“I don’t know what happened?  Yesterday we were concerned that Jesher had taken a turn for the worst and this morning we walk in and he looks better than he has ever looked.”  Jesher’s doctor is a very animated, amiable guy.  He speaks with his hands and forms his sentences with great care.  He gives you the impression that he is an adventure junky; however, his 20 year’s of NICU service have tempered his risk-taking optimism.  Jesher’s doctor understands how volatile the road for preemies can be.  He is gentle, but he gives you the truth: Babies of Jesher’s age “usually bring three pieces of good news and four pieces of bad news a day.”  But he is quite dumbfounded this morning: “We can’t figure out what made him so sick yesterday, and we don’t know what made him turn around over night!”  The doctor’s large eyes continue to stare at Jesher’s chart with utter shock and awe radiating from his studious gaze.

For those of you who have had to support a child in NICU, you know the key rule in this fight is not to go too high with the highs or too low with the lows.  This was the cardinal rule that Lhorraine and I were given in our first briefing with the doctors.  So please note, I am not disregarding this wise counsel.  This NICU journey is a long-distance gallop, and we understand that there will be ebbs and flows, mountains and valleys, peaks and ravines.  But sometimes you just need to see evidence of God’s hand at work.  Sometimes you need a good report.  Sometimes you know that you “would have fainted unless [you] saw the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”  This morning was that type of morning for Lhorraine and I.  Medically, it cannot be explained, but Spiritually, we know the Lord visited our son throughout the night.  Whether by angel or by Spirit (or both), Jesher was revived last night, and he is showing his most positive signs to date. 

Here is Jesher’s current medical report:

BRAIN–Jesher’s most recent scan shows that there is no further bleeding on the brain.  He is still managing a grade two bleed on the left side and a grade four bleed on the right side, but the doctors were concerned that his low platelet levels hinted at increased bleeding on the brain.  Now we need the bleeding to subside so that his Brain can begin to heal and rejuvenate any injured areas.  PLEASE PRAY THAT HIS BLEEDING NOT ONLY STOPS BUT ALSO SUBSIDES.

BILIRUBIN–Jesher’s bilirubin levels are still high, but they are trending downward.  Bilirubin is a orange-yellow pigment formed in the liver as a natural bi-product of the liver’s cleaning function.  Once the bilirubin is broken-down, it is supposed to be released through the bile duct and stored in the gallbladder.  Jesher’s body is not excreting or storing his bilirubin at the proper rate, and high levels of bilirubin (in the blood) can cause long-term damage to the brain.  PLEASE PRAY THAT THE BILIRUBIN LEVELS IN HIS BLOOD WOULD NORMALIZE!

BLOOD–Jesher’s blood platelets are still low, so they are continuing to give him red blood cells (which are pivotal in the fight to keep his oxygen and carbon levels at a healthy balance).  Jesher only has around 50 milliliters of blood in his entire body (due to his small size), so having platelets (which cause the necessary clotting when there is a bleed) is important for Jesher’s survival.  We also found out that Jesher’s white blood cell count is at its best level yet!  PLEASE PRAY FOR HIS RED BLOOD CELL COUNT TO INCREASE AND FOR HIS BLOOD PLATELET NUMBERS TO INCREASE.

INFECTION–The doctor’s have not found any infections!   Although Jesher was showing signs of infection on yesterday, all of his cultures came back negative.  They are keeping him on antibiotics for precautionary purposes; however, they have not identified any bacterial infection within Jesher.  PLEASE PRAY THAT NO DISEASE, DISORDER, or DEFICIT WOULD BE ALLOWED TO TORMENT JESHER–WE ARE ASKING GOD TO SEND JESHER HOME WITH 100% OF HIS HEALTH.

As I have contemplated the good news, I have been convicted that the participation and investment of so many is leading to breakthroughs for our son.  It is awakening within me a desire to discover just how powerful Jesus’ movement is. And thus far, I have seen how powerful one night of fervent prayer can be.  I am now seeing how the exponential and cooperative efforts of the sons and daughters of Yahweh can lead to major breakthroughs in the affairs of Earth.  And we are praying that our little Jesher will emerge as a testimony to this very fact.

“For [Yahweh] will light my lamp; the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.  For by [Yahweh] I can run against a troop; by my God I can leap over a wall.  [Yahweh’s] way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.”  Psalms 18:28-30