God's Bountiful Plunder

 

Dear Prayer Warriors.

 

Thanks to the worship time at church, the chorus of that Michael W. Smith song is in my head “This is how I fight my battles x3/ it may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You.” What a jam. The Lord has redeemed my writing for Himself, what was once used for mocking God for selfish gain He has redeemed. If I’m walking in the light, depending on prayer, why hide anything? Honesty in trials keeps my heart soft and teachable as His love ministers and the circumstance unfolds. The prayer warriors become Jesus’ tangible surrounding of us, while He Himself is navigating from inside me. This is how I fight my battles!   

 

This surgery was a battle, thanks for surrounding us. Let’s take time to reflect on the bountiful plunder of His victory. The battle started about 3 years ago when our Physiatrist (rehab/cp doc) noticed that Anna’s femur bone wasn’t at a good angle and was about ten degrees dislodged out of the ball and socket joint. she referred us discretely to the orthopedic surgeon. She had seen enough cases that she could have given us a full-blown picture of the ordeal far off on the horizon, but she didn’t and that was a mercy to us. Praise the Lord. This is when I first asked for prayer for this far off battle.

 

The orthopedic surgeon said “let’s meet every 6 months to reevaluate Anna’s hips” because he noticed that her spasticity was intermittent enough to perhaps prevent the femur from dislodging further. He introduced me to the surgery in that meeting. Instead of fearing, God gave me courage there to believe Him for a miracle, praise God. We prayed, hoping for the most immediate miracle because He is able. 

 

After skipping two meetings due to the coronavirus I met again with the surgeon and he showed me the blunt unraveling of Anna’s hip socket. I said “my heart dropped” at the contrasting X-rays 16 months apart. He kindly said “mine did too when I saw.” I wept and apologized to Anna as he showed us what was needed if repairing her hip was the way to go. Soon after we got other medical opinions confirming this plan to walk through this valley. The promise of Jesus being my Good Shepherd helped me trust Him with these developments. In faith, we prayed then for a merciful, supernatural reversal of the bone’s positioning. 

 

Then came the emotional days of tension between knowing that God is able to heal immediately and believing that; while scheduling a surgery date and requesting a medical leave at work. We took Anna to pastors and elders of the church to anoint her with oil and pray for her healing at this time. I know there were many answers to prayer as God quickly comforted me with the memory of walking with Him through Anna’s shunt surgery when she was 6 weeks old. God used medicine and surgery as a provision of faith, not a destruction of it. This was the merciful miracle Anna was to receive for her hip dislocation.  In my own prayers I was hoping more for the type of miracle that would have landed us on the evening news, but our trust in God meant that whatever He chooses is good with us.   

 

The next stage we prayed for further confirmation through our circumstances. Did God want us to walk through the OR doors, or was He putting closed door after closed door in front of us? We felt loved by our Heavenly Father because after that email, the body of Christ, His children came to our help in meeting practical needs and in spiritual encouragement. We got everything ready both at home and at work. Glory to God for such an orderly unfolding that could only give us peace as we approached surgery. 

 

Then, at the appointed time, Simon and Renee went to our friend’s house and the day of battle came. I didn’t feel in the best of places leading up, I couldn’t help but get worked up, earing restless sleep, and repeating complaints about the circumstances in my mind. A bit shaky in the knees we went. We sang songs on the way to the hospital, we got those 4am texts from those who were thinking overtime about Anna.  I always dress up for these days because I want to give the impression that God holds us together, that we are trusting in His unfolding. God cared for us during that time when Anna was “under” by bringing people to pray with us, quiet places to read the Word and think upon Him. I started reading the second half of Isaiah that day and have been continuing with Anna since, what a comfort!

 

Let us remember the goodness of God through answered prayer: A perfect surgery, not needing a blood transfusion, respiratory healing post-surgery, strengthening, pain management, rest, songs of comfort, health before and after, meals, caretaking for our younger two, time off work, and many more I’m forgetting.

 

Let us remember God’s grace for things we received that we didn’t know we needed. Like friends in the hospital cafeteria that I haven’t seen in years, formula given to us when we needed it, a hotel room across the street, kind and loving staff caring for us, eye to eye time with my bride to share our hearts and plans, gift cards, gift baskets, gift stuffies, flowers, encouraging replies and faithful people praying.

 

I hope you know that you share in this plunder! Anna’s life is marked by people going to God in prayer for her regularly, she is bringing people to the Lord through her needs. Thanks for being one of them!!!

 

Our trip this past Friday for the 3-week checkup showed us that the X-ray, and Anna’s scars were all excellent and begun healing. Our doctor kept on saying how great everything looked. Praise the Lord. Seeing Anna’s legs outside of the braces reminded me a bit of Bambi like when he tried to stand on the ice, knobby at the knee, thin and wobbly. May God be Anna’s strength as she continues to recover. Anna needs to keep the wedge in for at least another 3 weeks. But with the stitches out, our sweet daughter enjoyed her first bath in a long while. Indeed, a celebration. 

 

Praying is a factor that holds infinite possibilities, and overrides human possibilities by the hand of the Almighty. In my desire for happiness, I asked for a supernatural immediate healing; in my desire for His holiness, I received this testimony. blessed be the Lord.

 

May I take the liberty to extend this update to include another prayer request? Or perhaps more accurately a praise request to the Lord on our behalf.  On Christmas Day we received the gift of anticipating the birth of our 4th child. We are eager to meet Victor Currat due in God’s perfect timing sometime near September 4. Lindsey has had no complications with the pregnancy and now that Anna’s big surgery is over, we feel more giddy than ever about little Victor entrusted to us. Attached is a picture pre surgery with little Victor’s bump.

 

What a Good Shepherd,

The Currats

God's Good Plans

 

Dear Prayer Warriors,

We had an impromptu Memorial Day parade down our street, complete with throwing candy and waving to the neighbors, it’s so much fun to dress up. We’ve had warm breakfasts, naps, wrestling, bubbles and much more since I have been home so much. Thanks for praying for our fishing trip, Simon and Renee were both thrilled to catch 2 fish each! I credit answered prayer, because I am not a good fisherman. I’m thankful my knots held up. Last night I watched a full playoff basketball game while scrubbing the upholstery, I can’t remember the last time I have done either. Also new to me was finding greater family devotional success one on one at bedtime than as a group. We are memorizing parts of Psalm 139 and praying it back to the Lord.

 

The blessing of being home so long illuminated the dynamics of my parenting. I don’t know how military families do it after a tour of duty. I noticed being home has turned me into a nag if the contributing factors are in place. I even found myself raising my voice with Renee when historically I am a creative, cool cucumber at discipline. I remember many times coming home from work and glossing over my bride’s reports of our youngest’s behavior. Well, that has come full circle and dear Lindsey has that “I told you so” expression when I tell her the latest story of Renee’s defiance. Being aware of all this means I can turn it into prayer, thank God we are all a work in progress. To paint a fuller picture, Renee is lovely and fun so much of the time!!

 

This coming Friday Anna has her 3-week post-surgery evaluation. They will take an x-ray and remove the zip-tie stitches. After that, Anna can have baths. We have had success this week with medication management, except one night we forgot a dose causing Anna to stay up till 5am. All in all things are moving in the right direction. 

 

Anna’s therapists have all been seeing her and encouraging her onward. We continue to challenge Anna to use the eye-gaze communication device. She enjoys being in front of it, making us do things for her. She really loves her pink flamingo. We are now up to 6 images on one screen at a time. This device has been such a gift for her recovery since we can’t take Anna out of the house. It was another special needs family that gave this device to us after the passing of their child who was learning to use it. That machine is very expensive and would have taken us many months and hoops to jump through for our insurance to pay for one. But by God’s grace we received it a month or two before her surgery. What gives me wonder is that in spite of her optic nerve atrophy and cortical visual impairment diagnosis' she can see enough to make the machine work.  She can’t track objects with her eye but she can use the device. It’s between her and God how much she can actually see. 

 

The Lord revealed something to me regarding the night nurse coverage we have been in need of for the last 3 months. In our Special Needs parent group on Facebook there was a lady sharing in a heartbreaking manner about being a single mom to a child of special needs and not having a night nurse to help. All the supporting comments were like “welcome to the club” or telling her how the nurse shortage has every home health care company on a wait list.  I paused, and said to the Lord. “I hope this lady gets a night nurse before we do.” I remember dreading the surgery time without a night nurse, but the Lord has seen us through it. So, who am I to get frustrated when there are others that have less support than we do? 

 

Please pray for:

• the entire Colorado Springs area to be flooded with skilled nurses needing jobs and willing to work overnight. 
• Anna and us to speak the communicative device language effectively. That the Lord would continue to bless her eyesight so she can share herself with others more.
• God’s grace to be apparent to the surgeon through us and through the medical evaluation Friday. 
• winsome shepherding of my children’s heart, seasoned with obedience, love and patience.
• Guidance and wisdom as we transition and plan ahead for my return to work on June 10th. 

 

Thank you for praying,

Nic for the Currats

180 a Change in Trajectory

 

Dear Prayer Warriors,

 

I don’t know many people who can say they went to the ER for a blister but that is our story. Our nurse supervisor recommended we go. It was worthwhile as the “wound care” team created a better protection around the blister. They stocked us up on the right pads to use to further protect her skin. We were also able to get the Valium we ran out of that day. Since the ER, Anna has been doing much better during the day but still up half the night. 

 

These last few nights, I’ve been giving a foothold to complaining. Maybe it’s the comfort foods with no exercise or the numerous visits to Anna’s room. The bottom line is that I am no longer thinking about Anna’s discomfort but mine. After 5 or 6 times of getting up to care for Anna I start to grumble out loud. A couple of moments later Lindsey pops in to make sure everything’s ok (because my complaining woke her up), now nobody’s sleeping.

 

I have confessed this in prayer and asked that before my feet touch the ground to help Anna -no matter how many times in the night, that my hands and words would be that of Christ. Gentle and loving to that which has been entrusted to me. The Lord is helping me keep my eyes on the prize, which is life in Him. My great reward is knowing Jesus and having a Good Good Father. 

 

In taking a step back, Anna had a worsening condition that one day was abruptly repaired. Now healing is her trajectory not worsening. Anna had a total hip 180. I know Anna’s surgery is a provision for her good future. The x-rays show the soon-to-be benefits so well. The sockets were once vacated and the femurs straight; now the socket has a ball in it and the femur bones are correctly bent. The doctor said that the grafting takes place and the bones fuse back together because it is such a blood-rich part of the body. A year from now, Lord willing, the bolts will be removed and this 180 will be complete. 

 

Comparatively I had a heart 180. My life degenerated from birth, being fatherless drove my rebellion. I grew diseased by my choices, deceived in my thoughts, whittled down in addiction to the bottom at 28. I was spiritually dead in my sins until November 10th 2006 when Jesus revealed Himself to me as absolute Truth. On that day I was abruptly repaired. Now healing is my trajectory not worsening. I became spiritually alive; the Bible showed these soon-to-be-benefits so well. Jesus vacated the despair and operated on my sin and deposited His Spirit into my heart victoriously. My Doctor says I was grafted into the family of God and fused to Jesus by the richness of His blood over me. Transformation came, a heart 180 just ask my momma.

 

 

Please Pray For:

-our nights to be filled with Angelic support and the Holy Spirit’s healing.

-the best timing to dispense medication for Anna to maximize rest. 

-no more skin sores.

-encouragement when waking to care for Anna.

-Thursday’s fishing trip with Simon, Renee and I that we would bond in love and catch a fish:)

-Refreshing from the Word of God and from the treasuries of  hymns, songs and spiritual songs the Spirit puts on our hearts.

-us to pray confessionally, casting our cares, laying our burdens down and beholding our reward in exchange! 

-us to know more fully what it means to have the Lord as our helper.

 the x-rays shows the hip with ball in socket and the pieces of femur wedged in place to be grafted in to lower the socket.

With Love,

The Currats

Looking for Prayer Help

 

Dear Prayer Warriors,

We planned the hospital days so well as the Lord confirmed His authorship and we were united with you all through prayer and amazed at the surgery results. Looking back, we didn’t plan our return so well, ok we were winging it there for a while. But God brought us a mailbox full of encouragement, we got a stovetop crowded with other people’s baked goods, spring flowers on the table, and well wishes filling up Anna’s walls. There are still many people eager to serve Anna and us. Praise God. 

 

As the lord would have it, we find ourselves again at the receiving end of generosity. It is always humbling; we have learned to ask for the help we need. The life of special needs parenting is best lived out with a large stack of “thank you” notes. We are coming to find that our church and friends have lined up many meals (that resemble feasts) for us. Our homeschool co-op has arranged many play dates for Simon and Renee. God even equipped us with next door neighbors eager to lend a hand at a moment’s notice. All this shifted us into rest mode and being able to focus on Anna. Mostly God has given us rhythm in the days since the hospital. With rhythm comes time to cultivate an attitude of gratitude and time in sharing the Scriptures with Anna. 

 

“...For the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion on them in their suffering.” Isaiah 49:13. 

 

After a strong first week post-surgery where the medicine has kept the pain manageable, Anna's joyous personality was most often on display. Last night marked a turn in her care. Since 3AM Friday night Anna has been suffering through tears and feet twitches which we assumed were further muscle spasms. That smile went away and things became hard. she has been going through spikes of pain every 15 minutes or so crying in discomfort. Her heart rate would shoot up 20+ beats with each spike. We tried every position possible. A couple of hours ago we gave her a bed bath, removed the braces and found a blister the size of a penny at the base of where the brace meets her ankle. There was a gauze pad there but it had lost its stick. We covered the blister, and cut a hole in the brace at the spot of the blister. 

 

Can you imagine the discomfort, almost a days’ worth of acute pain on top of all the surgery stuff? It’s times like these that make me grieve her inability to speak, or to point, certainly we would have found it sooner. Add to that, my pride/flesh is trying to twist my thinking into “you should have found it sooner. Isn’t she having a hard enough time?” Why can’t I be the one with the blister?

 

But in faith I trust God is maturing me in this, “I (God) have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.” Isaiah 48:10

 

“It’s been a hard day”, I told Simon as we watched the rain fall at our front door tonight. We have heavy hearts for Anna right now, thanks for praying and helping us talk to God about these things. 

 

 

Please join us in praying. We will most likely be heading over to the ER tomorrow to see if there is another way to ease her pain. Because even our fixes have only done little to comfort her. May God bring Anna comfort, healing through the night, and rest for us.

Thanks for interceding,

The Currats

Healing at Home

 

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Sunday afternoon we were discharged and it has been an increased challenge ever since. Suddenly there is no nurse helping us with Anna, no cleaning crew, no free breakfasts, no more restaurant food, or endless supply of coffee. God seems to be our only constant. He brought us back to our little life on Dye street. I was overjoyed being reunited with Simon and Renee. We got a glowing report of how they did in their days apart from us. Talk about an answer to prayer! They even came home with a suitcase of clean, folded clothes. Praise God for such a loving brother and sister in Christ serving us in this way.  

I must have misplaced that supernatural peace we had been living with for the last 5 days because that first night back was bananas. Getting backing into the pace of disciplining and guiding the children was hard, I don’t recommend taking 5 days off of that. I forgot how our little toddler wants to call all the shots (like who gets to read her books). Her boundary pushing made for a noisy, tiring night. Simon encouraged our hearts though, he wanted to counter Renee’s behavior. He put some soft calming music on while he waited for us to tuck him in. 

Regarding Anna’s care, biggest struggle was going from hospital medication management by a computer program to homecare. Anna is taking 5 different muscle and pain medications at scheduled times on top of her 4 regular prescriptions. She was in noticeable pain a couple of times. Amid the layers of things going on, I had misunderstood my bride which caused conflict as she was wrangling in a medication plan that will work for us. Frustrations abounded, at one point I stopped in my tracks, mid-hallway and prayed “Lord help!”

But that was yesterday. Today Renee remembered that boundary-pushing comes at a cost. Simon, Renee and I played in the back for hours. Renee was busy making dandelion bouquets while Simon was the bull and I the matador. Anna joined us outside while I cut the grass. Lindsey has been incredible in focusing on Anna, being with her, getting questions answered, resuming services. Lindsey championed the medication planning for sure. I hold the caregiving torch during the night, by God’s grace it hasn’t been too hard without a nurse. Praise the Lord Anna is sleeping well at night through this. 

It’s a good thing we got half of the Sam’s Club frozen food catalog. I wanted to be brave and slam-dunk the cooking. But certainly it would be more comforting and restful if we could take up those offering a meal for us. I’m going to put together a meal train tomorrow reply to me if you would like to serve us in this way and we can find a day the works. 

Please Pray for:
-Continued healing and comfort for Anna.
-the right night nurse, We are on the list at 3 companies who recruit nurses.
-us to find home care, respite, and hippotherapy services  
-rest and renewal in Christ as He brings us through this with much mercy and grace
-Angels upholding us, the Holy Spirit anchoring us as we learn to conform to the mind of Christ in moments of feeling overwhelmed. I get a bit too emotional and reactionary when things go bananas.
-God’s strength, miracles and love imparted to us.

Thankful with an outstanding debt of love towards you,

Nic for the Currats

Grace, as in Undeserved Favor

 

Dear Prayer Warriors, 

Much has happened since the last update. For a while there it seemed Anna was suddenly more of a respiratory patient than a post-op patient. But God in His mercy and grace normalized her breathing, we took her off of breathing machines yesterday and she has been doing great on room air. The need for suctioning and airway clearing has been greatly reduced. Around dinner time last night her lungs cleared up enough to send us out of the ICU one day ahead of schedule. Throughout last night Anna got sound sleep, and a healthy resting heart rate.

Starting feeds again in her tube was a struggle because the hospital doesn’t supply what we give her normally. We didn’t know, so they gave a Nestle substitute that made her vomit. But God wanted to give Anna the best! “It just so happened” that a special needs parent group on facebook posted that a family had 5 cases too many of our type of formula and was giving it away (they even offered to deliver it to the hospital for us once they found out we were inpatient). First thing this morning i snuck out to get it. Since then, we have been increasing her feeds without complications. She is almost at her regular rate.

Also, this morning they confirmed that her lungs remain clear and good. They pulled out the epidural and catheter.  Anna had her first bowel movement. The only setback today was the switch in pain meds after removing the epidural. Too much was given so she slept all morning. They cut the dose in half at noon and still she is zonked out. Pray that we would find a solution to mange the pain without making her sleep all day. 

Can i get a “Glory Hallelujah?” What a testimony of God’s grace and mercy for Anna and us, answers to prayer!

Lindsey and I have had so much time to talk and have eye-to-eye time because we are so well taken care of on every level. We are still being offered meals and gifts are coming in. For such a hardship there certainly has been so much to boast in the Lord about. Our two younger ones are in such good care. We have been humbled with notes of encouragement through texts and replies to these prayer updates. If I may give advice, share your burdens with the praying saints knowing that God will act!

We got a modified date night planned for tonight, movie in the hospital room. Anna received about 20 get well wishes from the hospital’s online card writing program. They are up on her wall along with some bible verses. 

I find that the more vocal we are about our faith in this setting, the more the we find God-fearing people employed here. A cleaning lady, last night’s respiratory tech, the CNA, they have this eagerness to speak of the Lord and trust that they have a part in Anna’s healing. I know our ordeal is not over at all, but right now it just tastes sweet. All this has allowed me to think of others, to pray for those crying in the room next door, those without parents at their bedside. As I walked around the ICU, and saw the quarantined COVID cases, or the saw machines other kids need Anna is now free of, the thought came to me: God is here all the time, night and day working millions of miracles. Knowingly or not God controlled the hands of the surgeon, He gave wisdom to the care team, perfect timing to the nurses, He gave us a hope that override our worries and joy in the journey. How can i keep from singing His praise?

“Do not be anxious for anything but in everything with prayer and petition, submit your requests to God. And a peace that transcends all understanding will be yours in Christ Jesus.”

Please pray for Anna’s medication and pain management. And pray in thanksgiving to the Lord for His rich grace and mercy.  All praise and honor to Him. 

In His unfailing love,

The Currats

Thanking God for Today

 

Dear prayer Warriors, 

I just said goodnight to my bride who went to sleep in the hotel. Earlier in the day I checked us in to the hotel and took an epic nap. As we said our goodbyes I told her that I felt so comforted by how the day has gone. Sometimes you need trials to remember what supernatural comforting from our loving Lord looks like.

Now that I see Anna’s pain and discomfort, I am tempted to remember that it was our decision that brought this pain on her. Instead of turning that temptations into sin and wishing away my circumstance, The Holy Spirit reminded me that God knows how I feel: It was His will to give His Son to be the sufficient sin sacrifice restoring the lost to Him forever.  

The surgery side of things went so well. Blood loss was half as expected. The images that Dr. De showed us accompanied by his explanation made us praise God. 

We are however struggling with breathing. Perhaps its the meds, the transition off of the anesthesia, or her fatigue but pray the Lord to restores her. She has been on supplemental oxygen for 6 hours and triple the air pressure. As of a hour ago they are weening, she is responding well keeping the Oxygen saturation up. With only double the pressure. We need wisdom to know when to make these weening moves. 

There is water retention going on (swelling) due to the IV fluids, we have not tried anything through her feeding pump yet because of the breathing issues. Pray that the swelling reduces. She has a full face mask but is used to a nose only one, at times she is doing a uppercut jab to the mask let us now she wants the nose only. 

We are suctioning a bit more than normal but its productive and Anna rests better after. On average she is waking up every 30 minutes, crying and moving around for about 10 and then back to sleep. 

Some obvious signs that the Lord cared and carried us through today besides the medical include:
-A encouraging visit and time of prayer with the Pastor who married us. 
-A chance encounter in the cafeteria with friends we haven’t seen in years. Their kid was having an MRI done. After I got saved, I met them at church, God used them as a godly example of being a young adult seeking to live for Jesus. 
-Our ICU Doctors were both named Grace (Anna means grace in Hebrew). Our night nurse is named Sophia (wisdom) which is just what we need right now for these decisions. 
-Simon and Renee had an epic day of fun, sun and love from our dear brother and sister in Christ.
-God’s Word opening up to us. Lindsey and i had our minds wondering about what the “Sun of Righteousness” means in Malachi 4. Pastor and I marveled at God’s power and control.
-mini hymn sing bedside. 
-I had more worry yesterday than today.

*May the Lord build on the many the good things from today because He loves Anna and has good in store for her!!!

For His fame, Glory!

Nic, Lindsey, Anna, Simon, and Renee