Gunner Strong

From Emily:  Late last night (Friday the 11th), our son Gunner was born. After seeing a complete lack of amniotic fluid on an ultrasound on Thursday, we made the decision to be induced on Friday morning. Gunner arrived at 11:18pm after a relatively straightforward labor, but we could not have been more unprepared for his first few hours with us. Immediately the nurses told us that a combination of a lack of fluid and being born at 37 weeks had left him with some major health concerns. First, and most critical, is that he is unable to breathe on his own. He has been on a ventilator since birth and is fully dependent on that machine to breathe for him. Second, his kidneys are not functioning properly. He’s not urinating at all, which is preventing him from flushing out toxins. Third, his blood pressure continues to be unsteady. Just when the ventilator regulates his breathing to the right point, his blood pressure goes out of control.

So, this is where we are. I post this now not for sympathy, but because I am begging you to pray. The neonatal specialist who has been working with us has assured us that the team here is doing everything that they can. Shortly the team here will be starting Gunner on an ECMO program which is, as the doctor informed us, the last resort. I’m coming to you now as a mom of a very sick little boy asking you to please pray. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors, strength for Gunner, and peace for us.

Kimberly:  Please consider donating to help my brother-in-law and sister-in-law as they cope with this extremely difficult situation. There will be so many medical expenses during this time, and they are trying to create a normal environment for their daughter, Everly, so any amount you can spare will certainly help.  And please continue to pray for Gunner's strength and for peace for the family.