Wiersma Family Blog

WIERSMA FAMILY BLOG
A glimpse into our lives as a family with micro-preemies. Our twins boys (Lovingly referred to as our Miracle Men) were born almost 16 weeks early.

Our journey continues when our son Max was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 3. This is his story....


Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Wrong direction

Today was not a good day.  Max is really not doing well right now.  He has been on 100% oxygen almost all day.  To counteract this, the doctors turned up his vent settings by quite a bit.  His pressure is currently set at 40, which is the highest it has ever been since day 1.  He had been in the high 20s to low 30s, but is just not responding right now.  He had another chest x-ray today which showed some slight improvement in his lungs, but that improvement is not apparent in his respiratory needs.  His blood pressure has been running high as well, so the doctors do not want to try steroid treatments as they tend to increase blood pressure even more.  They are trying something called "lasiks" (I think) which should help him pass additional fluids and hopefully flush out any fluids in his lungs.  They are also running another culture on the stuff they suck out of his ET tube.  His blood work does not suggest that he is fighting an infection, but they want to make sure they are not overlooking anything.  Wes has managed to backtrack on all of his improvements over the last few days, too.  His pressure on the vent was down to 27, but is now up to 32 again because his oxygen needs started to climb.  He is also scheduled to have PDA Ligation surgery on Thursday morning at 7:30.

God...where are You?  It feels like our prayers are falling on deaf ears.  You promised to hear our prayers, You promised never to leave or forsake us...why does it feel like You are gone?  Come quickly Lord, touch Max and Wes, heal their tiny bodies.  It seems like the stage is set for You to perform a miracle that is beyond medicine's ability to explain.  The doctors are confused, we are scared...maybe now is a good time?  We are holding fast, but our grip feels weak.  Send help Lord, tell the raging waters to be still.

21 comments:

  1. Mark and Kate,
    Hold on. We are praying for you, lifting you and your boys up to our all-knowing, always loving God.
    Sue Timmer

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  2. Isaiah 55: 8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
    We cannot begin to understand God's thoughts, but we need to keep trusting Him. I know you guys are trying to do that...I feel so much for you all; I cannot find the words to express. There are so many people lifting you up to the Lord right now - from California to Washington, D.C., from Canada to Texas and beyond...."Oh God, have mercy and hear our prayers...bring healing to these precious boys and let Kate & Mark feel your presence we pray..." You guys have let your light shine--keep on shining for Him!! Love always, Aunt Allie & family

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  3. God has not left you. He hears every prayer. He has never broken His promise, but this path you are walking is dark, and scary. I pray tonight for your strength to keep holding on. Do not lose heart.

    2 Corinthians 4:7-11
    But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. At all times, these mortal bodies of ours face the struggles of life and death just as Jesus did so that everyone can see the life of Jesus revealed in our bodies.

    Sometimes these cracked "jars of clay" are tiny little babies like your boys, or perhaps frightened parents like yourselves... let the light of Jesus shine through.

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  4. We are praying with everything we have for your boys and for the both of you.

    The Whole Armor of God -
    Ephesians 6: 10-18 (New Living Translation is my fav. of this verse)

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  5. Praying for God's strength to come in and take over.

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  6. Dear Mark,Kate,Max & Wes,
    Isaiah 43
    1 But now, this is what the LORD says-
    he who created you,
    he who formed you:
    "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name;
    you are mine.
    2 When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
    and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
    When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
    3 For I am the LORD your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
    I give Egypt for your ransom,
    Cush and Seba in your stead.
    4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
    and because I love you, both
    I will give nations in exchange for you,
    and peoples in exchange for your life.
    5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
    I will bring your children from the east
    and gather you from the west.
    Love & prayers,
    Pam

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  7. On my knees, I am pleading with God as well!

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  8. There is no moment when his eye is off me, or his attention is distracted from me, no moment, therefore, when his care falters. I never go unnoticed. Every moment of life is spent in the sight and company of an omniscient, omnipresent Creator. ~ J. I. Packer

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  9. We are praying for healing, for patience, for understanding, for God's plan to be made clear. We love you all, but not nearly as much as He does!

    MBIKLG

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  10. Oh, Lord God... please be with this family. Be with the boys. Lord, strengthen them, comfort them, and heal them quickly. God, be with mom and dad. Give them peace through this predicament - touch them, help them to feel your presence. Lord, be with the doctors and nurses caring for Max and Wes. Help them to be rested and on their game, God. Let the boys' healing begin. Help them to gain weight and fight off infection. Bless their organs and body systems, their tiny blood vessels and Lord, please heal the valve in their hearts. Lord, please let mom and dad have peace in knowing that you are the Creator. You know of your children Max and Wes, and you know what is next for them. Lord we pray that our desires match your Will for these children. Lord let them be stronger. Let them survive. Let Mark and Kate have the chance to raise them up on this Earth with them for years and years. Help Mark and Kate to be strong in their faith. Help them to nurture each other, Lord.

    Thank you for the blessings that we are continuing to receive. The boys haven't had other major issues and for that we are so thankful. But Lord, we beg of you to heal their hearts and lungs. Clear their lungs Lord and lower their blood pressure.

    We love you, Lord. Thank you.

    Amen.

    *Still praying in SD*

    Rachel and kids

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  11. As I was working around the house this morning, the words of an old hymn by Annie Johnson Flint came to mind:

    God hath not promised skies always blue,
    Flower strewn pathways all our lives through;
    God hath not promised sun without rain,
    Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

    But God hath promised strength for the day,
    Rest for the labor, light for the way,
    Grace for the trials, help from above,
    Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

    God does hear your prayers, He is not forsaking you in this time of trial. Joshua 1:5 says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

    Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted."

    Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."

    Many people are lifting you and yours up before our awesome God. Nothing is impossible with Him.

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  12. Keep battling.....don't give up hope...we love and pray for your family!!!

    Bob

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  13. Sending up prayers constantly. We know God hears, just not sure how He works all of the time. Sending more prayers. Lots of love -Sue

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  14. prayers for you. soliciting more prayer warriors.

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  15. I don't know you but heard of your blog thru Reece Nykamp's blog. We have a little boy that was born last summer at 26 weeks gestation and know how hard this journey you are on is. We are lifting up your beautiful boys and your family in prayer.

    Tina Jacobsen

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  16. Praying for you...your boys...your extended family....asking Him show you He is holding you...In His Grip...

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  17. Mark, Kate, Max, and Wes,

    We are praying the words of Palm 143 for all of you, humbly asking our God to rescue you in this time of brokeness. This great passage illustrates the despair of David with his honest and urgent cry to the Almighty for help.

    "O Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief." (Psalm 143:1)

    Two chapters later, David is singing praises in a joyous celebration of what his Father has done.

    "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them." (Psalm 145:18-19)

    With love and prayer,
    Jason, Mary, and Bella

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  18. When life doesn't make sense and when there are more questions than answers; when it seems like God is not even there... I pray you may know His incredible love for you. I pray you may know the HOPE of Jesus Christ that is an anchor for our souls. We continue to pray continually for God's healing for Max & Wes and for strength for each of you and your extended family. You are all dearly loved! When you can't hold on any longer, remember that God is holding you and He will NEVER let you go! With love and prayers, Brent and Amy

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  19. Mark, Kate, Max and Wes- I am continuing to pray for all of you! I pray that God holds you all so tight in His hands and watches over all of you. Kate, I am thinking of you and your family as you go through the journey with your mom as well! PRAYING PRAYING PRAYING!!!

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