dear friends,
I am writing to ask you to pray for my 10 week old
son, Brennan. He was admitted to TC Thompsons
Children's hospital on Friday and will be here for at
least 3 weeks. Brennan has a pretty severe milk
protein allergy that wasn't responding to my dietary
changes, but then about a week ago he started having
symptoms of a stomach virus. apparently the
combination of these two things degenerated the lining
of his digestive system. although we were at the
hospital and the doctor's office three times last
week, doctors didn't figure out what was going on
until it was almost too late. Two weeks ago Brennan
was in the 95th percentile for weight. this past
tuesday night in the ER he had dropped down to 14 lb 2
oz. on Friday afternoon at the doctor he had dropped
to 12 pounds. by the time we were admitted to the
hospital he was so dehydrated that his eyes were
sunken and his skin wrinkled up. he wasn't making eye
contact. it was terrifying. His diagnosis is
intractable diarrhea, sometimes called slick gut
syndrome because he can't absorb fats or proteins. so
he was actually starving to death when he was
admitted. Before the 1980s these babies didn't make
it, but because of the re-feeding technology that
doctors have now, our dr says our little Brennan is
going to be fine, but it's going to be a long road.
we'd love if you would pray for brennan. he undergoes
surgery tomorrow at 3 pm to put in a central line as
well as a feeding tube that goes from his nose to his
small intestine. he will also have an endoscopy to
assess the severity of the damage to his intestines.
all of these things have risks. right now brennan is
putting out more waste that the total volume of blood
in his body, even though he is getting nothing by
mouth and there is nothing going in his digestive
system. because it is so compromised, however, things
are leaking in and out. so our prayer is that this
phase of excessive waste will stop on its own so that
the refeeding program can begin. there are many steps
along the way in this process, but we are trying to
take it one day at a time.
pray also for our sweet 3 year old, Tommy, who is at
his grandparents in Nashville and having a pretty hard
time. he comes home on Wednesday, and we will be
coordinating a 3 year old who needs to be at home and
a 10 week old who can't leave his hospital room b/c of
infection risks. we're not really sure how that's all
going to work.
in all of these things we have been amazed at God's
faithfulness and the moments of grace that have burst
through. our doctor and nurses have been amazing, and
we have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of love
and support we have received. and utterly overwhelmed
with God's presence and comfort. we are also just so
thankful that our little baby made it and is going to
be okay. more thankful than words can express.
thanks for your friendship and prayers.
blessings,
Kim
Baby Brennan Eckert
This blog is devoted to Brennan Charles Eckert, born November 16, 2007, to parents Kim and Jeff and big brother Tommy. On January 25, 2008, 10 week-old Brennan was admitted to T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital. He was severely dehydrated and eventually diagnosed with Slick Gut Syndrome. Brennan's doctors tell us he will be here about a month with a lengthy recovery at home as well. This blog is meant to update all those who are loving and supporting us and our sweet Brennan.
UPDATE: Brennan spent 21 days at TC Thompson and was discharged from the hospital on February 14, 2008. He began receiving food by mouth on February 18. His oral feeds were gradually increased as his tube feedings were decreased until he was shifted to 100% oral feeds on February 29. His feeding tube was removed on March 3, and his central line was removed on March 6. According to his doctor, Brennan is now a "normal baby with a recovering gut." He is home with us and doing great!
Although we never could have prepared for this experience, we are more grateful than we ever could have been for the gift of our son. We have been so blessed by a community of folks who walked with us on this journey. Some were people we hardly knew, and others were lifelong loved ones, but we were given to abundantly at a time when our needs were great. And we are so thankful for how God met us in our need through the hands and feet and love of so many of his people.
"Let the Great Rabbi hold you silently against His heart. In learning who He is, you will find out who you are: Abba's child in Christ our Lord."
-Brennan Manning
Monday, February 4, 2008
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1 comment:
I followed the links off of your comments left on Baby James'blog to get to yours, though Joy had been sending me your email updates. I am glad to have direct access to your updates as Chris, the boys and I pray for your precious family.
Truly in times like these, it seems fewer words say it best. We am so very sorry you are having to walk this road,it breaks our hearts.(seems such an inadequate way to express our sympathies, when I realize you know exponentially the absolute agony of a parent's broken heart over your child)
So glad to hear that things seem to have quite miraculously turned a corner. Praise God! We will be continuing in prayer with you for this long journey. Thank you for keeping us informed. Love the photos.
Love and prayers~
Stephanie and all the boys
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