Trusting Victorious Jesus

Dear Anna’s Prayer Warriors,

I have much light to shed, God is breaking though our trials, wisdom is needed, and we have a hunger for miracles as we wait…

 

Anna is in the middle of another viral illness. Her last illness included a 5 day inpatient stay, and lasted longer than the March Madness Tournament altogether. These trials shape us no doubt; I can see how a fresh wave of dependence on God floods our family during each of her illnesses, which is grace. Anna’s respiratory ills cause large quantities of mucus to squat in her throat and sinus; she cannot manage then out on her own. I have sense of reluctance every time I flip that suction machine on, yet I know there are families like mine in an impoverished country that might not own a hospital grade suction machine.

We are headfirst in medical decisions regarding Anna’s reflux. The continuous feeds for 24 hours (up from 20) have eliminated nearly everything from going into her stomach. We feed Anna only 12 ounces throughout the day by mouth. Lindsey is carefully calculating new strategies to raise Anna’s immune system as a whole with vitamins and supplements. She calculates Anna’s feeding like a nutritionist, it’s impressive. All this has reduced the reflux from 40 times a day to about 10 Praise God.  It’s still about 10 times too many. We feel the Nissen Fundoplication surgery is the way to go. That comes with new possible problems.

We interviewed another night nurse in the hopes of having coverage three nights a week. There is such a shortage of these great workers; it’s almost as if they are the ones interviewing us because so many families need them.

May I be candid? The needs of Anna are across many fronts (medical, insurance, feeding, therapy, mobility, school, sickness). We are daily addressing an issue, Lindsey and I often see things differently, we are tired frequently. I notice myself clutching onto my daughter’s needs as something that I have to take care of, like it’s all up to me. Just last night I was acting like a helicopter parent with our night nurse, I was being all nitpicky about the angle of the bed and Anna’s positioning. So it comes down to surrender and trust. It seems that a callus has grown from all these circumstances that make me think on my wits and planning rather than dependence God.

To phrase it another way:  I see the cares of this life really taking over. I’m making reference to the parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-9 and 13:18-23. The worries for Anna’s wellbeing, the “care of this life” are significant servant ones. However they are literally snuffing out my time in God’s Word. And sure Daddy God gives me grace day after day. But in my heart I feel challenged to place my trust in Christ afresh regarding all things Anna and return to a guarded time in His Word. This might be stretching the parable but I need to be repotted:) 

Please Pray:

-For a return of study in God’s Word regularly (I want to minister God’s Word to people and be a man of prayer). Praise God we still have our nightly devotions as a family.

-For the Holy Spirit to remind me when I need to trust and pray thing off my plate.

-For a supernatural healing of Anna’s GERD eliminating reflux without invasive feedings or surgery.

-For the Rino Virus to be cast out of Anna and Simon, that her oxygen levels stay above 90

-For wisdom in choosing night nurses, when to return to preschool, and the various medical decisions especially about the Nissen Fundoplication.  

-For the letters of medical necessity to be approved by Medicaid so we can start new therapies and get a ramp for our van.

-For the complex schedule department to find dates for the things Anna needs done under general anesthesia.  

**Thank you for praying for Lindsey and I we continue to share our hearts together with increasing ease and joy, the date night was super!! People from our church watched our kids and another couple from church gave us a generous gift card for our dinner. How sweet it was.

Love,

The Currats