Dear Friends,
Thank you for your ongoing prayers for little Sierra Rose. She has made remarkable improvements during her stay in the hospital. Tomorrow will be her 1-month birthday, and she is so much farther ahead than when she first arrived in the NICU on September 19th.
CURRENT STATUS AND PLANS
-Sierra is being fed completely or almost completely by R's milk (through the feeding tube). She is receiving little or no IV fluid (other than the sugar water).
-Unfortunately, Sierra has not yet learned how to drink from a bottle. The most she has been able to drink is 5 cc. She would need to be drinking 120 cc every 3 hours in order to be released as-is.
-Because of this, doctors will perform a gastrostomy tube insertion on her (probably Tuesday). This tube in the stomach will allow her to be fed directly. At first, Sierra will be on a continuous feed. After a while, the feedings will be farther apart.
-Sierra will remain in the hospital for 7-10 days after the surgery and then will be released if everything is fine.
-Rosetta will take Sierra to the hospital twice every week so the therapist can continue to train Sierra how to drink from a bottle. In addition, R will have more freedom to practice with Sierra at home.
PRAYER POINTS
-Pray that Sierra Rose will learn to drink from a bottle soon so that the gastrostomy tube can be removed.
-Pray that Sierra Rose will maintain her throat function. Even if the gastrostomy tube can't be removed soon, Sierra might be able to begin eating solid foods at the appropriate time if she is still able to swallow.
Thank you for your prayers. We really appreciate your intercession even if we haven't been able to reply to each one of you personally.
--MK
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Update October 17, 2007
GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS
The good news is that Sierra Rose is getting close to being released from the hospital. The bad news is that she still hasn’t learned to suck from a bottle and may require a gastrostomy tube insertion (a feeding tube surgically inserted into the stomach).
MORE INFORMATION
The estimate is that Sierra will be receiving all milk and no IV fluid by Friday. Her feeding schedule will be changed from once every hour to once every three hours. Once she gets to that point, the doctors will begin pushing to have Sierra discharged from the hospital (because she is in pretty good health otherwise).
If Sierra isn’t able to drink all her milk from a bottle by the time the doctors want her to leave, they will surgically insert a gastrostomy tube into her stomach so her parents can feed her directly. This may be temporary or permanent—some patients have to use the tube for life; others graduate to traditional eating. The therapist said that it’s possible that Sierra’s current lack of a strong sucking reflex may be due to brain damage, but this isn’t conclusive.
PRAISE
Earlier today Sierra did suck lightly on her pacifier. When R noticed this, she gave Sierra the bottle. Sierra drank 5 cc of milk. She still has a long way to go and not a lot of time in which to make her progress, but at least there’s a little bit of hope. We’re still counting on you to join with us in prayer.
PRAYER REQUESTS
-Please pray specifically that Sierra Rose will be able to suck from the bottle the full amount of milk that her body needs.
-Please pray that Sierra will not need a gastrostomy tube.
-Please continue to pray for Sierra’s mental healing.
The good news is that Sierra Rose is getting close to being released from the hospital. The bad news is that she still hasn’t learned to suck from a bottle and may require a gastrostomy tube insertion (a feeding tube surgically inserted into the stomach).
MORE INFORMATION
The estimate is that Sierra will be receiving all milk and no IV fluid by Friday. Her feeding schedule will be changed from once every hour to once every three hours. Once she gets to that point, the doctors will begin pushing to have Sierra discharged from the hospital (because she is in pretty good health otherwise).
If Sierra isn’t able to drink all her milk from a bottle by the time the doctors want her to leave, they will surgically insert a gastrostomy tube into her stomach so her parents can feed her directly. This may be temporary or permanent—some patients have to use the tube for life; others graduate to traditional eating. The therapist said that it’s possible that Sierra’s current lack of a strong sucking reflex may be due to brain damage, but this isn’t conclusive.
PRAISE
Earlier today Sierra did suck lightly on her pacifier. When R noticed this, she gave Sierra the bottle. Sierra drank 5 cc of milk. She still has a long way to go and not a lot of time in which to make her progress, but at least there’s a little bit of hope. We’re still counting on you to join with us in prayer.
PRAYER REQUESTS
-Please pray specifically that Sierra Rose will be able to suck from the bottle the full amount of milk that her body needs.
-Please pray that Sierra will not need a gastrostomy tube.
-Please continue to pray for Sierra’s mental healing.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Update October 16, 2007
CORRECTION
R e-mailed me earlier and said that the goal of 15 cc/milk/hr is not correct. The goal is for Sierra Rose to be receiving all milk and no IV solution, but R doesn't know how much milk Sierra needs yet. That is probably based at least partly on her weight.
PRAYER REQUEST
The main prayer request is still the issue of Sierra's sucking reflex. The therapist tried getting Sierra to drink from a bottle today but that didn't work. Please pray that Sierra will learn to drink from a bottle this week so that she will not need to be fed directly into her stomach.
PRAISE
As shown in the video, Sierra Rose has improved considerably since first her arrival at the hospital on September 19. Thank you for praying for Sierra Rose!
R e-mailed me earlier and said that the goal of 15 cc/milk/hr is not correct. The goal is for Sierra Rose to be receiving all milk and no IV solution, but R doesn't know how much milk Sierra needs yet. That is probably based at least partly on her weight.
PRAYER REQUEST
The main prayer request is still the issue of Sierra's sucking reflex. The therapist tried getting Sierra to drink from a bottle today but that didn't work. Please pray that Sierra will learn to drink from a bottle this week so that she will not need to be fed directly into her stomach.
PRAISE
As shown in the video, Sierra Rose has improved considerably since first her arrival at the hospital on September 19. Thank you for praying for Sierra Rose!
Monday, October 15, 2007
Update October 15, 2007
At the bottom of this post is a video player box. You can watch a little footage of Sierra Rose that I shot over the weekend (turn on your speakers). (If the video doesn't work properly I'll try uploaded it again.)
PRAYER REQUEST Sierra's milk rate was increased to 13 cc/hour. The goal is 15 cc/hour. As an update to yesterday's post, Sierra Rose did not have the feeding tube run through her nose today. The therapist said that Sierra's sucking reflex still isn't strong enough. The therapist will be working with her two times every day this week to see if Sierra will be able to use a bottle. If Sierra isn't able to use a bottle but she is otherwise ready to leave the hospital, she will have to have something inserted into her stomach to be fed that way. Please pray that Sierra Rose will suck strongly enough to use a bottle well. We don't want her to have to endure something inserted into her stomach. We're counting on your prayers! God is strong.
PRAYER REQUEST Sierra's milk rate was increased to 13 cc/hour. The goal is 15 cc/hour. As an update to yesterday's post, Sierra Rose did not have the feeding tube run through her nose today. The therapist said that Sierra's sucking reflex still isn't strong enough. The therapist will be working with her two times every day this week to see if Sierra will be able to use a bottle. If Sierra isn't able to use a bottle but she is otherwise ready to leave the hospital, she will have to have something inserted into her stomach to be fed that way. Please pray that Sierra Rose will suck strongly enough to use a bottle well. We don't want her to have to endure something inserted into her stomach. We're counting on your prayers! God is strong.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Update October 14, 2007
Today was another good day for Sierra Rose:
-She was awake several times throughout the day.
-Her feeding rate was increased to 10 cc per hour.
-Her hyperal level (IV fluid) was decreased.
-Her weight has increased. She weighed 5 lb. 11 oz. at birth. Now she weighs 7 lb. 10 oz.
Tomorrow Sierra's nurses will remove the feeding tube from her mouth and run it through her nose. This will free up her mouth for more sucking lessons. Later this week she may be able to use a bottle.
PRAYER
-Pray that Sierra will be able to digest the milk well. Usually she does all right but sometimes she doesn't digest it all.
-Pray that Sierra's sucking reflex will strengthen.
-Pray for Sierra's complete mental healing.
PRAISE
-Sierra Rose has been doing very well over the past several days. This is a great encouragement to everyone.
-Thank God for friends and family. All of you have been absolutely wonderful! Thanks for your friendship and for your faithful intercession on behalf of Sierra Rose and the rest of the family.
--MK
-She was awake several times throughout the day.
-Her feeding rate was increased to 10 cc per hour.
-Her hyperal level (IV fluid) was decreased.
-Her weight has increased. She weighed 5 lb. 11 oz. at birth. Now she weighs 7 lb. 10 oz.
Tomorrow Sierra's nurses will remove the feeding tube from her mouth and run it through her nose. This will free up her mouth for more sucking lessons. Later this week she may be able to use a bottle.
PRAYER
-Pray that Sierra will be able to digest the milk well. Usually she does all right but sometimes she doesn't digest it all.
-Pray that Sierra's sucking reflex will strengthen.
-Pray for Sierra's complete mental healing.
PRAISE
-Sierra Rose has been doing very well over the past several days. This is a great encouragement to everyone.
-Thank God for friends and family. All of you have been absolutely wonderful! Thanks for your friendship and for your faithful intercession on behalf of Sierra Rose and the rest of the family.
--MK
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Update October 13, 2007
Sierra Rose was still doing well today. Nurses slightly increased the amount of milk they are giving her. Sierra was also able to suck on R's finger for several minutes today. This is a good sign--it indicates that she has a sucking reflex. Having a good sucking reflex will enable Sierra to drink from a bottle and then to nurse.
I shot a short video clip of Sierra and will try to upload it Monday.
It was good to be home this weekend. I got to hold Sierra for the first time!
Thank you for your inquiries as to everyone's well-being and thank you for your continuous prayers.
--MK
I shot a short video clip of Sierra and will try to upload it Monday.
It was good to be home this weekend. I got to hold Sierra for the first time!
Thank you for your inquiries as to everyone's well-being and thank you for your continuous prayers.
--MK
Update October 12, 2007
Today there's not much to report. Sierra Rose continues to remain more active, moving her arms and legs throughout the day. She also opens hers eyes. At this point, we're not sure what the extent of her vision is, but she did pass her hearing test this week.
Since Sierra Rose has been doing well physically, it's time to pray for her mental healing. As you may recall, doctors said that she had brain damage in the following areas:
1. Decision making--one side of the brain
2. Vision--one side of the brain
3. Sleep--both sides of the brain
We believe that God can heal her completely if that's what would bring Him most glory. Please join with us in prayer as you have been doing so faithfully already.
--MK
Since Sierra Rose has been doing well physically, it's time to pray for her mental healing. As you may recall, doctors said that she had brain damage in the following areas:
1. Decision making--one side of the brain
2. Vision--one side of the brain
3. Sleep--both sides of the brain
We believe that God can heal her completely if that's what would bring Him most glory. Please join with us in prayer as you have been doing so faithfully already.
--MK
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