Struggles continue!!!

Connor continues to struggle. He is only sleeping for moments at a time and then he wakes up startled, coughing and gagging and screaming. His oxygen requirements have definately gone up and he is needing a lot more support then I had anticipated. His coloring is changing to a pretty constant sheen of dusky grey and when his oxygen is quite low, he is turning blue around his lips. It is so hard to see Connor this way. I am so thankful that my mom is here with me because this is certainly not a job for one person. Connor demands constant attention and it is exhausting. My prayer is that he can actually hold out until the surgery without having some kind of emergency. Connor needs a miracle. His body needs to find relief and rest and at the current moment, I don't see this in sight. Please continue praying.

Today is the funeral for our dear sweet friend Alanah. I was asked by the family to be a special speaker so I prepared the following words to be read at todays service. Please pray that God would give me strength to do this most difficult task!!!


Alanah Catherine Jewett
Celebration of Life
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The greatest gift that God could send
He sent with love to you.
A sweet and helpless little child
She was an obligation too.
Each baby that God gives to us, is merely lent awhile
To cherish, love, protect and guard, from every snare and wile.
To form within her childish heart, His image good and true.
God bless you baby Alanah and may you always know,
The blessings you brought to our lives, we forever now bestow.

It was 3 ½ months ago that the Jewett’s entered my life. We share the experience of a critically ill child, long days and endless nights in the ICU at Children’s Hospital and our faith and trust in God. The closeness shared between parents who have sick children is truly remarkable. We celebrate milestones together and we grieve losses heart to heart. Today we grieve the loss of one of God’s precious angels, Alanah Catherine Jewett. I remember the very 1st day I met Alanah and how I was struck with her gorgeous dark hair and her seemingly endless gaze. Her presence had a way of climbing straight into your heart and mine was no different. In my interactions with Alanah, it was her sweetness and grace that I will always treasure.

Alanah knew what every baby should know. She knew the love of her mother and she knew the strength of her father. She knew the giggles of her sisters Kaylin & Rosali when they would climb into her hospital crib. She knew the melody of the songs her grandma would sing to her while she cradled her. Alanah also knew things that most babies never know. She knew the look of an operating room and the sounds of monitor alarms. She knew the myriad of faces of the doctors & nurses that were responsible for her care (and I’m sure she had her favorites!) She knew the pain of needle pokes & IV’s and she knew the struggles of being a baby born with a major heart defect.

Although Alanah knew these things and was well acquainted with the discomforts of infant sickness, I believe that because of this she was also very familiar with the face of God. The face of God followed her into procedures and operating rooms when her parents could not. The face of God was etched upon her delicate eyelids as she lay in her crib sleeping. The face of God she knew so well from the very moment she was conceived within her mother’s womb. When Alanah left the arms of God to be born to her parents, I’m sure He smiled & winked at her before he delivered her into the ever-waiting arms of Corey and Shawna. I believe that her only instruction from the Lord was that she bring the joy and hope of heaven to all she came into contact with on earth. Well, Alanah followed those instructions perfectly. I can say as one who spent time with her that she opened up heaven to me each time I looked into her eyes. On Wednesday when Alanah left the arms of her parents and was once again entered into heaven, I believe the Lord held her close and with a tear of welcome in His eyes He said, “Job well done Alanah. You have brought My love into the world and the world will never be the same again.”

To Alanah’s parents, Corey & Shawna and to the entire family my prayer for you is this:
In your weakest moments, hold on to the fight that you witnessed time and time again in Alanah.
In your darkest hours, look to the light and glimmer that abounded in Alanah’s gaze.
In your hours of deepest grief, allow God’s grace to twinkle around your hearts just like Alanah twinkled each time you held her.
May the sweet and tender arms of Heaven embrace you with love, envelop you with peace and comfort you with all hope.
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Please say extra prayers for my mom as she will be here with Connor by herself for about 3 hours while I am gone at the funeral. Pray for stability for Connor and clarity for mom!!!! Thanks for your faithfulness!!!

Lovebug Hugs,
Lori