Update December 11, 2007

Yes, I'm finally posting an update on Sierra Rose.

Here's the current information regarding Sierra:

-Doctors removed her external tube and installed something they call a button. This is a feeding valve that protrudes from Sierra's stomach. It is much less cumbersome than the tube with the container at the end.

-The good news is that Sierra hasn't had to use this valve. She has been drinking from bottle.

-Sierra has been drinking very well--and she has the weight gain to prove it. The last I heard, she weighed 10 pounds and a few ounces.

-Sierra's doctors want to keep the valve in for a few months. From what R understood, swallowing is a reflex for young babies. After about 3 months of age it becomes voluntary and isn't a reflex anymore. They need to make sure that she will swallow voluntarily before removing the valve.

-Sierra's next ophthalmologist appointment is in March.

Thank you for your continued prayers. Thank you for asking how Sierra Rose is doing. She will be 3 months old next week. I'll try to post a current photograph to the blogsite later this week or early next week.

--MK

Update November 15, 2007 with SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST

Well, I didn't expect to have to post another update so soon. Yesterday R took Sierra Rose to the eye doctor. In the examination, he found cloudiness behind Sierra's eyes. He said that the optic nerve had been damaged. He was not very hopeful regarding her vision. In 3 months, Sierra will have another eye appointment. We should know more information at that time.

Right now, R and J are faced with raising a blind or mostly blind daughter unless God decides it is better to intervene. The very One who created the eyes can certainly heal them. He has already performed several miracles in Sierra Rose's life--we're asking for another miracle. Will you join with us in prayer? If He chooses not to restore Sierra's sight, please pray that He will give everyone the grace to accept His decision.

--MK

A NOTE ABOUT UPDATES

For those of you who have used this blogsite to know how to pray for Sierra Rose, thank you very much. As you know, she is out of NICU, out of the hospital, at home. We believe that God worked through the prayers of the hundreds of you that were praying for Sierra.

Please keep praying for Sierra Rose. Her brain still needs to develop properly. God did amazing work in preserving her life, and we believe that He can do more amazing work in restoring all her brain's functions.

Updates will no longer be posted every day. I'll probably post information about once a week or when information becomes available.

God bless.

--MK

Update November 12, 2007

Dear Friends,

Below is an e-mail that J and R sent out last night.

--MK

Sierra Rose is home! We are excited that she is doing well enough for her to get out of the hospital.

The power of prayer cannot be underestimated. We believe that the reason she is alive and doing as well as she is today is due to the power of God and of prayer. We thank you all for your prayer support.

We do not yet know how the areas of brain damage will affect her in the years to come. We will have to wait and see how God chooses to work. As a reminder, the three areas of brain damage were vision, executive decisions, and sleep. We are praying that God will continue to work miracles in her life and body.

Although Sierra has been able to take all of her feedings by bottle (much to the amazement of the doctors and nurses) she still has the gastrointestinal tube (G-tube). We would appreciate your prayers that she would continue to keep up with her feeding needs and that the tube would be able to be removed soon.

This will be the last email update. However, we still covet your prayers! We will keep updating the blog at http://sierraroseupdates.blogspot.com.

Thank you,

J and R

Update November 9, 2007--HOME SWEET HOME

Yes, you read that correctly. Sierra Rose was released from the hospital today! Fifty-two days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is a rough way to begin life in the outside world.

Another blessing is that J's health is much improved. R and J had some bad carpet in their house so my family helped them rip it out. He has not been coughing as much as before.

Here are some prayer requests:
-Pray that Sierra Rose will remain healthy. It would probably be better for her not to have any visitors yet, especially with cold and flu season.
-Pray that Sierra Rose will not have to be readmitted to the hospital, as is the case with many babies who are released from NICU.
-Pray for normal physical movement and eyesight.

Thank you so much for sticking with us in prayer for the past 7 1/2 weeks. Early next week I'll try to post an update regarding Sierra's future care.

--MK

Update November 8, 2007

Sierra Rose is still doing well. It's great that she has been steady for quite some time.

At feeding times, Sierra drinks between 75 and 100 cc of milk. Today she drank 90 cc. She's allowed to drink as much as 118 cc. All this milk is making her gain weight. Sierra now weighs 8 lb. 12 oz. This is nearly 3 lb. more than she weighed when she was born.

Thank you for your prayers. Sierra Rose is close to being released.

--MK

Update November 7, 2007

Sierra Rose entered the hospital NICU on Wednesday, September 19, 2007. Today is the start of her 8th week in NICU.

Sierra Rose continues to do well. Today her PICC line (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter--a long-term IV) was removed. She is no longer attached to anything (other than a monitor). She is able to take her seizure medicine with the milk in her bottle. She is closer to being released.

R and J had bad carpet in their house. After its removal this week, J's health is much improved. As a bonus, R and J now have some nice wood floors.

Please pray for Sierra Rose's continued health.
Thank God for J's improvement.

--MK