Update on little Jonah's surgery

If you dont remember...Jonah is a little boy with the same heart defect as Mason (and he was also blessed with an extra chromosome like Mason) He is just a few days younger than Mason. We have been in contact with Jonah's parents.. We email every couple of days. Its been so nice to have a great couple to lean on as both our boys go through this difficult journey of open heart surgery.....Here is Jonahs update & we ask for your prayers for him & his family

Jonah with big brother Elijah

Today, July 8th Jonah finally met the man who will fix his broken heart face to face; Dr. Peeler. We first met Dr. Peeler in February after Jonah was diagnosed with a heart defect. We thank God the He has placed Dr. Peeler in our path. Hallelujah! We didn't learn anything new today, but with the surgery only five days away it had a little bit more weight to it than it did back in February. So with that said I want to list some possible complications that could arise and ask you to stand with us in prayer and faith that God is going to bring Jonah through this surgery without any of these complications or issues arising:

1. Heart block - This becomes an issue in 3-5% of patients, and due to Jonah's size the percentage increases to around 5-10%. This is basically the electrical system of the heart. This electrical system of the heart is made up of several parts that communicate with one another to tell the heart muscle fibers when to contract. In saying all of this if this were to occur Jonah would need to have a pacemaker put in soon and endure another surgery. This would also mean future surgeries due to battery and cables that would need to be replaced.
2. Mortality Rate - Dr Peeler stated this percentage to be 1-2% for this particular surgery, our pediatric cardiologist said Dr Peeler's rates are probably closer to 0.02%.
3. Leakage of the valve - They didn't really place a percentage with this one, it is kind of on an individual basis. If no leakage is found then their is a great chance (Dr. Peeler's partner Dr. Maxey stated he would almost say a 0% chance) that Jonah won't ever have to have another heart surgery due to this defect. If the valve does leak it could mean an additional surgery in the future, weather it be 5 years down the road or even longer.
4. Infection, bleeding - This is a possible complication for anyone that has surgery.

Jonah's surgery time and date is set: Wednesday July 13th at 7:30 a.m. Jonah's surgery was moved to the first slot as they try to do the youngest one first due to him having to fast from the night before. The surgery will take about 3-4 hours and he will be on by-pass for about an 1 1/2 to 2 hours and the normal hospital stay is 5-7 days after this surgery.

We are fully trusting in the Lord. Jesus Christ is the foundation of our lives. Everything is for Him and about Him and His glory. Jonah was given to us as a gift from God, created in the womb by God Himself (Psalm 139:13). Yesterday I was thinking about what was going through Abraham's head when God asked him to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering. (Genesis 22) The scripture doesn't tell us his 'thoughts' but his immediate actions were: him rising early in the morning, saddling his donkey and then splitting some wood for the offering. On the third day he sees the place God sent him too offer his son and Abraham and Isaac go up the mountain. Now Isaac's wondering what's going on, and asks his father where the lamb for the burnt offering is? Abraham tells him, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." They arrive at the location and Abraham builds the altar, arranges the wood then bounds his son Isaac and lays him on the altar. Isaac has got to be wondering what's going on now? Just as Abraham begins to slay his son with a knife an angel of the Lord appears and tells him not to do it. He has proven (by his actions) that the fear of the Lord (Which is the beginning of wisdom - Proverbs 1:7) is within him as he did not withhold his only son from God.

I am not comparing by any stretch this story to Jonah, but I was thinking how much faith Abraham had in his willingness to do what God asked him in the offering of his son. Isaac was the promised son that was born when Abraham was 100 years old. After waiting all these years for this promised son God now is asking him to sacrifice him...and Abraham was going to do it! In my finite mind I'm trying to wrap my mind around my son Jonah having his chest opened up and his heart repaired. I know that first moment I lay eyes on him after surgery with tubes protruding from his body and all the wires and contraptions everywhere around him I'm going to bawl like a baby. My heart aches knowing what he is going to have to go through. I would trade places with him in a second if I could! Just as Isaac was restored to Abraham we are trusting that God will restore our son Jonah to us.

When God brings Jonah to your mind in the coming days and next week please lift him up in prayer to the God of creation!

In Christ! ~ D