September 5, 2006 

Dear Friends,

Our Alison turned four-weeks old yesterday.  How joyous and full of thanksgiving we are to our dear Lord!  For the hard work of the doctors, specialists and nurses who have spent so many hours next to our little girl’s bedside, we can only say thank you.  Their collective attention to our daughter, under the Lord’s direction, is truly helping her to grow stronger.

Our little Alison had a remarkable Labor Day holiday.  Her oxygen support was lowered all the way to 58 percent Sunday afternoon (she was at 100 percent Saturday morning).  Her blood oxygen saturation was 90 percent throughout Sunday.  Beginning late Sunday evening, she began to struggle a bit.  During Sunday night, Alison’s oxygen support was raised back to 70 percent, before it was once again lowered to 58 percent.  She then resumed her struggle, and her support was increased back to 85 percent, but has since been lowered to 68 percent.  Alison’s blood oxygen saturation is once again at 96 percent, which will allow the oxygen support to be lowered 2 percentage points every four hours, as long as her oxygen saturation stays above 90 percent.  Before Sunday, our little Alison’s oxygen support had never gone below 80 percent—and only for a brief period.  This is truly a remarkable blessing from our Lord and Savior.  Thank you for your prayers specifically focused on her lungs this weekend.

We saw our Alison gasp to breathe for the first time this weekend, which is a positive sign that her lungs are growing stronger.  In addition, the mucus present in her lungs is beginning to break down and the respiratory therapists are able to suction it from her lungs.  Alison is still dependent on the ventilator, but she is showing the early stages of trying to take over.  The doctors are still focused on removing Alison from her dependence on the nitric oxide.  Sometime this week, they will try to wean her from that last one percent.  Please continue to pray that the Lord will provide healing for Alison’s lungs, the ability to wean her from the nitric oxide, and for increased wisdom for the doctors, therapists and nurses.

Alison’s swelling continues to recede and is lower than we have seen it since her first week of life.  Her medications continue to dwindle, as do her pain killers.  She is gaining strength due to the quality care she is being given at Woman’s Hospital; but most importantly, the love and mercy of her Creator.  He has truly shown us compassion and strength throughout this entire storm.  Please pray that the Lord will continue to help Alison secrete the fluids that are present in her tissues to lessen the swelling.

Our Alison had one of her IV insertion points removed from her right leg during Saturday night.   It was slowly breaking down and kept trying to come loose.  In its’ place, an IV insertion point has been installed in her little forehead.  While this is not the most favorable place for mom and dad, it is really not that bad.  The doctors and nurses both say that it is a good place for an IV due to the number of blood vessels present.

Our Alison had an arterial IV inserted into her left wrist this weekend, but it had to be pulled Monday night as fluid started seeping around it.  The doctors were able to check Alison’s blood gasses for a short while, but are once again limited.  Please pray that the Lord will strengthen the blood gasses present in her little body.

Alison’s neurologist checked her over Friday afternoon and gave us a guarded, but upbeat, prognosis.  She said the majority of her reflexes were correct, except one.  She said that when she tickled Alison’s little feet, she turned them up rather than down as she should.  And she cautioned that until she can perform an MRI on Alison, she cannot inspect the condition of all the tissues that make up her brain.  We are grateful to our Lord that Alison’s brain is showing improvement.  Please continue to pray that the Lord will protect Alison’s little brain from the medications she is on and provide His healing touch to any potential trauma.

Our daughter is growing stronger, and we are so grateful for your prayers on her behalf.  Your prayers for Alison’s caregivers have given them a special love for our little girl.  Your prayers for Stephanie and me have been a constant encouragement.  Our Lord has truly been smiling on your collective petitions for our precious Alison.  We still have a long way to go, but we believe the Lord has miraculously touched our Alison.  His mercy and goodness have been and continue to be a remarkable blessing.  Praise be to our Lord!

Please continue to pray for our daughter.  Alison’s neurologist said that Alison really shouldn’t be alive due to all the trauma her little body has been through.  We still do not know where this journey will end, but we recognize that she is a miracle from Heaven above.  Your prayers have been her lifeline to the Great Physician.  From our family to yours, thank you.  May the Lord richly bless you for your sacrifice on Alison’s behalf.

Blessings to you,

Langston and Stephanie