She is doing quite well though. The doctor said for the first time since birth she's been getting rid of more fluids than she takes in, which is good because it indicates a better performing system overall and its reducing some of the fluids she's been retaining in her tissue. Also, the nurse during our last visit said they have all been pretty much shocked by how well she's doing, considering the condition of her heart. When we saw her last, she was breathing on her own over the respirator for the entire time. We know that she has pretty much had that capability since the 2nd day, but has just been letting the respirator do the work (probably due to the work her body has been doing in other areas). But it was so encouraging to see those cute, quick little breaths moving her chest up & down. Her heart rate as also been steadily lower, indicating that it doesn't have to pump quite as hard to do the work it needs to do. We love these little hopeful victories...
All the cardiologists will be meeting tuesday morning at 7am to discuss her case & brainstorm the possible surgical options. Please pray for any type of noticeable to major improvement in her heart function because the most ideal & successful scenario is that her body improves & becomes viable without surgery. We've been told that the surgical option we are likely to have will be very risky & potentially not great odds of success. But we also know that God has helped so many people throughout time overcome desperate odds and are prepared for Him to help us as well.
Thank you again for your visits, thoughts, prayers, emails & blog comments while we've been staying at the hospital. You don't know how much they've helped.
-Erik & Christa
39 comments:
Erik and Christa, We are praying for you! We know that God is your strength. When we go to church tonight, we will all be praying for you and your family.
Love you,
Don and Deanna Harrison
Our prayers continue for you guys. Russ shared your video and update with the church this morning (for those who maybe hadn't read the blog or heard yet)... and we had a half hour of prayer time as a huge body of believers. We prayed for God to work a miracle in her and I can't even tell you how many people were pouring their all - tears streaming down their faces - praying for you guys and your sweet baby girl. We are so thankful to be able to go before our amazing God, knowing He hears these prayers. Ken prayed specifically that Ella would miraculously recover, that her heart would strengthen and reach a point of sustaining her body... that her life would point to Him, and be a beautiful testament. With much love and prayers for you... ~The Boggs fam we love you guys!!!
P.S. Has someone started a meal sign up for you yet? We'd love to bring you guys dinner - or breakfast casserole - or whatever meal of the day you are in need! :)
We just got home from a weekend away and saw the news about Ella.
We are praying. Love you guys.
Holding you up to the Father as you go home...and praying for the day she'll be able to come home with you. Rejoicing with you for every sweet, miracle filled day...May He continue to fill you with grace upon grace.
Hello friends. I have been thinking of you all so much. Your entire family is so special to me and my heart is heavy knowing all the pain and worry you are all going through. It is amazing the strength we have in us that we never thought was there. I know what you must feel with having to leave Ella at the hospital. I can't help but think back to the month Peyton spent in the hospital and how weird it felt to not be able to take her home and begin our lives with her. Ella is a beautiful little angel and I have faith in the strength of our love and prayers. Thank you for blogging and sharing all of this. I want so much to be by your side... to help however I can. Sending all my love and prayers to you every second. Love, Steph, Peyton and Ricky
I don't even know you guys, but I live in Spokane as well. A friend had shared this on her facebook and I asked her and she said she didn't know you either. But seeing the YL staff shirt on in one of the pictures I'm assuming we are all connected through Young Life and of course through the body of Christ. I was moved to tears over your story and have and will continue to pray on my knees for you all. I have a four year old boy and one year old boy, Riley and Raegan. I just couldn't imagine let alone bear anything happening to my babies and I am heart broken for you. I just have to trust and know that God sees not just a bigger picture, but the entire picture, from the beginning of time and for all eternity. And that very creator holds your precious little one in His hands and I trust that he will take care of her. If there is anything I can do to help, I would be more than glad. Stay strong for the Lord, He is so trustworthy. God Bless you sweet family.
Sincerely,
Amy (amy_pruchnic@hotmail.com
Just did the same thing recently. Having to leave the hospital and your baby behind in the NICU is so hard. I will pray for strength and comfort. When we left our son Silas in the NICU and "went home" we felt an amazing amount of comfort from his nurses. May you be filled with the same peace knowing your sweet baby girl is in gentle loving capable hands.
The Hennessy family is praying for you guys (Brandi from MOPs table). Ella will remain in our prayers. I am so happy for the small miracles you're having so far, and pray that they will continue. God has a plan for that precious little girl.
Erik & Christa,
We are praying without ceasing! We are lifting your sweet little girl and your whole family! We will be praying for tuesday morning! The Lord is so amazing, I know (from personal family experinces) that the Lord can truly do anything! We have been so happy to see all the Miracles God has been doing in her precious little life:) The Lord truly has a plan! Stay strong and know that the Lord is with your little darling even when you can't be. As a Mommy I can't imagine what you are going through, but as a sister and a aunt I can, You are being lifted up in my prayers christa, from one Mama to another. You are a amazing blessed Mama. May the Lord fill you with his love, his peace, trust, and faith! I have posted you button on my blog!
Sweet Blessing from the Lord to you,
Abraham & Britni
The Wood Family
Thank you for this blog, these updates and your willingness to open up your story so you can be supported in prayer. I know you are leaving a piece of your heart in the NICU as you transition home, she knows your love and is never without the Lover of her soul. Praying for your beautiful family and rejoicing over each victorious day.
Celebrating the little victories...having a thankful heart in the midst of difficulty...pretty miraculous and Godlike. Really appreciate you sharing your hearts and your little girl with all of us and allowing us to join you in praying for Ella and loving her in that way.God be with you, love and prayers, Robi
You don't know us, but our daughter Chelle told us about your little Ella. Just want you to know that our church body prayed for you all today and I have just sent around the link to your blog. God is a BIG God and many of his people are upholding you in prayer!
We can identify... our son had life-threatening cancer at age 3, and we literally felt the prayers of many, all across the country!
She is so beautiful, Christa and Erik. We continue to pray for healing for her and strength for both of you.
Love,
Tommy and Cheryl Dobson
The thought of Ella breathing on her own and you watching her little chest rise and fall is such an incredible blessing! We are praying for you both as you head home to be with the rest of your family. Ella has touched our lives and we continue to pray for her and your family!
HELLO CHRISTA AND ERIK,
WE ARE FOLLOWING THE UPDATES ABOUT ELLA AND OUR HEARTS ARE WITH YOU. SHE IS A MIRACLE BABY AND AS EVERY MIRACLE SHE WILL OVERCOME EVERY OBSTACLE AND SOON WILL BE HOME WITH YOU TO MAKE YOUR LIVES THE MOST SPECIAL ONES. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
LOVE,
MÁRCIA AND PAUL RAYMOND
Great is our God and His love and mercy for us. Thank you for sharing thess precious moments with us and the WHOLE Lee family is praying for Ella and the family.
Yoon Yi, Jay, Davis, and Taylor
Lifting you and your sweet Ella up to the Lord! Praying for more little victories, and God's supernatural healing and protection over Ella!
I've been praying for you all day, Christa.
Love you so much,
Jenny
Christa---
I havent been online much and did not know this was going on. I went through your blog and am amazed at the strenth all of you are showing. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers for sure.
Jennifer "Baechler" Walker
Hi Christa,
This is Steph's friend Jami. Steph forwarded your blog to me and I just want you to know that you, your family and particularly baby Ella are in my prayers. I am also giving you a link to a friends blog that I hope you will find encouraging. Their son Luke was born with only one ventrical in his heart. He has already endured several open heart surgeries at his young age. Otherwise he is a happy healthy little guy. Continue to trust in the lord and lean on him for strength.
God Bless
Www.smithfamilyjourney.blogspot.com
right under his pic on the left is all of the background for first time visitors.
Our paths haven't crossed at New Community, but Russ shared about your precious baby girl today at church. We are praying for a miracle!! That God would heal her heart and surround your family with blessing. We will continue to pray!
The Fain Family
We are praying for strength, peace, hope, and a miraculous healing. Your family has been on our hearts since hearing about Ella & we just want you to know that many people are praying for your sweet little one. She is such a precious, beautiful little girl.
All our love!
Dear baby Ella,
You are such a beautiful baby girl and so very strong! We are praying for you and your family! You keep being strong so you can go home and see your big brothers and cuddle with your mommy and daddy! They love you so very much! We believe in miracles!
Love Jess and Riley Neil
i can only imagine the miriad of emotions you must be feeling, as you leave the building. anxious to hug those sweet boys, and the loss of having the immediate contact with your sweet baby girl. i will be praying tonight, and forward for God's peace to surprise you! that you may sense His presence with ella in those moments when you feel distant. may you "see" your baby snuggled in the arms of her maker, and imagine her completely at peace.
i'll be praying for the docs and nurses, too, ..
and for you and eric, .. and the rest of the clan, too.
rest, .. encouragement, ... strength, ... & hope.
love you.
I'm thinking of you all so much and praying constantly for baby Ella to continue improving. I love you all and miss you so much. Just goes to show that people all around the world are praying for your family!! Stay positive and keep leaning on God during this time. As we've already seen with Ella so far, God is capable of some incredible miracles! We're all praying for more of those. :) I'm also sending one million hugs to Erik, Christa, Elijah and Ayden.
I am praying too! Thanks for sharing Ella's story.
God Bless, Angie (FBC MOPS mom)
Erik and Christa -
Ella's grandpa left a comment on our blog yesterday and I am so thankful he did! I would love to join with many others in prayer for sweet Ella's heart. Our son, Luke, was born missing his right ventricle and has had two open heart surgeries at Seattle Children's (we live in Puyallup). He is now almost 4 and doing fantastic. Were you all transferred over to Children's or are you still in Spokane? My husband is from Spokane and my parents-in-law live in Deer Park. We will be praying especially for tomorrow's meeting among the docs, that God would provide His wisdom and discernment in how to treat Ella. We knew about Luke's heart defect before he was born, but still felt very obviously overwhelmed in those first days, so know exactly how you must be feeling. We are praying also for God's peace as you transition from home to hospital. Please know you can contact me at any time! Our blog address is http://smithfamilyjourney.blogspot.com and my email address is jessesmith23@hotmail.com
Jesse
"But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me." Psalm 66:19&20
You and Ella are in our prayers! I am asking the nuns at our church to pray as well. They are miracle workers. When I was pregnant with our daughter, Elizabeth (Ella for short), my husband was injured in Iraq. He was very critical and almost died from pneumonia and was in a coma for almost 2 months. But the sisters prayed for my husband and he woke up from the coma a month before my daughter was due and was able to be with me during her birth. He has made amazing recovery. I hope they can work a miracle for your family as well. ~Laura Carver from MOPS
I've been praying for you and little Ella. I love you and am thinking of you and your transition home. She is such a sweet beautiful little girl.
i am a friend of amy hook's. just wanted to let you know that our family is praying for your sweet ella and your whole family.
love
carly
Oh tears as I read this. I am still praying. She is so beautiful with her pretty name banner.
Hi Erik & Christa,
I am friends with your aunt Kathy, and a member of Wes's congregation. We are continuing to hold your family and Ella Louise in prayer.
As you have shared your story, I feel compelled to pass along some information about some 'uncommon' treatment. I work in the office of Doctor Farrand Robson, in Tacoma. He is a dentist who treats the ease of breathing and swallowing using oral appliances. Recently, we have been seeing a lot of connections between the work we do and changes in the heart.
You can find more information at www.oralsystembiology.com.
For more specific information related to some of the "heart connections", you can go to "The Power Hour" archives for November 12th, hour 2 and the beggining of hour 3.
http://www.gcnlive.com/programs/powerHour/archives.php
On this recording you will hear a live interview of Doctor Farrand Robson and two people that have received this treatment.
Peace to you and Ella Loiuse.
Alison
Hi Erik and Christa--
Jeff and I dedicated our little ones--Josh and Grace--at church on Sunday and we're praying that in a couple months we'll be watching Ella being dedicated! Praying for your miracle girl. All our love--Jeff and Ellie Lochhead
Erik and Christa-
Don't know if you remember meeting us but we are friends with Heidi and Kyle and many others people from Whitworth. This past March our little son Brendan was born with some complications and was flown from Pullman up to the NICU in Spokane where he spent some time. Your blog was posted on several of our friends blogs so I got on and have been reading your BLOG. I know that many others are praying and thinking about you guys but I wanted to write and tell you that we are too. The emotions are very fresh for us about having to watch your little one fight so hard. It is so difficult. I know you know that God is great and he is already showing you his power and grace and giving you many blessings through all this. Take comfort in him. We are praying and thinking about the Dordal family. And will defiantly be praying for answers as the doctors meet tomorrow! Many blessings!! Josh, Jamie and little Brendan
Tell the nurses at the NICU (especially Kippie if you have her) hello from us.
The video of Ella is touching, thanks for posting it. I cried and cried for you guys as I lifted you to the Father. He reminded me of Isaiah 46:4, "I have made you and I will carry you, I will sustain you and I will rescue you."
Love to you all!
Regan and Anthony
I second all the comments about the care Ella will receive in the NICU. Our son stayed there for a bit after delivery, and we were so encouraged and supported by the nurses. (We were actually in room 2010 too.) May the Lord sustain you between each visit. Hope you get some rest. We won't stop praying...
The Stoops Family
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