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.

Outpouring of Support

January and I have been so deeply touched by the prayers and support that so many of you have offered up for Jackson, January and I. Simply because of your overwhelming compassion, we probably will not have the chance to thank each of you who have called to leave voicemails, or left comments, or sent e-mails. With that said, thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.

We have had the honor of seeing so many people from so many different Christian traditions come to our aid in this time of need. It is amazing how brilliantly Christ is made manifest when we set aside our peripheral issues and stop contending with each other, and unite around a common cause, compelled by the deeper love of Christ Himself and contend for each other. I know that this has brought a great deal of healing for me personally, and January and I have felt an increasing measure of peace, even though the stress grows as we approach tomorrow.

Here's a brief list of items that you can be praying for:
1. Above all else that God's good will be done in Jackson's life as he grows and lives his life before Him.
2. That Jackson's surgery would go as planned as God endows Dr. Lamberti and his team with the fullest measures of skill and care, and that the procedure will go without complication
3. That post-op, Jackson would be protected from infection and clotting, and his heart would beat within normal thresholds (ie: correct rhythm, rate, etc.), and he would be free of excessive buildup of fluid in his chest as he recovers.
4. That God would be giving us peace and confidence in His love as we face the stresses of tomorrow and in the coming days.

If you think of other things to be praying for, by all means pray. Pray as Christ would, pray for the things that Christ values remembering His promise:

If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it - John 14:14

Wondering how you can help?

Many people have been asking how they can help out Jed and January... here are a few ways:

1. Faithful prayer: Prayer for Jackson's recovery and rest for Jed and january. Prayer that God's love may be proclaimed to those who don't know Him through this situation.
2. Friendly words of encouragement: A way to show support can be a simple note, card, or email. Jed and January feel so loved by little simple words of encouragement. It helps just to know that people are thinking about them. Even posting a comment on this blog has meant so much. Here is their address/email:
jedpaschall@gmail.com
january.paschall@gmail.com

Jed, January and Jackson Paschall
2746 Flower Fields Way
Carlsbad, CA. 92010

3. Financially: Thankfully Jed and January have good health insurance that will cover most of the medical bills. But there are always hidden costs, co-pays, and medicines. Jed will have to take a few days off of work 'unpaid' and January is using all of her sick days in order to stay home with Jackson while he heals. Little gifts are also encouraging: gift cards to restaurants, target, or the grocery store. If you feel led to help with out, you can send your gift to the address listed above.

4. Food: For all of you who love to cook we need your help! Once the surgery is completed and the Paschalls are back at home we want to organize weekly (3 times a wk) meals. click here to sign up.

They're so grateful for your love & support! Your kindness helps them get thru these hard days.