Day 37. Thankfully, yet cautiously and taking nothing for granted, BJ's stats are up - oxygen is back in the 90's and blood pressure is looking better. Although the roller coaster ride is quite infuriating, we are grateful for your perseverance with us in fervent prayer - it is huge that you care. Most importantly, we know God is able.
His hands and feet are not hot anymore (a sign of infection), but that doesn't necessarily mean he is no longer infected. The quote from nurse Donna is "It's more likely that we've caught up with his volume." We're not totally clear what that means, but he is retaining fluids like crazy and the CVVH machine is also pulling fluids off like crazy. The infection limits the amount of fluid they can safely pull off. He is so sick, his body is unable to absorb and process fluids normally.
The doctors and nurses on staff here are such a wonderful, professional and caring group, we are amazed and very thankful. They are cutting edge and pursue the best and most intelligent and logical of treatments. They have been honest with us with a bedside manner to match. Dr. Sichting assured me today that they will not continue to do procedures on BJ without hope of recovery and I am clinging to that.
BJ's mom
posted by Pray for BJ @ 2:15 PM
46 comments
46 Comments:
My prayers continue!!!!!
Debbie Schmidt
Florence, KY
Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity?...I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love.
Romans 8:35, 38
God bless you Deanna. The Lord is keeping you and yours continually in my mind.
October 1, is BJ sixteenth birthday. Why don’t we “bloggers” set a goal on that day BJ receives 1,000 birthday cards. The address we need to send it to is:
BJ Higgins
C/o PICU
St Vincent’s Hospital
2001 W86th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46260
Get your youth groups, families, senior adults group join us in
Project “HAPPY BIRTHDAY BJ.”
BJ's Mom:
My heart goes out to you as you perservere and stand by your some for the 37 day! God has blessed BJ with a family that is so loving and caring. As a mother, I too would want to be with my child around the clock. I pray God gives you the strength to continue. I also will pray for the nurses and doctors as the care for your son. God bless them for their love and care.
On my knees in Latvia,
Christina
Thank You Lord Jesus, that You hear the cries of Your children, that You incline Your ear to us Lord. We praise Your mighty name and give all honor and glory to You. We thank You Lord for the awesome team of medical staff and specialists that You have placed in St V's to care for BJ. We thank You Lord that BJ's family have their hope in You. We thank You Lord for ALL Your mighty works.
We love and adore You Lord.
In Jesus precious name we pray
Amen and Amen
Linda Ronne
Shawnee, Ok
The Awe Star Families stand ready any time day or night to rally the troops to their knees. It is a privilege and a honor to go before the Father on BJ's and your family behalf.
The Awe Star Family
Tulsa, OK
Our church family will continue to pray for BJ and his family.
Pastor Bill
for Faith Church of the Nazarene
Jacksonville, NC
Praise God! Still praying that God knocks this infection out!
Heath
Continuing to pray.
We continue to pray. Praise God that we do not have a Savior who is unfamiliar with our sufferings. Just as Jesus endured spiritual attack in the desert against the devil for forty days and forty nights, I pray BJ makes it strong even to day forty and beyond. With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Jesus has chosen BJ to share in his sufferings. May BJ also glorify the Father as the Son did.
Rachel Long
Tulsa, OK
We will not rise off our knees for BJ and your family.
McMahans
THANK YOU JESUS, FOR MORE ANSWERED PRAYERS. YOU ARE SUCH A LOVING AND FAITHFUL GOD, AND WE ALL KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE BJ. KEEP THOSE NUMBERS UP LORD, AND PLEASE KEEP FIGHTING THAT INFECTION...WHATEVER IT IS. PLEASE LET THEM FINALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR PRECIOUS SON. KEEP HEALING LORD. CLING TO THE ROBE, BJ. PRAYING CONSTANTLY, THANKS FOR THE UPDATE.
YOUR SISTER IN CHRIST
LINDA ANDERSON
WILLOWS, CALIFORNIA
Checking on BJ often.
Still praying....
God be with all of you.
Still praying...
Beth
Perry IL
Deanna...We are with you in spirit. May God continue to give you all strength and comfort. We thank God for His promise to never leave us or forsake us. Please know that the Body of Christ is with you and praying for you .
Love,
Lori Burkert
still in my prayers.
kristin..KCMO
...
Who told us we’d be rescued?
What has changed and why should we be saved from nightmares?
We’re asking why this happens
To us who have died to live?
It’s unfair.
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life and you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we’d be held.
If hope is born of suffering.
If this is only the beginning.
Can we not wait for one hour watching for our Savior?
exert from "Held" by Natalie Grant
I think of you all every time I hear this song on the radio (which is frequently) and I am reminded to pray that you feel "held" in His loving arms...
God doesn't promise us "easy street", but He promises that He will be with us every step of the way. Wow! I pray that you will feel Him close to you today!
Love you loads,
Amy
Our awesome God has BJ held up as we would want to give up hope. HE knows every number on his charts, I
am sure of the glory the Father receives from the wonderful testimony of his Dad.
Father,
I ask that the infection will be identified and will respond to treatment. I ask that BJ's kidneys will begin to work very soon. Thank you for your protection for this family today.
Still praying
It's amazing how God has used BJ to touch so many lives before and even during this illness. To God be the Glory! Still checking the website often and praying for him, your family, and the medical staff. The road to recovery is bumpy and long but BJ can do all things through Christ who strengthens him!
Kevin Fritts
Columbus, IN
BJ and Family.
My name is Ruth Fletcher and I am an MK from Lima, Peru. I want you to know that you are in my prayers.
May God strengthen and encourage you.
Praying for you all today. Keep looking up! :)
Ashley Dawn (peru 04)
Bixby, Oklahoma
Deanna & Brent -
I can't begin to imagine the roller coaster ride you're experiencing, but Jesus can. Cling to that hope, and know that He loves BJ even more than you could ever imagine. We are praying hard for BJ's body to heal - for the fluids to be taken care of and for the infection to heal. Keep leaning on Christ's everlasting arms...I love you so much!
Jes (Todd & Andrew, too:))
Hallelu Ya
Psalm 63
1 O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
Praise our God who watches over our brother BJ. As His Body let us be ready to come against satan at a moments notice. This is not an ordinary illness nor an ordinary battle. But then again, we do not serve an ordinary God....do we? Stay alert !!! Love one another!! for this is God's will concerning you.
Dear Lord hear our prayers.
Amen
Amen! Alleluia!
BJ's mom, Deanna, We are with you and continue to lift up BJ and your family to the Lord. We prayed at lunch today to Jehovah rapha and Jehovah nissi, because this is such a battle. We are family with you. (My daughter, Mary, went to Peru with BJ this summer. You should be getting something in the mail from her soon.) We rejoice with you when ANY progress is made and we cry and pray even more fervently when things get tense, like when he came off of the ECHMO machine a couple of weeks ago. We will be there at the conclusion of this trial so we can meet you face to face and hug on your phenomenal family and Praise Jesus with you because we feel so close to you and BJ.
Thank you so much for sharing with us......I LOVED the posts from Lauren and then from Mr. Higgins and now from you. All mothers are relating to your posts and can pray more because of it.
Love IN CHRIST,
Patti Leestma
Houston, TX.
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perserveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
i love you guys! ur so awesome.
beckie
Deanna,
I want you to know that I pray for you throughout the day as well as at night. My son keeps me up most nights, so as I tend to him at night, I pray for you. I pray that you will be sleeping soundly and wake refreshed. That one hour of sleep would accomplish what normally requires many hours of sleep. I pray that you would be encouraged when you are at your lowest point. When my son was in the hospital how I longed to just have him off the ventilator and no I.V's. Resting comfortably. Being able to give that gentle caress without being afraid that I might be hurting him. God was faithful through it all.
He gave me that peace that passes all understanding. I pray for peace for you.
John 14:27 "I am leaving you with a gift, peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't fragile like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid".
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Youngstown, Oh
Still praying in North Carolina!
Continuing in prayer!
I am continuing to pray!!
Precious Heavenly Father: We lift up BJ, that You would rid his body of all sickness. He is a soldier in Your army. Guide us that we might serve You and one another with the conviction of BJ. You are in control of all things, and for all things there is a purpose. All of this through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Amen.
Ed, Carmel, IN
Still praying for all you. Praying that things calm down. STAY STRONG.
IN HIM
Jonathan Haag
still there with you in prayer, in tears and in His Hope.
Mark
Hudson, OH
Please add Costa Rica to the list of places from which BJ and you all are the objects of our prayers. We know that God's grace is sufficient. We pray that this truth will be real in your lives every day. We love you all.
Jeremy, Andrea, Berea, and Jason
Don't give up y'all!
praying and getting others to pray, too!
still praying .. we love you BJ!!!
We are clinging to hope with you.
God Bless BJ's doctors and nurses
and staff of personel devoted to BJ's
care.
We are praying for BJ's strength to build and doctors wisdom with Gods
healing hand to prevail like we've never seen we are praying
Dear Lord hear our prayers.
Amen
Lisa Gresh/Meils and Family
Indpls., IN
Brent and Deanna and family,
Your thought and prayers are with us. As a parent I know how frustrating and scarey things might be, espically with him going up and down. Just remember that God is faithful and knows already if he is going to be healed or if he is not. Look how many peoples lives he has touched from the hospital, an amazing amount. We are all so very touched by the amount of faith that your family has. May God bless you and take care. I hope you have a wonderful blessed day.
In Christ,
L.
Deanna,
You keep clinging to that hope and don't let go. My heart is with you and I realize I can't really identify with what you are going through. I've never met BJ so all I have to look at is the picture of the sweet young man with the chin hairs. I don't see him with tubes running in and out of his body and the immense swelling so I read the blogs and I pray hard and often, but I don't see this sick young man. Maybe that is beter because I'm praying to see him restored to the picture that I see. I appreciate when each of you "speak to us" via this blog. I believe God handpicked your Doctors don't you?
I will keep believing that God will restore BJ to complete health. He has been faithful thus far.
God bless each of you. BJ is inspiring to me as I read his journal entries. I think of the description of David...a man after God's own heart. This couldn't be more fitting for BJ.
I pray that God will give you what you need for each hour and moment...rest, solitude,the comfort of friends or encouraging words from the doctors.
Standing in the Gap
Susie
Evansville, IN
Deanna, being a mother myself, I cannot imagine what you have been thru, and are going thru. Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers, and of course BJ is too!
Precious family...I continue to pray.
Lisa Burlingame
Sherman, TX
I can only pray for BJ right now. He is being so strong and I can see him trying to get better everyday. I can't wait to see the day when the tides turn for good. May God bless you and keep BJ safe.
All my love,
Lauren
Encinitas, CA
Baltimore Maryland is
Praying for BJ
Standing with you and imploring the Lord for His intervention and complete healing.
God is doing such a great work in you, BJ, and your family. We are told by James to count these trials as pure joy because this testing of our faith develops perseverance. He says that perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
As I tend to slap my forehead when I read this DURING a trial, I am standing on the outside of this trial for you and your family and I can see how, indeed, this perseverance is making you all more mature and more complete, lacking absolutely nothing at all, but living on God alone.
I love you all,
Charissa Six
Riverside, CA
Peru 2004
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