Update for William Goforth

March 12, 2002

 

ANSWERS TO PRAYER! William is 7 weeks and one day old today!

Thank you for your continued vigil of prayer during our absence of 10 days at the "Little Bear" Outdoor Adventure Camp. We are "back in the saddle again" and near a computer to report about William's progress and the Lord's faithfulness to answer prayer.  He continues to receive increased amounts of his mother's milk and has been able to completely digest his meals, while using up his fair share of diapers (if you know what I mean). His little tummy is no longer distended. What a relief! Furthermore, he has more than doubled his birth weight in just seven weeks! At last count he weighed 3 lbs. 1 oz. For we know that "He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him..." (Deut. 7:9). 

 

UP TO THE MOMENT . . .

The major concern in the past 10 days has been for the need to increase his oxygenation at times over 70% on the respirator because of lung distress. This is due to an infection and complications from the long term use of the respirator itself, called bronchial-pulmonary displasia. They are  treating him with an antibiotic to combat the harmful bacteria that is present. As of Sunday, the oxygenation had already been decreased to around 40% which is indeed answer to prayer, since long term high oxygenation could possibly lead to blindness.

 

Recently, while Daddy and Mommy weren't looking, William managed to pull out his respirator tubing— tape and all! Just so Joshua and Noelle would believe them, the nursing staff took a Polaroid photo— the baby's first, without the hindrance of all the unsightly, yet necessary contraptions and white tape plastered on his cute little face. (We can hardly wait to see that one!) And what is even more exciting, is that William was able to breathe on his own while his nurse prepared to re-intubate him. (For healthy lung development, though, it is still necessary at this time to keep him on the respirator.) There is a song by our friend, John G. Elliott, that became our song of prayer all during camp for William as we sang to the Lord, "As Long As You Give Me Breath... I will praise You."     

 

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Today we ask you to please join us in prayer that:

a.  the oxygenation would remain at the lowest settings possible to protect his lungs and eyesight

b.  the antibiotics would destroy all harmful bacteria throughout his lungs and any other part of his body

c.  the cranial fluid would return to clarity and continue to decrease in amount 

d.  all his organ systems would continue to speedily mature, heal, and strengthen  

 

WORD FOR THE DAY:

William's father has remained a constant protector of his wife's well-being and his son's very life while honoring and praising the Lord God, even during insurmountable pressure. During the critical days just before and after William's birth, the book of Job truly ministered to Joshua. In a letter, Josh's close friend comforted him with this Scripture and rhetorical question— "In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?" (Job 12:10). The believer is indeed comforted to be in the Lord's protective hand.

William at 3 weeks old in his Heavenly Father's and his daddy's hands.

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