Update for William Goforth

April 18, 2002

 

ANSWERS TO PRAYER! William is 12 weeks and 3 days old today!

The Lord has been gracious to answer the petitions of all those who called upon the Great Physician in regards to William's recovery from not just one, but both surgeries from last week. Despite an expected decrease in his feedings right after surgery, William has continued to gain weight, amazingly enough, and currently weighs 4 lbs. 5.2 oz. Praise be to God! Even though some aspects of the baby's recovery were tedious, we are thrilled to report that he is now totally off the ventilator and receiving improved oxygenation once again via the nasal cannula—just as he was before the surgeries. Furthermore, currently his vital signs have remained stable even after the rigorous jostling of his bath last night. He seems to be back to his feisty self. Another praise report includes the neurosurgeon's post-operative report, that after a successful surgery, the right and left ventricles are now equal in size with unobstructed communication of the CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) on both sides.  Answered P-R-A-Y-E-R spells relief!

UP TO THE MOMENT. . .

This has been a most eventful week in the life of our Baby William "the conqueror." Besides regaining ground that had been lost due to, not just one, but two surgeries in a matter of days—Monday, April 15, 2002 will prove to be "a night to remember" for our entire family as we look forward to recalling it for William's sake in years to come. That night the Christian Boy's & Men's Titanic Society, under the leadership of Doug Phillips, took occasion during their annual Titanic Memorial Banquet to honor William's father, Joshua, as an example of a father's legacy of heroism for his steadfast conviction to protect the life of his son. Profound gratitude to the beloved friends and families of Vision Forum Ministries will always be remembered—for their sacrificial giving and dedication to the principle of "women and children first," as well as their vision for the Baby William Fund. 

 

 

In light of this week's events, we look forward to another celebration in the near future. This brings us to the most frequently asked question concerning our grandson—"When will Baby William be released from the hospital?" Although the medical staff cannot determine a definite date of discharge for a baby born as prematurely as William, the closest frame of reference we have been given so far is around a preemies' original due date. For William, this would be sometime close to May 15th. Yes, we have more or less 4 weeks left in anticipation of our precious grandchild's actual due date, and therefore, his joyous homecoming, even though his birth-day was Jan. 21st, nearly 3 months ago. All in the Lord's good timing and grace.

 

And as a step toward that celebrated homecoming, there was word today of a new athletic course for William to pass—Bottle Feeding 101. The exciting word is that they are planning to introduce his mother's milk to him via the bottle for the very first time! That involves the mastered skills of sucking and swallowing while "remembering" to breathe, all at the same time. Go-Goforth! He is presently receiving 38 cc's of  milk every 3 hours by gavage (tube) feeding.

 

Now that Baby William is totally off the ventilator, we are hoping that the antibiotics he is presently receiving will be effective in completely healing an infection in his throat that they suspect is from re-intubation of the ventilator tube for last week's surgery. Another area of concern is that, when tested, his right eye does not seem to respond to light with proper dilation of the pupil. The cause could be either neurological, a result of the laser surgery, or it could simply be too soon after eye surgery to tell. With the hope and anticipation of the approaching month ahead, we continue to call upon the LORD for His divine healing touch.

 

PRAYER REQUESTS:

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

a.  William's right eye will completely heal and respond appropriately to light when tested.

b.  the infection in his throat would completely heal, now that the ventilator tube is no longer present.

c.  he would remain off the ventilator and continue to strengthen and stabilize in all his vital systems from this time forth. 

d.  William will successfully learn the skill of bottle feeding and eventually breastfeeding even quicker than expected.

  

WORD FOR THE DAY:

Borrowing from the Scripture text of a night to remember..."As Thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child; even so Thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all" (Ecclesiastes 11:5). In years to come, may this also be William's praise..."I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well" (Psalm 139:14).

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