Pray today!

Mercy’s PICC line stopped working correctly yesterday. The PICC line has been the primary way she has received nutrition for the past two months, and she’s been able to gain weight on it. It’s crucial to have this access. They twice attempted to replace the PICC yesterday but were unsuccessful. Today at 1:30 she’s going to Interventional Radiation for the third and final try at the PICC. The next step if it’s unsuccessful is surgery to place a line in her neck - pray this PICC works!

She’ll require intubation and general anesthetic. The last intubation didn’t go so well for Mercy, we’re hoping they figure out her airway this time without too much trauma.

This PICC operation is immediately worrisome, but it’s perhaps more worrisome that she is still dealing with the same gas distention issues she’s had for two months now.

We’re hoping to try a new motility drug on Monday. The drug requires nominal feeding to pass the drug into her small intestine. Neonatal docs have been hesitant to try even this minuscule feed because they’re worried about perforating her bowels if the feeding causes her to distend too much, but too much time without food in her digestive system is also harmful. And if the drug doesn’t work there are a few more interventions to try, including a biopsy once she gains a bit more weight. We’re praying for wisdom for the entire team.

For me, this week has been a bit discouraging. We’re having the same discussions with doctors, and Mercy is just not making progress. The longer she goes without improving, the more likely it is that her difficulties will increase.

This morning, in the middle of discouragement, God sent an encouraging truth my way:

I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy.

Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!

- Psalm 116: 1-2

He hears our prayers for Mercy. I love this gorgeous little baby girl, and I'm going to pray as long as I have breath. Thanks all for praying with us.