All,As you all may have noticed…I’ve been out of the office for a while. The reason being is that my Wife, Lori, has preeclampsia and been hospitalized since Monday, July 28th. I want to give you an update on how things are going and the miracle(s) the Lord has/is performing because of all your prayers on our behalf:
Originally, Lori “got sick” on Monday, July 21st and was hospitalized for 24 hours observation and testing. She was sent home on strict bedrest; only get up to use the bathroom and shower every other day…that’s it.
Lori’s blood pressure was fairly stable from 7/22 to 7/26, but on Sunday 7/27 she started having pains in her diaphragm area (called epigastric pains) and because of the pain and worry, her blood pressure began to rise. We had to hospitalize Lori on Monday 7/28 and the doctors said that she wasn’t leaving the hospital until she delivered our twin girls Abigail Faith and Olivia Grace (Abby and Livvy). Lori was 22 weeks pregnant and the doctors said that our girls would not survive. The doctors expected to deliver Lori within the 24 hours of her admittance. Lori was put on magnesium which is the standard course of action for preeclampsia patients. This is all the doctors could do as the only cure for preeclampsia is to deliver. The doctors settled in to wait for full-blown eclampsia (then delivery) and we continued our prayers. Mothers will die if they go into eclampsia and their baby(ies) is/are not delivered. Once the baby(ies) is/are delivered the Mother gets better. The Lord answered our prayers and nothing happened Monday 7/27.
Tuesday 7/28, Lori had not eaten or drank anything since having a ½ cup of soup Sunday evening at 6:30. (The doctors didn’t want her to ingest anything as they thought they would have to do an emergency c-section.) I asked the nurses for an ice chip (or a few ice chips, but I specifically remember saying, “I’m not asking for all the ice chips she wants…just a few…she hasn’t eaten or drank anything since Sunday evening.”) The nurses said they would have to “see” and that a nurse would be in shortly. The Lord was listening and He answered mightily. Not only did the Lord provide an ice chip, but a nurse brought in 2 cups of ice, a jug of water and three containers of juice! I cannot explain the overwhelming feelings I had at that moment…being able to give my Wife a sip of juice. Glory be to God! Then, minutes later the nurse brought in a full breakfast for Lori, and said the doctors had allowed Lori to be on an unrestricted diet!!! Glory be to God!!! I asked for an ice chip and God delivered a full meal(s). Totally awesome is He!
It was tough going the rest of the week. Lori, and I, had our ups and downs. We had good news and bad news. But through it all we never quit praying and asking the Lord to allow us to watch over His baby girls in Lori’s womb by allowing Lori more time (by keeping the preeclampsia at bay), the girls more time to grow and develop, the doctors’ more wisdom to help Lori and the girls, and ultimately culminating in a successful delivery of two fully-developed, healthy girls (His girls) that we can take home and raise to be wonderful Christian women. Included in these prayers were prayers to get us to Friday 8/1, because that was when Lori would be 23 weeks pregnant and the doctors could then give Lori steroids to assist the development of Abby and Livvy.
Again, glory be to God!!! We made it to Friday 8/1 and Lori was given the steroids. Not only did God get us to 23 weeks and steroids, but He gave the doctors the wisdom to give Lori 48 hours worth of steroids, instead of the normal 24 hours worth of steroids doctors normally give patients. Lori rebounded. Her blood levels started improving; telling us her liver function and kidney function was improving. And, on last Saturday or Sunday, Lori got to move to a room with a window. We were/are all thankful for this as well, as a completely dark room for 6 to 7 days was wearing on us all. Lori is still on 1 gram per hour of magnesium. Since last Saturday, Lori’s blood levels have improved daily. All her blood levels, except one, are normal! Her doctors said this morning that if her blood levels had been at this level last week, she would not have been hospitalized! Glory be to God! She is still getting the steroids, but only once a day; so a quarter of her original dosage (and next Monday they will ½ her dosage again). Glory be to God! The doctors are scratching their heads in amazement and wonder as a woman with preeclampsia at 21-22 weeks is not supposed to still be in the hospital, let alone IMPROVING! Glory be to God! Typically, doctors have to deliver babies too early and the outcome is awful, but Glory be to God! He is Good! He is Great! He is the Most Powerful, the Most Mighty, the Most High, the Most Awesome, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, the Most Loving and the Most Personal!!!
This Friday (8/8) Lori will be 24 weeks pregnant and the doctors say they are very comfortable caring for “24-weekers”. Glory be to God! Lori and I are asking everyone to be PRAYING THE PINK with us as we continue on this journey. We know the Lord hears and answers prayer; as shown already by His goodness, graciousness and mercy. Lori came up with PRAYING THE PINK. Please see the prayer below. We also ask that everyone show their support by wearing pink this Friday. We will be having a “Team Pink Party” at the hospital. We have “Team Pink” visors made. We’ll have pink cupcakes for the doctors and nurses, and we’ll decorate Lori’s room with pink streamers and balloons.
Residents and nurses keep dropping by to say hi and get a look at Lori as she is a living miracle. No one can believe she is still in the hospital, with Abby and Livvy still “cookin”. Our Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist (Dr. Robert Carpenter) is the best in the world, and he is stunned. Lori’s ob/gyn Dr. Manning is stunned. Neither Dr. Carpenter nor Dr. Manning has ever seen a 21-22 week pregnancy with preeclampsia go this long. Dr. Carpenter even called his friend the foremost Preeclampsia Specialist in the country and asked him what he would do moving forward with Lori’s case. The Preeclampsia Specialist told Dr. Carpenter, “I don’t know. I’ve always had to deliver by now. I’ve never had a case go this long.” Glory be to God!!!
Keep praying, and we’ll keep praying. We are not “out of the woods” yet. Even after Abby and Livvy are born, we could have weeks/months in the hospital. But, we know that God is moving mightily, and we trust Him. Please keep PRAYING THE PINK with us. I’ll update you as I can.
Glory be to God!!! HE LOVES YOU!!!
PRAYING THE PINK
Will you please join Lori and Matt in PRAYING THE PINK!
P - Peace and trust for Lori and Matt; and
I - Incubate Abigail and Olivia 6 to 8 more weeks; and
N - Nourish the babies' growth to at least 3 pounds each; and
K - Keep Lori stable and improving, labs, etc.
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