This is the blog for Gavin and Carrie Jones and family. We live in Papua New Guinea and are working to see lives transformed by the living Word of God through Bible translation. Gavin is a helicopter pilot. Carrie, who has her degree in Public Health, works in the lab at our busy rural clinic. Our son, Isaac, was born in 2004 and our quintuplets, Will, David, Marcie, Seth, and Grace, were born in 2012.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. The you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:3-6

Monday, August 20, 2012

PLEASE PRAY for Seth! Plus new weights.

Hi all,

I spoke with Dr. Burgess this morning, and in his words, "We have got to get that [lung] inflammation under control." Seth is needing MORE help from the ventilator and MORE oxygen (56% or so) than he has before, so he's heading in the wrong direction. Oxygen itself can damage the delicate lung tissue as preemies don't have the ability to neutralize the radicals O2 can create. Yet, they need it to survive, obviously, and Seth isn't doing well on reduced settings. They can't risk brain damage.

 Seth's lung x-rays continue to look very hazy (inflamed) and show very poor aeration. This time period is pretty normal for preemies - about a week-and-a-half to two weeks after birth, if they've been on a ventilator with O2, the NICU starts seeing this inflammatory response. Grace is on much less oxygen (about 32%) and so far is doing okay. Thank you for praying for her.

As for Seth, the plan is to PRAY, to give a very potent steroid and rapidly taper over a nine day period, and during that time if Dr. Burgess and medical staff see lung improvement they are going to wean him down on the ventilator and O2 settings as quickly as possible.

Please pray for healing, obviously, by the Hand of the Great Physician and through His servants who have the training and medications, that He would grant them wisdom and that He Himself will intervene on Seth's behalf. Specific complications that can arise from the steroid use include increased chance of infection due to depressed immune function, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar. Thank you for praying that none of these will happen.

Of course, we always pray "Thy will be done," but He does invite us to boldly approach the Throne of Grace with confidence that He will help in time of need. I know He is helping me to trust. A CD of Christian lullabies I've been listening too while pumping at night has a line that's very meaningful to me in a prayer for the babies: "be safe and secure in His keeping, and rest in the arms of the First and the Last."*

On a happier note, all the babies are over two pounds now: Will is actually at 3 lb almost 1 oz., David is 2 lb 7.5 oz, Marcie is 2 lb 2 oz. and doing GREAT - she self-extubated at 4 this morning, and I get to hold her today while Dad holds David; Seth is 2 pounds 7.2 ounces - almost completely caught up with David!, and Gracie (aka "Little Girl" and "little Miss Grace" to the NICU staff) is 2 lb 1 oz. Hurray! Will, David and Marcie are thriving, and Will and David no longer have a central line; they are on oral feeds only (via a tube still). So there is much to be thankful for, not least of which is your intercession on behalf of Seth. Off course, we want to continue to lift them ALL up to the Throne of Grace.

Thank you and bless you all,
Carrie for Gavin, too

*(Thanks, Aunt Linda W. for the CD! Isaac has used it for years to calm fears at bedtime, and here we go again with five new babies!)

5 comments:

  1. Praying and God to accomplish all you have detailed above according to His Will, and also asking that He surround you with peace and mercy. NKL

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  2. I am Praying for all your prayer request, but especially for Mom and Dad and Little Baby Seth.....

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  3. Praying for your darling precious babies.

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  4. Isaiah 46:11 From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.
    So wonderful to know God holds your little ones in the palm of His hand. He has a plan and a purpose and may He continue to bless you with His grace and peace during this journey.

    Oh, Lord, I know you hear the prayers of your children praying for these precious lives. While we wait patiently for your hand to heal them, with special prayers for Seth today, bless this family with your abundant grace. Amen.

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  5. Gavin, Carrie, Isaac and babies,
    We are so thrilled for you, are praying for you every day and following your posts closely. Will be lifting Seth up especially. Godspeed to you and all who are helping you!
    Love,
    Deb, for all the Bartons

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Gavin, Carrie, Isaac, Will, David, Marcie, Seth, & Grace Jones

Gavin, Carrie, Isaac, Will, David, Marcie, Seth, & Grace Jones

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