a mixed bag

This evening I received the best of news and the worst of news from two friends. I am filled with joy for the former and overcome by sadness for the latter.

Job 1:21
And he said, "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

sick baby

This is a picture of my sister-in-law and my nephew. Daniel turns 3 on Saturday. I almost have a hard time believing he's already that old. Funny how time flies like that.

Unfortunately, Daniel was recently hospitalized for respiratory problems. I don't know what the exact problem is or how long he'll have to stay in the hospital. Hopefully, the doctors will release him sooner rather than later. If you could keep Daniel in your prayers, I would really appreciate it.

give and take away

A little before 5 p.m. (pacific time) Ricky passed away. He fought as hard and as long as he could, but in the end, it was time for him to go home. I wish you all could have met Ricky. Even though I only was him a couple times, he captured my heart. He's such an amazing little baby.

Please keep praying for Meghan and her family that God will comfort them and give them the peace they need in the coming days.

prayers for baby ricky

Some of you (Mom, Dad, Rochelle) know my friend Meghan. At the beginning of this past summer, she became a foster mom for a baby named Ricky. Ricky had been a patient in the neo-natal intensive care unit where Meghan is a nurse. He was born with scads of health problems, and it because apparent very quickly that the only way Ricky was ever going to leave the hospital was if someone with medical knowledge and experience caring for premature infants took him home. Basically, he needed a neo-natal intensive care nurse to become his foster mom.

So last March, Meghan took the foster parenting classes and became certified to be a foster parent, specifically so she could take care of Ricky. When he was born, he was only 3 pounds, 9 ounces and 18 inches long. He's been struggling to gain and maintain his weight since his birth. Tomorrow Ricky turns one. In the one year he's been alive, he's spent more time in hospitals receiving treatments and undergoing various surgeries than many people do during their entire lives. At this point the doctors are running out of options, and Ricky may have to have a liver transplant in Stanford if his situation doesn't improve rapidly and soon.

Ricky and Meghan need your prayers. Pray that God will work a miracle in Ricky's life. Pray that his health will improve and that he'll be able to go off his feeding tube. Pray that he'll put on weight and keep it on. Pray that Meghan will have the wisdom to care for Ricky and make the right decisions about his medical treatments. Pray that she'll have the strength to continue on, no matter what the situation.

Meghan recently set up a website for Ricky so that the people who know them can stay updated on Ricky's progress. You can get to the site by clicking here. If nothing else, please keep Meghan and Ricky in your prayers.