Please Help Josiah!! Updated Jan 21!

Hi! Please consider donating to the medical expenses for Josiah.

Josiah update 1/21/24:

- He’s totally off the ventilator and breathing room air, which means he is finally able to communicate with us and medical staff

-His surgical site is healing nicely, but it’s a marathon and not a sprint to get his entire GI system back “online,” which means he still has an NG tube set to drain, and he is relying on TPN for his nutrition

-His lungs have some fluid, but only what is to be expected. He’s on CPAP at night and lots of respiratory therapy during the day to keep them from developing pneumonia or infection

Physically, he is progressing as expected. He’s lost a lot of weight and muscle tone. He’s very weak, and it’s a big workout just to sit on the edge of the bed. The doctors have a great plan, and they readily adjust to fit his needs.

Our biggest hurdle today is Josiah’s spiritual and emotional wellbeing. He is tired, scared, and frustrated. Please pray for peace in his heart and mind as you pray for healing in his body. I can’t imagine what an active 15-yr-old boy must feel when he’s suddenly made so helpless.

We were able to find a therapist that works with medical trauma and chronic illness, and your donations are making it possible for Josiah to meet with her beginning this week.

We have also already started paying medical bills, and I can’t tell you what a blessing it is to be able to pay them from this GoFundMe and to focus on Josiah (and Levi and Grace) without the financial strain that this ordeal would bring.

Thank you all for your continued support and prayers. The mountains moved!!! Now, we are walking through some dark valleys. Thank you for always walking with us. We know God is there, too.

Jan 18th Update:

GREAT NEWS. Surgery went well. They were able to close him up. They put in a patch and put the skin stappled together and over. All the intestines are inside now. The idea is to protect the intestines and allow extra fluid to get out. Looking at taking out ventilator tomorrow. Looking at least a month till released but progress! He is resting now. Will monitor fluids, heart, etc over night. #cysticfibrosis #faith #SpeakLife

January 15th Family Update:

Our room was filled with nurses and doctors moving back and forth stabilizing blood pressure and whatever else post-surgery while the surgeon told us there were complications. He advised they are going to try again on Thursday, January 18th. But then he said…it may be longer and that it could take 3-4 attempts…or more. Each attempt means more days of Josiah being on a breathing machine, totally medicated out, wrist restraints, and tears of frustration and fear. He also talked about a longer recovery time and that this will be a longer road than previously expected.

Thursday (January 11th) was just supposed to be a clean-out. Instead, it was surgery. Then it turned into a 3 hour emergency surgery. Surgery was very complicated. His intestines have been outside of his body for 4 days until the swelling is down. He is in a medically induced coma until they can close him back up.

Josiah’s next surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. If all goes well, he will stay in ICU for a week before moving to a regular room for a minimum of 2 weeks.

For more updates, please follow: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbiebridges?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Thank you!