Monday, May 12, 2008

my friend Sam









geee three posts in two days--what is up with that?
Anyway-- I have dear family and church friend named Sam. This picture is of Sam soon after he came to New Day (new day foster home) He is 3 yrs old. He was born in China but met his forever family and came to the USA about 18 months ago. Family consist of a mom and dad (who i call Vicki and Rick) his big sister Stacie, two older brothers, Ryan and Eric, and another sister who is 3 months younger than him and from China too.
anyway back to Sam--- he was born with some congenital defects of the heart and lung. What should have been a simple surgery to repair his problems when he was an infant. The situation was serious but they did not have the ability to repair it. He has had two major operations since he has been home. And he seemed to be doing soooo much better and he had pink fingers. <<<<>>>> I got a email from his momma today and wanted to ask you all to say a prayer or two for Sam. I am copying her email here--

I am sending this prayer request out to all of you who love Sam and have been such great prayer warriors in the past for him. We are once again in the need of your prayers.

On Friday his cardiologist in Knoxville, TN called with his latest echocardiogram results. She told us that the right side of his heart was “thick” , extremely big and that he has pulmonary hypertension. She started him on medication that day in the hopes of taking some of the pressure off of his heart. Her exact words were “this is life threatening”

I was able to speak to her longer today about this condition and his outlook. It is our hope that the medicine will work and help lower the pressure in his heart/lungs and that this can be reversible. She is giving him the best oral drug she can and if it does not work well for him than they can give him an IV port and he will receive his medications thru IV. They can also (and may very well) put a small hole back in his heart that will act like a “pop off” valve so when the pressures are getting too high the blood will have an alternate route. This seems crazy since a hole in his heart was one of the repairs they just made and will of course put him back to the lower oxygen levels and bring back some of that “blue” color he had but if that will help him than we are all for it.


He returns to the Mayo in Rochester MN in July for a heart cath and they should be able to give us a much clearer idea of his condition and possible treatments. Our Knoxville cardiologist also told us they should also be able to tell us if it is reversible or not. If it is not reversible than we will be looking at a heart lung transplant in the future.

We ask you to pray that 1) The medication work 2) the pulmonary hypertension be considered reversible and 3) that we can get insurance cooperation concerning his medication (currently they WILL NOT pay for it and it is the only thing he can take orally. It is VERY expensive and Rick is currently unemployed so we are already stretched) 4) That Sam continue to have a good attitude about all of the doctors and hospital visits. HE IS SUCH A TROOPER! He always goes in with a smile but it is getting hard on him.

We know that ultimately God’s will be done in this and all situations and while we may not understand it we know that he knows more and sees more than we can possible comprehend. He has bigger plans for our family than we can possibly imagine. We ask that you also remember our family in your prayers as we struggle to understand all the doctors tell us and try to do the best for Samuel. In the meantime as we wait for a clearer picture of Sam’s prognosis we remember Gods words in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”

Blessings,

Vicky Long

www.samuelsheart.com

2 comments:

Ann Marie said...

Oh, sweetie, prayers said, although it looks like I am late. Is he okay?

Brenda is SO Blessed said...

Ann, Thank you so much for the prayers. there have been more problems. Sunday he started fainting (something he never did even at his worst).He has fainted at least twice. His Mom just posted that she has talked to both his cardiogist and he is having a echo on monday morning. The words 'life threatening" were used again. According to the results of the Echo they may be heading back to MN to Mayo on monday afternoon---six weeks ahead of schedule. As I think of all that would entale my heart breaks for them---dad with no job, mom working 3 jobs, 5 kids, 2 3yr olds, 2 teens and one 20 yr old..... I just dont understand why this is happening to my little man. i know not to ??? why God does things and to trust in Him with all things-- but it just seems like Sam cant get a break. Please, please continue to say prayers for them. They sure weigh heavy on my heart.......