Isaac Update

Many of you are probably aware of the history of Nate and Janel Stucky children going back into the hospital shortly after birth, but I'll give a brief review. Both Joshua and Jenna went back into the hospital when they were eight days old. Though their initial symptoms were somewhat unique, their length of hospital stay, prevailing symptoms, and ultimate diagnoses were almost identical. Joshua was in the hospital nine total days: 3 in the local Salisbury, MD, hospital; then 6 more days in Pediatric Intensive Care at the University of Maryland medical center in Baltimore. During the last few days of his stay, we stared at a monitor waiting for him to maintain his blood oxygen saturation. He finally improved, never got an official diagnosis, and doctors said he must have just come down with a unique virus.

Jenna was in the hospital a total of eight days: 3 in the local Newton, KS, hospital; then 5 more in Pediatric Intensive Care at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS. During the last few days of her stay, we stared at a monitor waiting for her to maintain her blood oxygen saturation. She finally improved, we never got an offical diagnosis, and doctors said she must have just come down with a unique virus. With Isaac in the hospital now, the virus does not seem so unique...

Long before Isaac was ever conceived, we considered the real possibility that he could end up in the hospital like Joshua and Jenna. Needless to say, we took every precaution before he was born, watched him very closely after he came home, took him for a check-up at four days old, and still ended up in the hospital at five days old. His symptoms (struggle breathing and eating) were identical to Joshua. I think it's safe to say we got him to the hospital at the very beginning of the virus (if, indeed, that's what it is).

And so now we wait again. Up until this afternoon, Isaac had been maintaining his blood oxygen saturation pretty well. They have drawn blood, taken a urine sample, and done a spinal tap to gather spinal fluid. All these fluids will be examined for possible bacterial infection. These same measures were taken for Joshua and Jenna, and all tests came back negative. Late this afternoon, Isaac began struggling to maintain his blood oxygen saturation...and so we can't help but wonder if we're on the same path for the third time.

The good news is, we don't have any reason to believe that Isaac's life is in jeapordy. The bad news is, this journey is difficult. It is exhausting physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We can't believe we're on this journey again, and we long to be a family of five at home. At the same time, we recognize those who spend their entire childoods on pediatric floors. We have every reason to trust a happy ending is on the way. And yet we are weary.

The other bit of exceptionally good news is that we live in a community that literally puts flesh and bones on the love of Christ. In the moments when God seems most uninvolved in our lives, someone calls, shows up, or lends a hand of hope. We are blessed to receive love and life from ths seminary community, from family and friends, and from church family.

For now, we continue to wait. [Phone rings...it's Janel at the hospital.]

...Janel just gave me a substantial update...more than I have time to write. Isaac is on oxygen now. Though that is frustrating, we are at peace that Isaac is getting the supportive care he needs. Janel had a conversation with a wonderful doctor who affirmed the care Isaac is currently receiving.

I think that's all I have time and energy to post right now. Janel's mom will be here any minute (did I write that already?). It will be great to have her here. Again, we covet your prayers. Nate