Tuesday Evening - A Josiah Update

Well, here it is.


Tomorrow (Wednesday, April 2th) @ 8:15 AM Josiah is scheduled to enter the OR for his 'bronch' scope and trial extubation. Josiah has been receiving his 'dex' today (steroid to help open his airways) in preparation for this big day. The ENT doctors want to have one more look down his throat to make sure there hasn't been any damage over the past two weeks. Personally, I feel that such action is a little futile since Josiah has been demonstrating he has a large leak. We'll see what they say tomorrow before he goes in. After the doctors have a look down his throat, Josiah will have about 30 minutes to demonstrate that his breathe without the assistance of a respirator.

I firmly believe that Josiah won't be breathing alone: he'll be breathing by God's power. After all, his name does mean "The Lord Supports". I've been feeling willies all over today when Marie called me to relay the extubation time. And this are different from the willies I was feeling when the Canucks were winning last night! I catch myself wondering if it was a bad thing to feel nervous leading up to such a big moment. But then I thought (or God put the thought in my head - which ever is more accurate!) that if I was a regular Joe approaching Jesus in Bible times I would DEFINITELY be feeling like I do now. I just imagine what it would be like walking right up to Jesus, the thoughts rushing through my head, the whole rainbow of emotions that I would be experiencing. It would be unreal! So I don't feel bad about the willies, or the butterflies, or whatever I'm feeling right now. It makes me human.

So, we're praying that Josiah will not need his respirator to breathe, that God will enable him to breathe without mechanical assistance. We are also praying that God will use this miracle to create believers out of those who express unbelief. We are praying that the OR will be filled with God's peace and that the people present will marvel at his work, his wonder and his mercy. God wants Himself to be known! He wants His works to be displayed! He wants to create believers out of his created!

When Josiah comes out of the OR breathing on his own, the day is far from over. We request your prayers throughout the day since the following 24 hours are big for Josiah. 6-10 hours after the extubation Josiah's steroids will wear off and it will be at that time that the doctors will be intently observing him to make sure he can make it. So please, continue to offer us your intercessions throughout the day and night so that our little man will be protected, safe, and peaceful. Pray also for the next 14 hours as Josiah will need his sleep and strength for tomorrow.
Marie and I have been receiving wonderful encouragement throughout this week, and we appreciate it SO MUCH because our minds and hearts can become quite clouded and confused during these periods, but your words and God's promises help us to keep our focus on Jesus.

I will - as best as I can - post through out the day tomorrow to keep everyone up to date on the latest so that our prayer requests can be most specific. Yet, I'm not worried: God doesn't need me to keep my blog updated so that you know what to pray for! Who needs a blog when you already have the Holy Spirit prompting and guiding you! Be attentive to His Spirit tomorrow as your prayers go up to God.

Thanks again for all the love, support, and prayer you have sent up on our behalf. Our lives have been forever changed, not just by Josiah or this experience, but because of how you all have shared your hearts with us. We are greatly indebted, but in God's family we know there are no outstanding debts. This is what family does and we bless you and praise God for it.

In God's Generous Peace, the Source of Faith in Storms.
- Andrew, Marie & Josiah