Perspective

December 3, 2022 6:30am

Ezekiel’s journey has changed the perspective our family looks at life, God’s sovereignty and how we deal with the various trials that come our way. We have been humbled and challenged to depend so much on our Lord and Saviour regardless the outcome.

Zeke’s recovery will be a long one. We had a very candid conversation with the team regarding what that will look like. To put things into perspective so you can know how to pray with us, surgery was the biggest hurdle. The post op and road to recovery is the next part.

Once Zeke is no longer in a fragile state which looks like not bottoming out on his pressures, heart rate not tachycardia, oxygen saturation, mixed venous and CVP stable then we will move to slowly weaning off the respirator and breathing tubes. All of this is happening in conjunction with the attempt to lower his sedation, inotropic and opioid meds. Once those are lowered then begins the process of weaning him off the dependence of these drugs from his little body. This will be a difficult but not impossible process. It’s important for us to remember his blood vessels and major organs have been so accustomed to the pressures of a single ventricle heart that a biventrical heart is a huge adjustment.

Hearing all of this was daunting but we knew this road would not be an easy one for our family and the time apart would be hard.

The month of December will be spent in the hospital with our best hope for discharged being end of December early January. At this point if Zeke is still in the hospital Ben will be flying back to Calgary with the older kids as my help will have come to an end.

My soul wants to fret, and be anxious at the logistics of everything but I’m reminded what the word instructs us in Philippians 4:4-7 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

A dear wise sister in Christ reminded me that we do not have the grace we need for tomorrow until tomorrow becomes today. God’s mercy needed for tomorrow will be there for us tomorrow…we do not have it until tomorrow so just focus on today, and all the provisions needed for today whether it’s finances, grace, steadfast faith, emotional strength.

God has given us grace to face today, not tomorrow but today and it’s trials. She encouraged me with Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

We hope in faith for a speedy recovery for Zeke but are also aware of the things he must overcome to get to a place where he can be discharged. We are asking you once more to stand in prayer with us for each specific point and know that God’s faithfulness in this too is great.

1 Peter 5:6-11 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”