URGENT Call to Prayer... Hoping You'll Join Me

Joel 2:15-17
Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly; gather the people.
Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders;
gather the children, even nursing infants.
Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.

Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep
and say, “Spare your people, O Lord, and make not your heritage a reproach,
a byword among the nations.

Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

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On August 4, two tiny little people came into this world at just 24 weeks gestation. Bailey and Hayes Perrin were born to my college friend, Chris, and his wife, Emily. They were about one-and-a-half pounds at birth and were whisked away to the NICU before Emily could even see them. They were TINY, and they were fighting for their lives. They have had many others fighting right alongside them.

Bailey --Day 2-- Hayes

Hayes --Day 4-- Bailey

Bailey and Hayes are now 44 days old, and they have gained almost 60% of their original body weight. They are receiving their mother's milk. They open their eyes. They rest easy when their mom holds them and throw fits when she has to put them down. Their daddy's hand on their back helps keep them warm and comfortable as they sleep. They have come SO FAR since that first day!

Hayes --Day 11-- Bailey

Bailey--Day 19 Hayes--Day 20

But... there have also been set-backs. For example, in Bailey's second week of life, her intestines ruptured necessitating a move to another hospital for immediate surgery. Her intestines have been by-passed while she heals. She has a colostomy bag at this point, and her intestines will be surgically reattached once she gets bigger and has healed more. A couple days later, she had to have heart surgery to repair a valve. It was several days after that second surgery that she got to join her little brother again. A while later, little Bailey's lung collapsed, and it had to be re-inflated. It seems fine now.

Bailey being held by Emily for the FIRST time--Day 21

While Bailey was healing from surgery, Emily got word that she was going to be able to hold Hayes for the first time the next day (this was about Day 11 if I remember correctly). Well, overnight, Hayes came down with an e.coli infection, and he was SICK. He puffed up with fluid and was bruising. It was so sad to see photos of his stretched out little skin and to know that Emily hadn't been able to hold him. I cried... and I'm not even his mom. I can't imagine how disappointing and heartbreaking that would be! Shortly after, the doctors learned that Hayes was not only fighting off the e. coli bacteria, but he also had meningitis. Let me just stop and say that even one of these things could have wiped him out completely... but he survived BOTH... at the SAME TIME! That, my friends, is what we call a miracle!

Hayes --Day 29-- Bailey

Due to the infections, however, there were some pretty harsh things going on in Hayes' little brain. Fluid was building up, but the worst offense was the fact that his blood pressure was so low that there was not enough oxygen going to his brain. As a result, brain tissue was damaged and died. The neurosurgeon informed Chris and Emily earlier today that Hayes has about 25% of his brain tissue remaining, which he predicts will lead to some serious developmental issues. He suggested that Hayes may not walk, talk, or even be able to sit up.

For those of us who are trusting in the One True God--the maker of heaven and earth and sustainer of all--we know that these assessments are helpful in that they tell us what we're dealing with. But we also know that this is NOT the FINAL WORD for Hayes. Only God has the final word. He can bring dead people back to life, heal the lame, give sight to the blind, and cause seizures to stop. When we look at where Hayes and Bailey were in those first pictures and see how far they've come, we recognize the Lord's hand clearly. He spoke these babies into motion, and He is the only One who knows His plan for them.

EYES WIDE OPEN

Bailey--Day 34 Hayes--Day 40

So, where does that leave US? On our faces before the LORD. Praying. Hoping. Trusting. BELIEVING. I am asking that you join me in praying for the Perrin family.

Pray for Hayes, please pray that the Lord would re-grow his brain tissue. Pray that there will be new paths between brain cells developed and that his brain can be re-mapped. Pray that he will grow to love and honor God with his whole heart, soul, mind and strength.

Pray for Bailey as well. She is just getting over an infection that doesn't seem as bad as Hayes' was, but these babies are susceptible to so many things. Pray for continued growth, that her intestine would heal well so she can start receiving more of her mom's milk, and that the re-attachment of her intestines will go smoothly when it's time for that to happen. Pray that she also will grow to love and honor God with her whole heart, soul, mind and strength.

Pray that both babies are protected from future infection, especially as we enter cold and flu season.

Pray for Chris and Emily. Pray that the Lord will uphold them and that His strength will shine right through their weakness so that others will KNOW the hope they profess and will give glory to God in heaven. Chris and Emily have a meeting with the physicians again in the morning to discuss next steps for Hayes. Emily's mom is on her way to be with them at the appointment, and Chris and Emily are spending tonight formulating questions. Please pray for wisdom, discernment, clarity and unity regarding Hayes' care.

This time is crucial!

I am asking as many people as are willing to FAST with me throughout the night tonight and the day tomorrow (or longer if you desire) and PRAY. Please join me in supporting Chris, Emily, Hayes and Bailey this way!

Hayes and Emily --Day 41-- Bailey and Chris

To motivate our prayers, I'd like to leave you with a couple passages that are so encouraging.

Pray in faith, believing that the Lord can do more than we're even asking of Him!

Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

James 1:6-7
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord

2 Corinthians 1:3-7
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.