Thursday, November 24, 2011

I'm worried...

Thomas continued to have heme (blood) positive stools overnight, and there was thickening of the bowel wall on X-ray. No free air though, which is good. They are calling it NEC today for sure. Hopefully it remains medical NEC and not surgical. It is frustrating because we have an entirely new team of doctors because of the holiday. Yesterday the ICU doc and peds surgeon thought the X-ray looked good, but today's ICU doc said he saw pneumatosis on the film from yesterday. WBC is improved, and crp is basically the same. Still a lot of room for improvement with renal function and urine output.
Yesterday they were talking about closing the chest in the next few days, but today's crew said we weren't close to chest closure. I don't want to rush anything, but I wish we had some consistency with plans, etc.
Today Thomas's condition was described as tenuous....a big change from terrific! Yikes!

Here are today's prayer requests:
NEC- please pray for quick resolution, no progression, and that no surgical intervention is not necessary
- pray that kidney function will improve significantly
- pray that urine output would increase so swelling can improve
- pray he is stable enough for chest closure soon because open chest is portal for infection
- pray for TJ...he feels he is getting a cold. It would be devastating if thomas got any kind of cold or infection..and so TJ needs to get better quickly and keep his cooties to himself!

Happy thanksgiving to everyone! We are so thankful for everyone's support and prayers. We are so thankful for our precious Thomas and how God has kept him safe so far!

Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles.
His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 136:4 NLT)

27 comments:

  1. Well, i don't particularly care for this new team of doctors myself! Just kidding! I am sure they are great, but that it is also frustrating. Praying for a quiet day, resolution of NEC and lots and lots of pee!!! Hope TJ is feeling better soon too!
    love ya'll
    MER

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  2. Wish I could be there to give you a big hug! I've already started lifting up prayers for the new concerns. Love you so much and rejoicing that we serve the Great Physician who can heal little Thomas' kidneys and colon. I will keep praying throughout the day! Love you! Becca

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  3. Praying for little Thomas this morning! I pray the NEC does not progress at all. And let's get those kidneys in action... My nieces are now following Thomas' condition and are adding their prayers today. Good luck! Love, Gayle

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  4. Happy thanksgiving....your family continues to be in my prayers !!!

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  5. God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear (Psalm 46:1, 2 NIV)
    They just shared this verse in our Thanksgiving service, and I felt you needed to hear it right away. Love you and praying, praying, praying for y'all today!
    Becca

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  6. Melissa, my heart goes out to you as a mother. Thomas is part of your soul! Every word about his progress is huge. I know the feeling of insecurity when there's a doctor change; when you have been so happy with the ones you were used to. I hope you will get them back soon. Our friends and family will pray for Thomas at Thanksgiving dinner today. Sending lots of love.
    Karen Gates

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  7. We are praying for you guys and sending positive loving thoughts your way. We check your blog constantly for updates and baby Thomas is always on our minds. He is lucky to have such an amazing family. Take care of yourselves! Chris, Brandi, jack, and Ava

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  8. Happy Thanksgiving. Prayers to your beautiful family. God bless and keep y'all safe.

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  9. Praying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    -mary m

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  10. I wish I could be there with ya'll. rhode island is praying. I love you

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  11. i'm glad his wbc improved, and i know more improvements will follow! Praying!
    Corrie Gee

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  12. How frustrating!?!?! With the care team, i mean. Will be praying for wisdom for all involved in Thomas' care. (James 1) Praying for your requests, consistency, and hope at all times.

    Dear Lord, please protect Thomas' gut and stop any further progression of NEC. Heal this whole family. TJ's cold, Melissa's surgical site, Thomas' heart, kidneys and gut. We love you and know your awesome power. Send your comfort and protection to them today. We praise you for Thomas and his parents in the strength they've shown already! We lift up their doctors, nurses and care team, that they would seek your wisdom. Thank you for their dedication to healing, give them the knowledge they need to heal Thomas. In Jesus name, Amen.

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  13. Praying for you all...for Thomas and that he continues to be the fighter that he has already proven himself to be...for TJ to not get any kind of cold or virus and that he not pass it to anyone else...and for you, Melissa, as you continue to heal from your own surgery and try to keep it together as a Mommy who knows too much...Loving you all! -The Kirbys

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  14. We are sending many prayers for each of you on this Thanksgiving Day.....stay strong and be well....always our best and love...Aunt Mary, Uncle Ken, Wilson and Sarah

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  15. We are praying for you all. God truely knows what he was doing when he makes these wonderful things that are our children. He made them so very resilient!! We pray that God will continue to be with you all especially your wonderful gift Thomas!
    Love and many, many prayers -for The Gongoras

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  16. AMEN to Erica's prayer.

    My thoughts are with you today. Today, my daily devotional, seemed to speak to my heart about Thomas and you, his precious parents. It is titled Courage and Strength. It is written by a mother that gave birth to a little boy many years ago that was thought to be dead by the doctors, until the grandmother noticed he was breathing. That little baby is a lawyer now, specializing in workers' rights. It ends by saying, "God gives us strength when we feel fragile and walks with us through our difficult moments. In many ways, God's mercy is the reason we are all alive."
    Please know we are praying for Thomas and you.

    Cynthia (Cindy) Howard

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  17. I'll be praying throughout the day for y'all, specifically the requests you listed. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be not to have consistency in what the docs are saying. I hope Thomas's regular team is back tomorrow or Saturday! The Williams family hopes you have a restful, quiet Thanksgiving with nothing but good news. Love and prayers!

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  18. Melissa,
    Continuing to pray, can't get Thomas off my mind.
    We are in Atlanta for four days. If can think of anything you need, please let me know.
    Arlene J

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  19. Praying for all of you on this Thanksgiving Day. Thanking God for his wonderous works and asking Him to heal Thomas in Jesus's name. Also praying that Jesus's mother, Our Lady, will watch over her little baby, Thomas. I hope TJ feels better very soon. Terrible time for a cold, just another thing we can not control.

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  20. T.J, our family is praying for Thomas. I have also asked my juice plus group to pray also. Happy thanksgiving, Mick Leonard

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  21. Lifting you guys up multiple times today. I'm thankful for a God who knows every need and every little hair on sweet Thomas's head. --Miranda

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  22. TJ and Melissa, I am praying for both of you and for sweet little Thomas. So thankful that our God loves us more than we can ever imagine and truly is our strength in any struggle that we face. I know that He is carrying you through these difficult times. Love you all very much!
    Amanda

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  23. Praying for you all, especially little man. God has a plan & as hard for it is to accept sometimes it is what is meant for us. My prayers for you all today are the ones you have asked for, and that Gods plan is for Thomas to turn the corner to a quick recovery. Just remember, as a doctor yourself, you know you don't have everything in your control-Our Lord does, so despite what the care team is saying today, someone else may have a totally different opinion tomorrow. Praying that they all will look to the Lord himself for guidance. Your strength amazes so many of us. Thomas is a lucky baby to have you in his corner. (TJ keep your germs to yourself bud) Happy Thanksgiving & we added 20 + people to Thomas' prayer team today at our family dinner.
    Much Love & Prayers~~~The Boone Family

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  24. Thomas, we are praying for little guy! TJ, hope you feel better! Praying, praying, praying! We love you!

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  25. lifting you, tj and baby thomas up in our prayers..the evans family

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  26. Praying praying praying. Praying for some clarification to the inconsistencies as soon as possible, and praying that TJ does not get sick. Praying for continued strength for mommy and daddy. And of course, praying for your specific requests. Thomas is such a rock star! Love that little snugglebug! Have a good, peaceful, and restful night.

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