Part 3

On February 22nd Garrison was transferred to Children's Hospital because of an opening in one of the valves in his heart that required surgery.  I followed the ambulance the very short distance because Breanne needed her rest and she didn't want him to be alone.  They told us there was no risk in his transport and he would be comfortable.  They assured us that it would cause him no stress.  I watched as they rolled him out of the elevator...they had put a tshirt on him that was way too big!  He looked so cute.  Once he was settled in his new nicu they had Breanne fill out all the paper work for his surgery.  We had been praying since the day we found out about the valve that the Lord would close it.  After they ran the tests at Children's...they found that the valve had only a tiny opening and they would not have to do the surgery until he was older...maybe not at all if it closed on it's own.  We had faith.  That afternoon in the waiting room when they told us the news of not needing the surgery, the Holy Spirit spoke clearly to me that Garrison was there for a reason...that he would go through something really bad but would be okay.  When I think back now, I think the Lord was preparing my heart for what was to come...actually, I know he was.  

It was pretty much smooth sailing for the next few weeks.  He did very well at Children's.  He ended up having to have the surgery to close the valve in his heart.  The procedure has a 98% success rate and we found comfort in that.  They did the surgery at his bedside.  Making a small incision on his back they go in and staple the valve shut.  It was successful and his pulse ox and heart rate improved almost immediately after his recovery.  Through the weeks we had a few set backs but nothing substantial.  His urine output was a concern and the meds they gave him seemed to improve it.  His lungs were some of the worst they had ever seen but he seemed to be hanging in there and there was hope that he would be off the ventilator on schedule.  

On March 20th Breanne...having a mother's intuition...noticed that Garrison was not himself.  He was a fiery little guy!  He would show his temper when the nurses would do something to him that he didn't like.  Things like taking his temp...really anything they did he let them know that he wanted them to leave him alone.  His pulse ox would drop and he would de-sat.  They told Breanne she would have her hands full with this little one!  :-)  At one point during his stay in the nicu he clamped down on his tubes and refused to let go, causing all his levels to drop dramatically.  Breanne and I were just standing there...watching...worried sick.  It was a scary helpless feeling.  They got him back to normal and explained everything to us.  They said that he basically had had a temper tantrum.  Hilarious!  So, when he wasn't himself that night, Breanne began to wonder if something was wrong.  

On the 21st, the doctor told us that Garrison had three infections in his body.  An infection in his blood, his trachea, and pneumonia.  The news was devastating.  Knowing that his lungs were already in bad shape, we knew an infection would only worsen the problem.   We prayed and trusted God that he would be healed and get back on the road to recovery.  Breanne longed to hold him...I could feel it every time she went to sit at his bedside.  They had shown her a video on Kangaroo Care and she knew how important that would be for his journey.  He was never at a place for her to do so.  She says now that when she never got to hold him she knew what was to come.  She did not expect him to live although she had faith that God could do anything.  I guess, as a mother, you would sense such things.  I was so proud of her...how she held to her faith and trusted the Lord at every turn...good and bad.  

On the 22nd, Garrison was doing about the same and since there was no change...Breanne asked mom to take her back to the trailer to get some rest (worried about her milk production) and asked mom to sit with him from 7-9.  The nicu closed at 9 every night.  As mom was on her way back to the trailer, a car pulled in front of her for a few seconds and then moved back into the other lane.  Mom has a habit of reading license plates and she saw that this one said Psalm 34.  Knowing it was no coincidence, she read it as soon as she got back to the hospital...then opened Garrison's bed and shared it with him...over and over and over.  Before I share what it said, I told you in the last post that we didn't stay with my aunt the whole time.  A precious member of our church had just gotten a brand new camper trailer and offered for us to stay in it for the duration of our stay in Little Rock.  It was a really nice one with two bedrooms, a kitchen, living, and dining room...oh, and a flat screen!!  :-)  It was about 10-15 minutes closer to the hospital than my aunt's house.  This is just one of the ways that our church family blessed us during the time Garrison was with us. 

 

Okay...so Psalm 34.  The whole chapter is great (I can't share it all here but encourage you to read it for yourself). It all spoke to our situation but verse 19 was the one we claimed.  "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord will deliver him out of every one."  We felt as though the Lord had given us a promise.  He would heal Garrison and deliver him from all the infection.  Our interpretation of the scripture is what we clung to.  I know I did!  Let me just say, God was never more real to me than in the seven weeks that Garrison was with us.  He was clear even in the darkness of those bad days.  He gave peace when all we heard was bad news.  

I told you that I would share the meaning of Garrison's name...before I forget...let me do that.  Garrison means, troops in battle.  Manning means, son of the hero.  God knew what he was doing when he placed the names in Bre's mind, for he definitely fought a great battle and was most definitely the son of our Hero!!!  What a mighty God we serve!  It is a reminder that he is in control of EVERYTHING...even when we are unaware.  

More tomorrow...here are some pictures of our little trooper!