My Jog

I went for a jog the other day. Exercise always makes me feel better, but I also need to be in shape if we want the summer soccer season to go better than this spring. Since we moved to our new home, I have been walking down a side walk that goes through our neighborhood. It is hard even 3 weeks later to walk down that path. A path I had walked down so many times while pregnant with Noah. Walking to either get in shape for delivery or walking to encourage delivery. Seems ironic to me now. Why would I want that day to come sooner? And of course I had expecting to now be walking this sidewalk with our new double stroller with Alyssa showing all the things she recognizes to her new brother. Whatever I had expected, there I was running down the sidewalk alone, consciously trying to think of nothing. But as I got to the end of the path, I realized the weird analogy that I was in. The sidewalk ends at one point. I was running and see this end in sight. I see that my current path is coming to an end, and I must make a decision. Where am I going? What do I do when I get to this end? The other interesting thing was the cars on the street. I wondered what they were thinking. "Where is this girl going?" "Doesn't she see the path ends?" Why did I care what they were thinking? All of this is a nice analogy of my life right now. On this path of life that clearly has an end, that I am just not recognizing yet. That end has actually already come, Noah's death. I have reached the dead-end and must decide where to go from here. And I am concerned about the people watching me run. Concerned with how they think I am handling this. Am I going to right way? Am I living in the past or am I moving on too soon?

A wise woman has informed me that grief is different for everyone. There are stages and there are things that can be expected, but I have to find my own way through this. And the only way that is right, is my way. It is okay for me to think about Noah everyday, and it is okay if I try to find normal. (Which of course does not exist anymore. What was normal, will never again be normal. So I must find out what normal is now without Noah.) It is okay if I want to talk to Alyssa about her brother. It is okay if I want to make memorials for Noah or hang his picture on the wall. It is okay if I need to protect myself from things or people that may cause me more saddness, like new babies or pregnant women. And it is okay if I just don't want to smile today. The hardest part about this is that the only thing that is normal or okay is what I make it. It would be easier if I could just read a book and someone tell me how to get through this. But I have to live each day and see what works for me that day. And that is where I am now.

The Editor

Read Ethan's blog below first.

I love the fact the Ethan thinks of me as his "Senior Editor." He wants to make sure that anything he types, especially late at night, is okay and sounds right. Usually I am just pointing out sentences that are missing a verb, but tonight I told him that his thought process seemed to end rather quickly in his "To Blog" post. He said that is just where he ended, he didn't know what else to say. That of course led me to want to leave a thought ... or two.

Why did Ethan not have an emotional reaction? What would mine have been? We have discussed several times how blessed we are that God took Noah so quickly. Yes, I would have loved one more day, one more week with him, but it would have only made letting him go harder. I belive that God used Noah on this Earth long enough to serve his purpose, and then he quickly called him home. He was here long enough for all of us to know him, love him, but short enough to let him go. I still feel a peace, a peace that surpasses ALL understanding. Why does seeing a tiny baby not make me fall apart? It is the peace of God. However, seeing older boys hits me a little harder. As we were leaving the house today, I saw a young boy, maybe 7, riding his bike. I told Ethan, THAT is hard for me to see. I saw Noah as a baby, I even held him, but I will never see him as a toddler or grow up and learn to ride his bike. That reminds me more of what I have lost, and what I will never have with Noah.

A week later, I have realized that few of you probably know the miracle of Noah's death. Is that an oxymoron? To prove that God took him home quickly when his work was done, let me tell you a few details. The 6 days that Noah spent at TX Children's, he seemed to only get better. His lungs were clearing up, eventually breathing on his own, and increasing in movements. He had always had a steady heartbeat and high oxygenation (87-100 out of 100). Meaning his body was getting enough oxygen. Even Tuesday before he died, he seemed stable. His heartrate started to rise from 140s up to 170s, but nothing anyone was too worried about. Wednesday was a different story. It started with a phone call saying he seemed to be getting an infection and they wanted to put him on some antibotics, and it all ended 8 hours later. When I went to see Noah about noon, I could immediately tell something was wrong. He was pale, the beds of his nails blue (from lack of oxygen) and his stats were just off. Heartbeat up to 180s, oxygenation in the 80s. The nurses had him on antibotics for an infection, which turned out to be pneumonia, and had put him back on a respirator at full throddle. He went from a respirator to help him breath to a ventilator to completely breathe for him. We were basically waiting for Ethan to get to the hospital to make our final decision about his life. The miraculous part of his death was how quickly it came. His doctor had said he assumed that Noah would eventually die of something similar to this, pneumonia, but not until much later - 6 months or even 2 or 3 years. His nurse that day told me, when she came in that morning she never would have thought he would die that day. All signs to me that God just took him home.

I think that the details of his life make letting him go easier. He was always God's child on a loan to me. This world was not his home, and he just passed through quicker than most of us. And I WILL see him again one day. 2 Peter says that with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. That comforts me because what may seem like a thousand years to me on Earth is only a day with the Lord, and only a day for Noah. He will only wait one short day for his Mommy to hold him again in Heaven. And if a thousand years is only a day, imagine how many "days" there will be for me to hold him. Right now I am just practicing patience.

Papa's Words from the Service

As you may have seen, I have put some links on the right hand side of this blog. It contains comments from myself and Brad from the funeral services, as well as quick links to Julie and Ethan's letter to Noah.
I am posting Papa's words he spoke from the funeral here. They are encouraging and hopeful, yet give us a glimpse into the mind of a hurting father.

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Noah's Day - May 14, 2005

While I can still talk, I want to express to this church family at First Colony, to the our church family that meets at Sugar Grove, and to believers from lots of corners how wonderful your prayerful support for our family has been. There have been cards and calls and personal visits, food and monetary assistance, blogs and private prayer sessions all combining to hold us up. A simple thank you falls way short, but it will have to suffice until we can return the kindness.

We're not going to dwell on the sadness of this day, but on the unimaginable joy that comes to parents through the lives of believing children. There are age groups and varied family make-ups present today, but I'm interested in presenting the perspective of an old grandpa to the parents who still have children in your home.

With the birth of Noah, the tradition of verbally placing the new cousin into God's hands was continued. Really, well before his birth, every family prayer was for his well being; that he would grow up into a servant for God. Little did we know how very tall he would grow in nine short days. Noah's life has served to lift up the Savior so the scripture that goes "if I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me" could be experienced by more people than just our church families. The out pouring of people all around the country testifying of their willingness to speak to God on behalf of Noah and our family is evidence of the uniting power available through prayer.

I'm pretty amazed at what I've seen in my children throughout this time. Their faith in God to take care of and finally receive their son and nephew Noah has been a blessing any parent would be overjoyed to see in their children. The question has arisen several times about how they could hold up in the face of such a tragedy. My only conclusion is that's the way they have always behaved. Trusting God starts way early in a Christian home. Through the examples and teachings of family and Christian friends and teachers, children see and experience God in the lives of those who love Him. They realize that they themselves were placed in God's hands when they first arrived on this earth. It is comforting, uplifting, and steadfast for them to know that Jesus really does love them. Like many of you, Donna and I started our kids out on a walk with God from the earliest time it was safe to bring them to church and even today with our encouragement. We insisted on their attendance on Sunday nights before we knew it still counted even if you didn't come to the building.

Family traditions are an important part of raising and teaching children. I was so very fortunate to raised by Christian parents and lots of "church" parents. It got to be a pretty awesome family environment. However, at the time, it felt like everyone was watching me…I guess in fact they were.

The words found in Proverbs 22 "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it" keep coming back to me. At one time it loosely meant that children would come back from their adolescent sojourn to rejoin the flock. After the events of these past two weeks, the way in which I've seen that scripture come to life in my three children and their spouses far exceeds my wildest expectations.

The blog site was started because our kids knew of only one way to begin to handle the challenges of Noah's condition. Reaching out to other Christians was not a sign of strength, but a plea for strength that comes from the combined prayers of the community of believers.

There is such an extreme of emotions at this time in our lives, but what I cling to is a joy and peace that fills my being with thanksgiving because of the Christian example my children are to me … and maybe a few others. I acknowledge that all things work together for good to those who love the Lord, but it's been a real stretch these past few days to understand it.

That's why I'm up here…to tell you of the good things that await faithful parents. I want you to know that you have in your job description the charge to raise Godly children. You will model a lifestyle founded in the belief that God can do anything. Your children will grow up watching you turn to God for both the celebrations and the problems.

But the gift to accomplish that task will not come from your perfection. I speak from experience! They will hear some phrases slide out of your mouth that you later can't take back, they will see frustrations that almost wear you down, sorrows inside your family and in the families of your friends that seem so unfair, they'll see you kick things, throw things, break things, cut off other drivers in unmanageable traffic, they will even hear you disagree with the preacher, get mad at the elders, and sometime change churches all in an attempt to cope. But most of all, they'll see you continually seek God for His guidance and direction for your family. They'll see Christian friends rise to be the hands of Jesus in times of crisis and sorrow and they'll receive the love and care from those friends as though from family. Your job as a parent will be difficult, so appropriate all the assistance you can by associating with other God-seeking believers. Start before your children are ever born introducing them to the Father.

The last few times I sat with Noah, I would lean over his crib, kiss his head, and whisper in his ear for him to ask God to make him whole. I told him I was sure God would listen to him. I believe God heard and honored that small prayer. You see it came naturally to begin training Noah in the way he should go. It's a family tradition…a family of God. Make it yours.
Papa Eller

Is Thank You Enough?

I have been telling Ethan that we need to write a Thank You note on the blog. I think the reason neither of us has done it, is because I do not think a simple "Thank You" is enough. We have been so touched by all the comments on the blog, the emails, the flowers/plants, the gift cards, the food, the hand written notes, and the monetary gifts that we have received. Noah sure woke up the body of Christ.

I know that the peace I feel right now is a result of all of you that have been praying for us and our family. There is definitately saddness. I found a small pillow today that Noah had in his bed at TX Children's. As I brought it to my face, I could still smell his sweet scent. And though things like this will continue to remind me of reality, God's peace still resides in me. Throughout this journey, I have been brought back to prayer as have many of you. And I know that it works! I hope that we can return the gift of prayer in your life some day.

Julie

Hello, Goodbye

To My Noah,
Hello, Goodbye. Those words from a song, have played in my head since the day you were born. I remember hearing the song for the first time, but I did not understand the emotions that were behind the words I sang. Today is very different. Though I have thought of that song everyday for the last week, I did not play it until today. This IS the hardest thing I have ever had to face. You and I have barely met, and I just don’t want to let go of you. I want to wake up to your beautiful face everyday, I want to see your smile, I want to see you run around with Alyssa, and I want to hold you for more than just a while. But that was not God’s plan. Though I will not experience many things with you, God blessed me with so many precious memories. Sitting by your bedside everyday whispering in your ear, kissing your sweet face, the smell of your skin, holding you in my arms, singing to you, wrapping your tiny fingers around mine when you could not hold them there alone. I look back at our 8 days together and treasure every moment I had with you, and I pray that your sweet face will always stay in my memory.

Noah, you were a sacrifice for this world. God sent you for a reason and you served his kingdom well. Our Lord used your life to bring families together, to strengthen the Body of Christ, and to bring others to their knees in prayer. I truly believe that because of your life, heaven’s population has increased. And when your job here was done, I was finally able to hold you in my arms and see your beautiful face - no wires, no tubes, no nurses. Hold you and pretend that everything was okay for just a moment. We stared at you and talked to you for an hour. We sang Alyssa’s favorite bedtime songs, we told you we loved you, and I gave you some advise for Heaven. Go find your Nanny Conner, she will be waiting for you. If she falls asleep, help her hold her cup of coffee. And Pappy, I am sure he has found his brown recliner in Heaven, and well… just make sure you don’t sit in it. There will be so many welcoming you with loving arms. And when you get there, save us a place.

I kept a journal for you while I was pregnant, and tears came to my eyes today as I read what I wrote 2 days before you were born:

“Pregnancy is a wonderful thing, and in the long run I really don’t care what I have to experience to bring you to this world. I want to see your beautiful face, and I just want to hold your tiny body next to mine. I want to teach you all the things that I have learned in my life so you never have to be hurt or sad. But I have to settle for giving you to God, and letting Him lead and guide you.”

I am amazed that the simple things I wanted, God provided. I was finally able to see your beautiful face, and even if just for a while, I held your tiny body next to mine. Free of this world, you will never have to be hurt or sad. God is good.

The time with you passed too quickly. But I am comforted that when it was time to go, you were at peace, you felt no pain, and you went from my loving arms directly to the arms of your Savior. There is no other place I want you to be, but safe in the arms of our God.

I will never forget you,
Mommy

Updated: Noon Services for Noah Allen Whaley

Settegast-Kopf Funeral Home click for map
15015 Southwest Freeway (Northbound side)
Sugar Land, TX 77478

Viewing at Funeral Home
5:00-8:00pm Friday

Visitation with Family to receive guests at Funeral Home
6:00-8:00pm Friday

Funeral Services - 12:00pm (noon)
Saturday, May 14, 2005
at First Colony Church of Christ click for map
2140 First Colony Blvd.
Sugar Land, TX 77479

Graveside to Follow at Davis-Greenlawn cemetery (Rosenberg, TX)

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Please see information to the side concerning the Noah Whaley Miracle Fund

Word of God

John11:33-36

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. "Where have you laid him?" he asked.
"Come and see, Lord," they replied.
Jesus wept.
Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"

I think this verse describes the Noah we knew very well. Praise the Lord!

"This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God." Gen 6:9

Eyes of God

Well...mom and i were sitting at the bedside listening to Dr.Griffin tell us whats going on with Noah, and mom mentioned to him that he opened his left eye for uncle Brad last night. And the doc said, yeah he just opened it while we were talking. I guess he didnt realize how much we like to see those "little" things happening. So i sat there looking at Noah while they continued to talk, and around 11:34a (not that I was keeping track) he opened both eyes for a brief second, and then closed them. I think my heartrate jumped to about 230. It gave me a glimpse at little Noah. I take it as a good thing. Dr's may have their take, and nurses and others... blah blah blah. But to me, it was good to see his eyes open.

Right now, they see fluid in his lungs, probably due to aspiration, as well as his bodies ability to get rid of it efficiently. They are going to give him some diuretic to help drain him out, and probably give less fluids. Julie/Ethan may want to describe more of this later... so i wont say a lot, other than pray for Noah. He's a fighter.
uncle steve

Wed Morning

Mom called me from waiting room just before 9am. Saying the nurse asked her to leave the room. Noah's O2 levels had dropped to 70 and his heartrate was up to 180's. By the time I arrived at the hospital, mom was back at this bedside. They were doing a chest xray, and had called Julie to order some tests as well as a spinal tap. Noah has a 100.7 fever, which will cause his breathing and heart rate to jump up a bit. His breathing is more labored now, and you can tell by his chest and body movements. Could be a cold, but the tests they are now running/ordering will tell for sure. The spinal would give any notice of meningitis that would not show up in his bloodwork, and of course his bloodwork(CBC)tests will show any type of infections.
Please lift up Noah's little body in prayer before our Great Physician. Julie and Ethan were at the park with Alyssa this morning ...

uncle steve

Is it 11:00 already?

The days seem so long, but yet so short. And though the last 7 days have been the hardest of my life, I can't believe that they have gone by so fast and my precious boy is a week old. What a week this Earth shown him.

As I sat at home, comforted by a dear, old friend of mine, we talked about the fact that we may never know in our lifetime why God sent our son to us the way he did. I questioned myself to my friend saying, "What if I had been induced 1 or 2 weeks earlier? What if he were born before this "acute trauma" had a chance to happen?" My mind was telling me that I was ready for Noah to be born. Was it a sign? She of course assures me that God's will was done. If he was meant to be born earlier, he would have been. So we struggle with the WHY? HOW? Though I may never understand to the fullest, I have already seen the amazing things that God is doing through Noah. Those who come to the blog often have probably read many of the comments. I have probably received as many in email as well. It is just an amazing thing to see the body of Christ form around our family and around Noah. Noah is bringing hope to others, bringing prayer back, and bringing the actions of Jesus out in so many people. I had 13 emails in my inbox tonight and I did not know a single person who emailed me.... and it wasn't spam. It was 13 people who had heard word of this from someone and wrote incredibly kind and encouraging words to someone they do not know. I truly believe that God is using Noah and, according to many of you, using us as an instrument for his will. Though we struggle, though we are sad, though we are confused, God is using our life for good. And I will echo loudly the words of my husband, "I do not like being an instrument of God's will." But then neither did Jesus.

The days are getting harder as we come to terms with the idea that Noah may never get better. He may never open his eyes or talk or walk, or even eat. And that is hard to think about. We have are "ups" when we are encouraged by our family and friends like you, and our "downs" when the doctors must lay out the facts for us. We try to find a place in the middle to rest. Virgil pointed out to us that we are in a state of grief. Grieving for a baby that we lost. While Noah is alive, we did lose the baby that we were expecting for 9 months. We lost all the hopes and dreams that we had for that baby. I had not thought about it that way, and it helps explain alot of the feelings we have. We still must go through the grieving process for that baby.

I have decided to spend most of Wed and Thurs with Alyssa. I know that she is missing our "old" ways, and I want to give her some reassurance that Mommy and Daddy are still here. I want to spend time with her and love and hold her the way I wish I could with Noah. It is hard to choose which child to spend the day with, but for now I think Alyssa needs it more. We will visit Noah at night once Alyssa is in bed, so please pray for strength and perserverence for the next couple of days. I think they will be long.

God bless all of you who support and love us,
Julie

So now that we posted some good news, the car hits the top of the hill, and starts back down for our next turn.
Went to see Noah at lunch, and the Dr's had stopped by(Neuro). They were not looking at his level of reflexes or coughs, or twitches, but his brain patterns and other signs such as gagging reflex and sucking. These have not changed. And since they haven't, they seem less hopeful the longer he stays "stable" or constant.

So, therefore, as it says in scripture, pray continually.
-steve

Happy Birthday Noah

Today Noah is 1 week old. Yet it seems like its been 2months. I just talked to mom, and thought I'd send out a little update on how Noah is doing today. Julie and Ethan, who will probably post with more detail, went up to hospital this morning, to meet and work with the PT(physical therapist). While doing some leg movements Noah let out a big cough. Something he has not done before. Also, he has had hiccups, like most little ones do, but today the hiccups started coming out with some sound to them.(last week it has only been his chest moving up and down.)

I'm heading up to see my little nephew during lunch. Thank you for your prayers, and ENCOURAGING comments. Sometimes its hard to know what to say, or how to say it, or how to share your concern or worries. I heard it said once, or maybe many times, that maybe its best to just say "I wish I could say something...." and leave it to God to show the arms of your concern. But then again, our best example of how to show our love can be seen from our best Friend, Jesus in John 11:35.

Alyssa Loves Her Brother

I have added some photos of our trip yesterday. Alyssa sat very still and just looked and loved on Noah. It was very sweet.

See Photos

A Mother's Day

It is Mother's Day, and it is off to a sad start. Ethan and I agreed that this was not going to be a day of celebration, and therefore I am not disappointed in that sense. But today has been very hard and it is only noon. I can't even figure out what is different. Maybe it is that the stress and sadness of the past 5 days are finally catching up with me. Ethan and I have both found ourselves very ... well, depressed I think is the word. I can easily say that I have never experienced this feeling. My life thus far has been very easy, very blessed by my Lord. But I now face something bigger and scarier than I am ready for. I know that my Lord is next to me every minute. I know that not because I can feel it, but because I just know. And I guess that gives me a little strength, but not really. I know that I have probably thousands of people offering prayers on our behalf, and family and friends to lean on, but that does not really give me strength at this point. And though my sweet Alyssa can still make me smile and even laugh, I find no strength in her. Someone, please tell me where do I get it? What do I do to keep my self from such negativity? Feelings of just wanting to run away. Feelings of anger, needing to blame someone.

This morning as I lay in bed with Alyssa, Daddy comes in crying. She looks at me and says, "What Daddy doing?" I tell her that Daddy is sad, that he is crying. We want to bring Noah home. And she understood. She gave her Daddy a kiss and said, "It's alright Daddy." Later in the morning, I am still in bed, Alyssa comes in and sees me crying, "What you doing?" I said Mommy is sad. Alyssa tells me, "I feeling sad, Noah come home, I feel better." It only made me smile. Such a sweet and precious girl we have. Alot of my heart aches for her. We talked so much of Noah in the months before so she would be ready to be a big sister. And now, what do I have to give her? We are taking her up today to see him. And I hope that she will hold him.

Ethan and I pray for a miracle for our Noah several times a day. But I am wondering what should I be praying for? We were both very sad as we spent time with him last night. Sadened because we saw no change. Am I putting too much pressure on God to give me what I want? Am I being selfish? The more I put my trust in him, it seems the more I am let down when he is "the same". Noah is moving much better than in the days before. He will arch is back, raise his arms and legs, squeeze your finger. He also started responding to pain, when you pinch his toes or when the nurse has to suction him out. Which are all great things. I guess I just need patience and to wait on God's timing for our son. But I look around the house, and everything is a reminder of what we do not have. And I am really struggling with that.

The hardest thing is to not look to the future. Not look at where we may be in 6 months if he stays in the state he is in. The doctor is waiting to see if Noah rebuilds his suck and gag reflex so that he may eat. If he does not, he will have to be fed with a tube for the rest of his life. So you think, how do you do that with a 2 year old? How will I be able to go to the store with a baby like this? What about when he is 20? Those thoughts really get me down. So for now, I struggle to take each day as it comes. To deal with today, for tomorrow has enough worries of its own.

Sunday's Schedule

As far as I know right now, Julie and Ethan are wanting to take Alyssa up to visit her brother tomorrow from 12-6pm. During that time, they are requesting no visitors. As for times other than that, I am unsure of the details. Thank you for your continued support and prayers to the Whaley family.

Friday night

Julie and Ethan have gone home to be with Alyssa this evening. There are still a few families members at the hospital this evening if you wish to stop by. Thank you.. steve

NewNews

I heard it described by my friend Joe Hays as a rollercoaster ride... I think now we truly know what he means. Well, to some degree. Today the doctors delivered some "hard to take" news that the brain activity from the MRI, showed some acute trauma to the brain, that may have or did cause Noah's current state. How, where why... still questions.
So today before lunch, we had the news that "this may be the best he will get."

This afternoon, after going in to visit with my little nephew, it was evident to me, the news we received did not necessarily correspond to the things I saw. He arched his back, he would twitch every once and a while, certain sounds would come out of his mouth. Julie said at one point, a few hours ago, he held her finger when she put it in his palm. He curled his toes when they would tickle them. He flinched to the coldness of the thermometer. He made a "gagging" sound when they were sucking out saliva. And all of these "changes" occured after the doctors said there would be a zero chance of recovery.

I guess God may have a different opinion. For the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective. We all know there is a fine line to walk from the doctors perspective, in delivering news. You dont want to be too optomistic and give false hope, but you dont want to shoot down any hope at all. Yet... somehow, you have to say what you think is going on, and what solutions or results will come from that testing. We, as believers in a God who gave his Son to die, and raised Him from the , know the impossible is possible.... with God. There is not really a "no chance" when you talk to a believer. There is always that "eternal healing" that may be the answer ... but God could decide that Noah needs to be in the arms of his mother.

One of the nurse practitioners was telling Julie that in acute traumas from a lack of oxygen (which is what they are saying occured in Noah) would cause damage to the brain, but its a mystery of his situation now. Why? Because in most cases, when there is a lack of oxygen, the other organs begin to fail first. Kidneys, liver function, stomach, bowel movements, lungs, arms, and finally the brain is the last to fail. But here we have a little boy, Noah Allen Whaley, defying the norm of medicine. His body is breathing on his own. He is excreting fluids he is taking (breast milk they are giving to him via trache-tube). He reacts to certain stimuli now. The DR even tested his eye reflexing by moving an object quickly with a flick of his(Noahs) head with the movement.

No chance of recovery? No chance. Prayer is our medicine. Prayer is our source of communing with God. Prayer is there because a life was given so that we could have hope and faith in a God who loves us. I'm sorry for the quick bad news earlier today, but I reckon this may be how things go for some time.

Ethan spoke to those of us in the waiting room today, after visiting with the DR's about the love he has for this boy of his. No matter how he is, or how he will be, right now he is proud of his son, and he loves him. It's God's gift to Julie and Ethan. And its evident they truly love him.

Julie expressed her respect to the neuro team for their knowledge and God given abilities, but said "my hope is in God. Something higher. Its Him I trust. It's God."

KEEP PRAYING. thank you friends.
steve

Pray now

Just got a call from April asking me to go up to hospital now. This would be ok for me to say, since she said it. Not sure the source or the reason or what, but they have given Noah a very slim chance to recover. So just pray right now for Julie and Ethan, and all the family gathered around.
Steve

Julie's updates on Noah

Julie has posted some updates and photos on their website:

www.julieandethan.com

click on the 'Noah News' link

Thursday's Summary

I'm wrapping up the day with a brief summary of everything I can remember, in case we left something out, or in case I just need to release it.

After Noah's MRI, they removed the ventilator tube. The only tube he has now is a feeding tube. Now that there is no ventilator tube, Julie was able to hold him for the first time tonight. I was able to spend a few moments in the room with her and Noah, while she rocked him and talked to him. Not sure how much it helped Julie, but it sure was nice to see her arms around him. And have him wrapped up in those pink,blue delivery blankets.

There has not been any results or news from the Dr's, which is why you haven't heard much.
Mom just called me on their way home to share some quick updates. Which are introduced with the cautious comment of this could mean anything.

This evening while Mom and Dad (tim and donna eller) where in their with Noah, he arched his back. The nurses however were not around during this time. Julie also said tonight, when she would tickle and scratch the bottom of his feet, he would curl his toes. If those reflexes last or not, if they are real or not, I don't mind seeing them. It does my heart good to see his body receiving the signals it needs.

The preliminary tests on the placenta and other bloodwork don't lead the doctors to think there is an infection. But they were also unable to get any fluid during his spinal tap. Another tap may be done later, but has not been scheduled at this point.

Your prayers and love are deeply felt. God is in control. I hope today's Day of Prayer has brought you closer to God than you were this morning.

picture

FYI... the picture below is of Noah, Monday, hooked up to the ventilator.
He is no longer on any machines now, helping him breath. He does have a tube in his mouth, that they will remove after the MRI is completed.

MRI Update

Noah was taken down for an MRI around 1pm today. Will take a few hours to complete, and then maybe 24-48hrs for results. Julie and Ethan talked to the neuro-team, and here are some notes I took from that conversation, accurately or not, but gives a little summary.

There was an enzyme that was off the charts yesterday that has dropped 50% from what it was. It is also a normal occurance in newborns. It seems Noahs brain that supports his vital organs and other "involuntary" functions is working, ie. heart, kidney, lungs, stomach, etc... There seems to be another part that is not functioning, ie. eyes, arms, legs, pain stimuli, etc...
It could almost be related to a coma, in how he is reacting. There has not been a cause, nor a solution as of yet. Hopefully the MRI results will be able to give more conclusive results, as well as possible avenues to go down for treatments and even possible outcomes of what to expect.

Keep praying. God is still listening. Thank you
Steve

Day of Prayer

How powerful that today is the day of prayer. Today, Noah Allen Whaley will be 2 days old, around 9am. We spent the better part of the last half of yesterday at Texas Childrens hospital. Noah arrived around 1pm, where they began testing immediately. What for, what did they find, what do they think, how will they fix it??? They are all just questions waiting to be answered right now.


As it is today, Noah is breathing on his own. He has a tube in his mouth in case he has a seizure, but as far as draining the fluids from his lungs, that has been completed (I believe). There was a great show of love last night for the Whaley's, from family and friends, and friends of family. There is a lot to write and inform you of, but its hard to think how to order it, and where to put it. Right now, Julie and Ethan and Alyssa need our prayers. They need us to run into the palace of our Creator, bow down at his knees, and worship Him, and then petition and pray and ask for baby Noahs body to be completely healed. For the hands of Jesus to hold Noah close to his chest.

Last night at First Colony Church chapel, some of our church body and family held a prayer time for Noah and the Whaleys. It reminds me how God designed the body to function. When one part hurts, we all hurt. We one part rejoices, we all rejoice. I want to say thank to that gift of love last night, as well as the continual prayers.

April (Julie's sister-inlaw) had inquired what we should be telling our children about what is going on right now, and this is what was initially said:
Tell your kids that Jesus is holding Noah right now, while his mommy and daddy cannot. Because our kids know Jesus, and they know he Loves us, and they know he is here to help us. And what better image to have, than Jesus sitting at the side of Noah... loving his heart, holding his hand, singing him songs, telling him stories(or parables) of the times when He was here among us.
Lord grant us strength.
More updates to come later.... steve(julie's brother)

(Please feel free to leave a comment for the Whaleys. You do not have to create a login, you can just click anonymous and leave name in post)

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Here are some preliminary emails about Noahs first few days:

Wed, 4 May 2005 07:51am Please update this. Noah is being moved to Texas Childrens this morning. I dont have any information other than that. I believe they were going to do a CAT scan, but not sure if that was done or will be done once he's moved. Please lift them up, Julie Ethan, Alyssa and Noah. Steve

Wed, 4 May 2005 08:07am I have a prayer request for my new nephew, Noah Whaley, born yesterday morning, 9am. Julie (my sister) and Ethan are being transferred from a hospital in Rosenberg to Texas Children's Hospital. He was born with a great deal of fluid in/on his lungs, and had trouble breathing in his first 10minutes of life. He was taken to the NICU where they were able to get him stable, put him on a ventilator, take blood work and xrays. All tests came back with no sign of infection or abnormalities in the lungs. His oxygen levels were good, and his blood gas was good. Just a lot of fluid in the lungs to expel. He was given a "drainage" tube to do this, and was pushing out the fluid on his own for the most part. His oxygen level via the ventilator was lowered yesterday, as they were trying to enable his lungs to perform their job. This morning, they were scheduled for a CAT scan to rule out any brain related cause for some of his delayed movements as they monitored him. The Doctor came in this morning, and decided to move them to Texas Childrens Hospital. I dont know why, or what prompted the move, etc... it would only be a brothers guess and a great deal of speculation. Please lift up Julie and Ethan in your prayers as they cope and struggle with this situation of life. Lift up Alyssa, 2yrs old June4th. Terry Whaley is Ethans mom, and Julies parents are Tim and Donna Eller. Thank you for the church body to come together in this time as one part hurts, so that we can all take over and help heal. Steve
Wed, 4 May 2005 11:47am Please pray for little man Noah. A physician from Tx.Childrens (who picked up Noah in ambulance for transport) stated it was a miracle he is breathing on his own, due to the low and lack of response from neurological testing that has been performed thus far. Noah is going to TCH now to undergo 3-4hours of testing for neurological damage, responses, etc... Julie and Ethan will be going to hospital shortly with Alyssa, as Wed/Sun are the only days 2yr olds can visit the NICU. A miracle may describe it, but we know the true hand of God, or at least we trust we know it. Please offer up your petition to the Lord for his protection and deliverance, through the will of his Powerful Spirit and blood of Christ. Steve