Happy Heart Day

This morning seemed no different than any other. Getting out of bed was its usual chore and the cobwebs lingered longer than I like. Jackson is up watching Sesame Street prolonging his ravenous captivation with all things Elmo. But, this ordinary morning is different, this ordinary morning is an occasion worth celebrating, worthy of nothing less than doxology.

A year ago this morning Jackson underwent open heart surgery. A year ago January and I felt in some small measure what Abraham did in offering up Isaac when we ascended our own Mount Moriah and surrendered our son into the hands of God with no knowledge of the outcome. And there, in those dark hours, God worked through the doctor's skillful hands to restore health to Jackson's heart, and today we can celebrate an ordinary morning with our son.

Psalm 23 comes to mind as January, Jackson, and I journey through mortality's dark shadow; the shadows that death's terrifying mountains cast signify something truly wonderful - beyond the shadows the light still shines. There is a light that no trial, no pain, no fear of death can dim. Even if we can barely see or feel its warmth, sometimes the light breaks through the darkness and reminds us that God's blessings abound despite the shadows.

Today is a day of giving thanks and praise to God for our son and for his, who he did not spare on Moriah that we could know his immeasurable love and the warmth of his blessings.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him all creatures here below; Praise him above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen!

Update on the Little Man

Friends and Family,

January and I apologize for the lack of updates on how Jackson is doing. It's hard to believe it has been almost 5 months since his surgery. The truth is Jackson is doing so well it is easy to forget that he went through an open-heart surgery. He is happy, healthy, and very active. That has been the biggest change since the surgery; January and I thought we had a mellow kid, turns out his heart just was not giving his body enough oxygenated blood to give him energy. Within a couple of weeks after the surgery he was all over the place, and he hasn't stopped.

We are so thankful for all of your prayers and support throughout this whole process. God used the medical staff at Children's to work a miracle that we will forever be thankful for. We thought you might enjoy a few pictures of post-surgery Jackson.

Love,

Jed, January, and Jackson

Home At Last

Well, Jackson, January and I are at home recuperating from our little adventure. Jackson was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday evening, a couple of nights earlier than the soonest we were expecting. As soon as we got in the door at our place, Jackson let out a beaming grin and a sigh of relief. It's kind of funny how you can really tell that he likes being at home with his family.
Sue (January's mom) came in yesterday to help us out with Jackson's recovery and it sure is nice to have her company and help.

This morning we went back to Children's for his post-op follow-up appointment. They said his tests look great and he is recovering well. We are even able to cut down on a few of the medications we were giving him because he is doing so well. With that said there are a couple of things that we would appreciate your continued prayer over:

1. Jackson is still really sore at times, and the surgery itself was such a traumatic ordeal for his body and mind, and he has had some difficulty as we have been home with discomfort. Please pray that God would continue to heal his little body and give comfort to his mind as he continues to recover.

2. January and I are still really worn out as well, and we need an extra measure of patience, tenderness, and empathy as we help Jackson out.

Thanks again for all your prayers and support, even if we can't thank each of you personally, we have been truly blessed by God through you.

First Smile...

Jed and I are so happy to announce that Jackson gave his first beautiful smile, since the surgery, on Saturday night! I have to admit, I was a bit jealous, because Jed was the lucky one who witnessed the blessed event, but my envy subsided quickly as overwhelming happiness consumed me because my precious boy was showing signs of feeling better. Jackson's smiles then multiplied as soon as he was transferred from the Intensive Care Unit to Immediate Care Unit late Saturday evening. Since then, he has quickly been showing more and more signs of his adorable self (i.e., smiling, giggling, grabbing his cute, chubby feet, and trying to put anything, within reach, into his mouth!).

Yesterday (Sunday), Jackson's first chest tube was removed and the second remaining tube was removed this morning. Praise God! Removal of the chest tubes is a great indicator that Jackson is healing as he should and it gives him much needed comfort as those chest tubes are not comfortable in the slightest! The nurses reported that even grown men who have had heart surgery complain about how uncomfortable the chest tubes are. So Jed and I are very thankful that the tubes are gone. Jackson has also had numerous other tubes and such removed with each passing day. Presently, he only has one connected I.V., has been breathing on his own for two days now, and had his pace maker wires removed (which they thankfully never needed to use, because his heart was beating properly on its own). Yeah!

Jed and I want to thank each and every one of you who have prayed for Jackson's surgery and his recovery (as well as for Jed and I!). You have no idea how much it means to both of us. We have truly been so blessed by the outpouring of support we have received from all of you. Words cannot possibly express the gratitude we feel. THANK YOU!!! With that said, please continue to remember Jackson in your prayers for his recovery. We know God is doing great things through all of your faith and prayers.

God Bless,
January, Jed & Jackson

Chillin With My Boy

It's such a relief that Jackson is on the road to recovery, it is like a village of 800 pound gorillas have vacated my chest! January is at home getting some much needed rest, and I am here in my comfortable new socks while my boy is enjoying his morphine cocktail. They're waking him up to induce coughing now and then to keep his lungs free from fluid build-up. So far so good. The fluids from his chest cavity are draining nicely and he is eating plenty of mommy's milk. All of this to say the recovery is going as good as we had hoped, maybe even better.

God has made his goodness known in this trial by bringing healing to my son, and hopefully providing for a speedy and thorough recovery. Though this is in part through the incredible skill of the Children's medical staff, we are convinced that this has been enabled by the sovereign hand of our God moving the hearts of so many of you to prayer and action.

Praise be to God!

Surgery Update (4:00)

Praise our merciful God! Jackson's surgery went well. He has been moved to the ICU where he will be recovering for the next couple of days. I'll post more in a few hours, but the doctors are very pleased with the operation. He should be brought out of sedation sometime tonight or tomorrow morning.

Surgery Update (11:30)

Jed, January, Bill (January's dad), and Jackson arrived at the hospital at 6:00am. Jackson was wide eyed and as happy as ever. Jed and January spent sometime with the surgeon and the prep work began. Near 8:00am January and Jed held Jackson closely... then with great courage and tears entrusted baby Jackson into the arms of the medical team and into the hands of Jesus. We just received an update from the nurses and everything is going just like it is supposed to. The team is currently working on patching up the hole in Jackson's heart and he is on the heart and lung machine. People have been coming and going at the hospital and we are doing our best to hold each other well. Jed and January are so thankful for your prayers... and ask for continued prayer over the next few hours. Updates will come throughout the day. With love.