Update on John's surgery...

Thank you so much for your prayers for John and us.  His surgery went well yesterday – to repair his cleft, the surgeon cut his gums round the upper teeth.  He then stitched three layers – the sinus layer, muscle layer, and then the palate itself.  As you can imagine, he is in great pain.   Therefore he regularly cries/screams , sleeps, or wants to be distracted by a DVD.  Although he hasn’t smiled once, even when a dog visited, we think he feels loved and cared for by us. 

As we predicted, he really hates the arm constraints.  They have caused their own frustration and anger.   

He has “eaten” an Instance Breakfast shake (most of it) as his first meal today.   Taking the appropriate amount of liquids will help to send us home sooner…but due to the pain, John has avoided most of our attempts to get him to drink. 

We have great hope that the worst of the pain is over by today and that his smile will return soon. 

Please pray that he will drink more (this is his only way to get nourishment), for decreased pain, and for the ability to manage the arm splints.   

We are ever so grateful for your prayers and support,

Laurie  and Ron

John's Big sugery...

John with friend Ben

Although many of you know about John’s cleft repair tomorrow, July 27^th, we wanted to send out an official word with details and specific prayer requests.  John is going into surgery at Denver Children’s hospital at 12:30 pm MST on Wed.  His surgeon is Dr. Allen.  He is getting his cleft repaired, tubes in his ears, and an abscessed tooth extracted.  It is estimated that the surgery time will be three hours. 

He will stay 2-3 nights in the hospital before being released to return home.  He will wear arm constraints for at least two weeks, which prevent his elbow from bending so that he can’t put anything into his mouth that would damage the tissue that needs to heal.  He will be fed only liquids during this time by us through a syringe.  

Issues that make the constraints feel almost “cruel” are 1) John, like ALL the cleft palate kids we saw in China often has two fingers in his mouth for comfort – both waking and sleeping.  2) we have taught John to communicate using sign language and he will not be able to “talk” to us with his hands 3) due to his needing to gain weight, feeding only liquids through a syringe means that weight loss is very probable.

In addition, although John’s urology surgery last month was ultimately successful, he did have complications.  These complications caused him to be in great pain for a number of hours.  Since that time, we have seen some forms of regression in John’s behavior.  He shows that he lost trust in us due to the “trauma” of his surgery.  This is very normal of an adopted child but also is sad for us. 

Please pray as God leads you to do regarding the above concerns.  As you can see we need prayer not only for the surgery itself but for the weeks that follow. 

Ps. 46 has meant a great deal to me as I have prepared for John’s surgery.   After studying the Hebrew meanings, I rewrote the Psalm in a way that helped me absorb its meaning. The verses in the Italics are the ones that I re-wrote. 

Vs. 1 True God, you are the person I flee to,

A well-proven help in anguish, distress, affliction. 

Vs. 2 Therefore we will not dread or be terrified through the ground or whole world change,

Though Pikes Peak disappear from our horizon,

Vs. 3 Though the CO sun cease to warm our days

Though the mountains become unstable and shake. 

⁴There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
   the holy habitation of the Most High.
⁵ God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
   God will help her when morning dawns.
⁶ The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
   he utters his voice, the earth melts.

Vs. 7 The existing One who is Lord over all creation is with us;

The covenant God who keeps His promises even when we don’t surrender to Him is our rock affording shelter and security.

⁸ Come, behold the works of the LORD,
   how he has brought desolations on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
   he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.

Vs. 10  Throw down, relax, abandon striving and consider, acknowledge  & understand that I am God.

I will be lifted up for I am eminent in power and glory among even non-Hebrew nations.

I will be lifted up for I am eminent in power and glory among the WHOLE EARTH.

Vs. 11 The one TRUE God over the WHOLE creation is with us;

The covenant God of an unruly patriarch of our faith is our trustworthy and faithful defense.  

We'll keep you posted..,

Laurie