Update following the Rounds today

(Original appeared May 4, 2016)

I’m going to start with today’s Bible verse. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Prov 3:5-6. And then I’m going to double down with another powerful passage. “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:6-7.
I began with those two verses because they are getting us through the latest news about Jacob’s condition. We had a lengthy conversation with the nurse practitioner and the doctor to get the latest scoop. They put it bluntly that Jacob is “sick”. They don’t know exactly why. But all indications is that he has some sort of inflammation somewhere. The likely cause is infection and the likely location is the lungs. The latest blood cultures did not reveal any infection, and they will try to get a culture from some of the gunk they clear out regularly from his airway tube. If they can pinpoint and infection, and what is causing it, they can prescribe antibiotics specific to that. For now, he will go back on the broad spectrum antibiotic. They’d also like to rule out pneumonia. One of the issues, however, is that the more powerful antibiotics negatively impact the kidneys, and so he won’t be able to take those.
Whatever is ailing him is likely causing the issues with both his lungs and kidneys. We spoke at length with the doctor about his kidney function. He mentioned that they should be working, at least enough to produce urine flow on a more regular basis. For now, they just aren’t. He was encouraged by the fact that at least a little bit of pee is being produced, and that we’re not seeing zero output. If we saw no output, that would be very serious in a just a few days. As it is now, the minimal output gives us a bit of hope.
His oxygen levels continue to be stable, but not at a good level (if that makes sense). He’s at about 86% oxygen (normal air is 21%) and that is sustaining him so far. If his lung condition deteriorates, they may try a different vent altogether called an “oscillator”. This differs from his current ventilator in that while the vent will inflate and deflate his lungs, simulating breathing, the oscillator will “vibrate” the oxygen at a very high pace. Apparently, this allows for gasses in the airway to be diffused rapidly and efficiently. The staff mentioned, however, that this is uncomfortable and if they went this route, they’d have to sedate Jacob.
Last Thursday, you read about the process through which Deb and I had to have our perceptions, selfish hopes, plans, and stubbornness wrenched from us, and replaced with peace, understanding, true hope, and faith. This process apparently was not complete (it’s never “complete”, right?) back then, and I found this out today while listening to the report. I discovered that I had once again begun to lean on my own understanding, and hope for what I wanted. Despite having just 6 days ago went through a “refinement”, I found myself still clinging on to things that get in my way of putting my utmost faith in Him. I can almost hear Him now, saying to Deb and I: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9. And so, back into the fire we go. Our hope is that, by the end of this, He will have shaped us (and you?) into shining, pure examples of His love and Grace. For now, though, we pray that the inflammation subsides, that nothing serious comes of it, and that his brain, lungs, liver and kidney functions are strong and see him through to tomorrow, and then his 4 week birthday on Saturday, and then the day he is released to us to go home. – R