Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Endurance is Leaving Seattle!

Dear praying loved ones,

Mike sent this wonderful update regarding Endurance to our church and I cannot think of anything more to add except my deepest appreciation for the same two doctors Mike already has, Dr. Lewis-Newby and Dr. McQuinn.  God has used them mightily!  Huzzah!

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From Mike, April 26, 2011...

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
Today we are praising our Saviour!
 
On February 2nd they were telling us to remove life support.
That Endurance was not happy.  He didn't want to be
reintubated, they said.  He wasn't comfortable.  He could
die in the intubation process.  Just let him go 'peaceably.'
 
Now we will be flying out of Boeing Airfield on a Med-Jet.
To go to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, OH.
 
Both Dr. Galantowicz in OH and Dr. Burke in Miami are both
willing and able to conduct the needed surgery for Endurance.
 
What a difference.  Instead of having to decide to let him die
or to reintubate, now we had to make the really difficult
decision of which surgeon to send Endurance to!  
 
Both of these gentlemen are top tier.  And their teams are also.
Heather and I are indebted to these two teams for accepting
Endurance, when fourteen others said 'No,' five others haven't
got around to presenting him yet, and one other said he'd do 1/2.
 
Columbus is only a 4 hour flight for Endurance, rather than
six to Miami.  Time in the air while intubated is crucial.  The
team here is saying that if a miracle worker [like Burke] fell
out of the sky and said, "I'll do it!" (which is what Dr. Burke
did!), and Dr. Galantowicz was the other option, they would
still go to Galantowicz simply based on the number of times
he's done this exact surgery.  Babies come to him from
around the world for this surgery.  He created the Stage One
Hybrid that is used around the world today.
 
I might add, we are also indebted to the fine staff here at
Seattle Children's.  If it wasn't for Gordon Cohen and Tom
Jones doing the Hybrid, and the amazing Cardiologists,
both regular and  Interventionalists, the attending Intensivists, 
the jolly good 'fellows,' the nurses and RT's, the nutritionists,
pharmacists and PACT team members, and yes, even the
Ethics Committee members - if not for these blessings from
God, Endurance may not be alive today.  And a special
note of thanks to Dr. Tim McQuinn, who helped me when
everyone else in this building gave up on us.  And to Dr.
Lewis-Newby, who had the dream about Endurance and
came in the next day and started things moving.
 
God is so good!  We still have some bureaucratic red tape to cut through that may take another 3 days to 2 weeks before we
leave, but it's happening, the Lord Willing!  Now, we will be
making all of the various logistical decisions regarding who goes, who stays, if any, how do we get there, do we sell this 9 mpg van and get a cheaper one for the drive, do we keep a house here vacant during a potentially long recovery... ??? We figure if the Lord can take care of the Big stuff, the little things will all work out!
 
Thank you for all your prayers along this way we've come.
 
For Christ and His Kingdom,
 
Mike & Heather Holston, for all the Holstons;
Isaiah, Sarah, Hannah, David, Elijah, Noah, Faith, and Endurance
 
"And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes,
that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young
man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses
and chariots of fire round about Elisha."
II Kings 6:17

5 comments:

  1. What wonderful news! Our prayers are with you! May the Lord cut through that red tape and give you clear direction and wisdom as you make decisions and move towards Ohio!

    The Seargeant Family

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  2. Praise the LORD!
    I will praise the LORD with my whole heart,
    In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.
    The works of the LORD are great,
    Studied by all who have pleasure in them.
    His work is honorable and glorious
    And His righteousness endures forever.

    Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...
    By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice...
    By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance...
    By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac...
    By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days...
    Our God is faithful!!!

    In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.

    It is a beautiful thing to hear of the faith of my brothers and sisters in Christ. :0)

    In all things praise the Lord!!!
    For shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?

    Be of a strong heart and trust in the God who loves you.

    With great rejoicing and continued prayer...may you be blessed

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  3. Praise the Lord. We will continue to lift you up in prayer!
    Love,
    Chardy

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  4. The Lord be praised, things are moving along! And the little man continues to live up to his name!! Praying the wrinkles are all ironed out for you in the coming days :)

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  5. 2 Cor. 4: 7-12 "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you."

    Dear Mike and Heather,
    My wife, Lori and I had the privilege of meeting Sarah yesterday at the Christian Heritage conference. We learned about Endurance. I thought of the verses above. God surely is showing His power over this situation. What a faith-building experience! Sounds like God is directing you so Ohio. Our family will be praying for safe transport and surgery. Our hope in in the Lord.

    Rich Tanaka (for Lori (wife) and children: Amy (19), Jonathan(18), Stefanie (16), Bethany(14), Kristi(12), Aaron(10), Noelle(8),Lily(6) and Jairus(4).

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