain, praise the Lord, and is now nearly 5-1/2 pounds—5 lbs. 7.4 oz., to be exact!

 

This leads us right up to another prayer-front, and that concerns the issue of reflux (a reverse flow of the stomach contents) which interferes with normal bottle or breastfeeding. If there is not marked maturity and healing of the baby's gastrointestinal system, the doctor has indicated that William may need placement of a permanent gavage tube (G tube) for his feedings. Along with healing for his eyes, this would be the next most serious prayer priority for William. We believe the that the victories ahead are a matter of God's continued sustaining abundant grace.

 

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Today we would ask that you would join us in trusting the Lord God our Healer in His abundant grace for...

a. the Lord to continue to perform a healing in William's eyes, especially the right eye.

b. the doctors to be convinced that there is no need for transporting William to Houston for further eye surgery.

c. a total healing of William's gastrointestinal tract so that there would be no need for a permanent G tube.

d. continued maturity and healing in his respiratory system to eliminate the need for any supplemental oxygen.

e. continued steady recovery for early release from the hospital...more specifically, just received word... 

 

COUNTDOWN TO HOMECOMING!

At this very moment, the hospital staff is preparing Noelle for a 48-hour visit in a post partum room within the hospital for William's first stay with her outside the NICU. The nursing staff will still be close at hand at a moment's call. This will be an opportunity for Noelle and Josh to be more prepared for the baby's long awaited, and it appears, imminent release from the hospital. Please add this to our prayer list—for the Lord's superintending care.

 

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