Hello again dear friends & family--
Chris & I would like to extend an invitation to fast for our little baby girl this Sunday, August 20. The medical staff has run out of ways to determine the cause/cure of the increased fluid; however, we know that Heavenly Father knows what is behind it. We feel to ask Him to help her heal.
We embrace the path and the lessons we need to learn from this experience. This paragraph from the Bible Dictionary on Prayer reaffirms our faith in the power of fasting & prayer:
"
Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that
God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.
"
On Thursday, the amniotic fluid level increased in 3 days what it took 7 days last week to accumulate. My uterus size followed the same pattern, increasing in 3 days what it took 7 days to do last week. I think the baby is compensating for the lost fluid on Monday's amniotic reduction. Additionally, the fluid in the baby's lungs and the edema around the head is increasing.
All the tests to determine the cause of the fluid around the lungs came back negative. So--no genetic anomalies, cat "poo" virus, 5th's disease, or cytolomegavirus, and so far no anemia. We're left with "no known cause" as the diagnosis, and thus no viable treatment beyond monitoring.
At this point, the doctors are concerned about permanent damage to the baby's lungs--that if the pressure of fluid continues, the baby's lungs will be so damaged as to make inflation at birth improbable. The team of doctors wish to deliver the baby as early as 32 weeks (this Thursday) or as late as 34 weeks in order to drain the fluid so the lung tissue can develop normally. All believe it would be better to get to 34 weeks but are concerned about waiting even that long if the fluid continues to press in around the organs. So--we need heavenly intervention to get the babe to even 34 weeks.
Thank you for your prayers, fasting, love and support in our behalf. You sustain us and we feel your strength. We love you!
Chris & Desi
