Two Years

Tonight marks the two year point in our lives of parenting Zachary. We were scared for the outcome. We trusted God but didn't know the depth of His Love for us at the time.

Two years ago Becky and I went on a date before being admitted to the hospital to give birth. One of the best parts of our relationship is the focus that we have on spending time away from our responsibilities to focus on each other. We try to have dates where we focus on face to face time where we can talk and flirt and laugh together. Other dates we focus on side by side time where we go see a movie or go people watching or hiking. 

This date was unlike any other date due to the fact that the next days/weeks/months would be some of the lowest points of our lives. We decided to go see a movie on this date. As the lights dimmed and previews started, I couldn't draw my mind away from this burden. Yes, our eyes watched the screen, but I am not sure how much we processed. 

Finally, it was time... To Scottsdale Shea Hospital, we go. The nurses hooked up Becky to all the usual equipment in a labor and delivery wing. We then were assigned a nurse to assist us with this process. She found out quickly the information that we had on Zachary and understood the risks. She remembered us from the time that Becky had to go to the ER due to pregnancy complications. 

Fast forward to the morning shift... Becky is ready for the baby to come out. She was starting to have contractions and they were more regular now. 

12pm 

Zachary was born!!  The delivery went well. Zachary was a little 4lb 13 Oz baby, but melted every heart in the room. The room was extra crowded as the NICU team had to be ready to rock 'n' roll if Zachary had complications.

Notice the lack of scars on his chest

His cry was so quiet. The room had to be silent for you to hear it. (It wasn't.) I hovered next to him just so I could see him for the first time. 

"Wow! He is so precious. Thank you Lord for this moment!" I thought. Then I thought "Lord, please let him live!"

The NICU team had to whisk Zachary away to test and scan and find out the extent of some of Zachary's medical abnormalities. We were advised to rest as this will take time. So Becky and I laid down in our respective areas in our room and took a nap. I woke up before Becky and wandered down to the NICU to see my son. The docs had just finished his tests so I could hold him!!!! I noticed right away there were multiple tubes and monitor leads going to Zachary. It took two nurses to help me with all of the cords and tubes so that I didn't disconnect anything and send the NICU team crashing into his room.

He was so small. He was about half the weight of my other sons when they were born.  How will he ever make it?

He only had a quick wipe down from the birth, so I could see his hair was still matted but it didnt matter, he was my son. The cardiologist tried to explain his findings to me, but it was a blur. Mitral valve what? Was it Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome or Hyperplastic... All I cared about is will he make it? Can he endure the surgeries that he needs just to live? What will his life be like?  How is God going to use this for His Glory?

Becky was finally allowed to go see Zachary in the NICU and was able to really hold him for the first time.

That first night we did not sleep well.  Becky had to get up regularly as moms do after a delivery.  The next morning was when Zachary would leave Scottsdale Shea and head to Phoenix Childrens.

Our only family photo with Zachary until he was 4 months old.

Zachary spent 17 weeks at Phoenix Childrens for his first visit.  He had one scheduled GI (intestine) surgeries followed over the next couple days by two emergency GI surgeries because the stitches kept breaking.  He was failing to thrive on Christmas and our only option was to remove the ventilator and pray to God that Zachary would breathe on his own.  He did!!!!

Then around Valentines Day, Zachary decided to outgrow his trachea (airway) and had to be put on the really expensive Heliox treatment which infused Helium into the air mixture that was pushed into his face mask.  Finally, we made it to the open heart surgery following the tracheal slide reconstructive surgery (same day).   About eight hours after the surgery ended (a long procedure to begin with) his heart stopped for a minute... He almost didn't make it out of room 5103.

When doctors and nurses hover, it's not good. 

Zachary about 2 hours post surgery.

Look at the IV meds on the pole on the left.

Zachary's airway was still collapsing and so he would turn dark blue and his blood would desaturate (Blood typically is at 99% oxygenation, we saw 16% at one of the episodes.) Finally the surgeons found that Zachary needed a bronchial stent to hold open his left bronchial tube to his lung.

Becky was unable to hold Zachary after the heart surgery for almost three weeks.  This is her smile when she just got to pick him up for his bedding change.  

And then he went home on April Fools Day 2014!!!

This double stroller was full of Zachary's equipment needed.  

The boys get to see Zachary for the first time outside the hospital.  

Love that smile!!!

Mother's Day 2014 - Dedicated Zachary to God. What a day!

Josiah and Zachary have such a bond.  Josiah is always making Zachary (and us) laugh!

Mr. Muscles!!!

Our visit to Scottish Rite Hospital in Texas to plan for Zachary's hand surgery.

He finally had a 'normal' ER visit to PCH due to him acting his age! Praise God!

No matter the outcome we prayed that God would be glorified.  We want to share our story NOT so that we would have your sympathy, but to show how steady God's hand is when you walk thru hell.

Becky and I have turned to this passage A LOT over the last couple of years.  We pray that it encourages you as well.

Matt 6:25-34

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you,  O you of little faith?  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

He would go on to spend more than 8 months in the hospital before today.  He has had almost a dozen ER visits with a handful of visits resulting in being admitted, but through it all God has been with us.  He has carried us this far and we are thriving because of it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUDE!!  2 YEARS OLD!!