Yesterday I shared how my heart was breaking for my sweet friends baby Thatcher. I recieved so much support from my friends and I wanted to now share with you guys whats going on with Thatcher. Whitney (Thatcher's mommy) and I grew up living across the street from eachother. Whitney, Robin (her sister) and I spent every day together and were basically sisters. They moved to the Woodlands when I was around 10 but we still tried to stay in touch. Thatcher's grandpa even married Chris and I.
Below is a note taken from Whitney's facebook acount. I wanted to share it with you guys becuase her faith thru this is beyond inspiring. Her husband Eric and and her really are seeing the bigger picture of God's glory. Please just continue to lift this family up in prayer!
Hi friends,There's a lot to share so I thought a note would work best. We went to my obgyn this morning for Thatcher's 36 wk visit, and 3rd trimester ultrasound. On the ultrasound he measured a little small at 4.11 lbs so my doctor decided to do a non-stress test to make sure his hear rate was good and was reacting normal with movements. Thatcher failed that test, so we were sent to the hospital to try again and to get a biophysical profile (an ultrasound where they test his amniotic fluid, his movement, his lung/diaphragm movement, and placenta.) He failed the nst again and on the bpp the radiologist found swelling in both ventricles of Thatchers brain caused by an old brain bleed that had gone unnoticed. We were sent downtown for further testing and for an MRI to see what brain damage were looking at. Since arriving downtown Thatcher has PASSED a non-stress test, weighed in at 5.4 lbs and has more fluid around him! So MRI has been postponed and another bpp has been scheduled for 8 am tomorrow. They claim the drs in the woodlands may have misread the original nsts and the bpp and they are reassured with the way thatcher is responding. We know these positive results are the outcome of God's healing power from our friends and family praying on our behalf! We are now asking all of you to join us in boldly asking God to completely heal Thatcher and stump the specialists who are coming to do an ultrasound at 8am tomorrow! Thank you for praying with us for our sweet baby Thatcher!!!
Update from today (2/14) after the MRI:
We got the results from the MRI this evening, the doctors have basically given up on Thatcher, they said that the MRI revealed that there is significant atrophy to thatchers brain in both the upper and lower parts, they do not know how long he will live once he comes and they don't know that he will even make it to delivery. They have told us to enjoy what time we have with him and prepare as best we can... We have not given up. We know Thatcher is God's child, he is still here and he is still alive and we will continue to pray boldly for healing fully knowing that God is bigger than anything, any ailment or disease or sickness. Thatcher is still kicking and we rejoice in every move that he makes, we will fiercely love this child no matter what Gods will is for him. Thank you so much for your prayers and support this far, please continue to pray for healing.
We love you all and are so thankful and humbled by your prayers. Facebook and text messages are fine but please allow us some time to wrap our minds around everything we've learned today.
Update from 2/15 after Pediatric Neurologist consult:
The majority of today was a waiting game. This morning we met with the maternal fetal medicine surgeon (the same doctor who brought us the MRI results last night) to make sure we understood what information was given last night and to answer any questions we had. There weren't any new developments, or a change to his prognosis. The positives out of the meeting were he admitted it's his job to give us a worst case scenario picture, and Thatcher not making it to delivery or only living a few hours is our worst case scenario. Also, he agreed with us that Thatcher's movements and his "breathing practice" were good signs of some basic functions. This afternoon we met with the pediatric neurologist who essentially had the same diagnosis, major atrophy to Thatcher's gray and white brain tissue resulting in hydrocephalus exvacuo (enlarged ventricles) but a much improved prognosis. She couldn't give us a life expectancy, put a cap as to how long he might live. She did say he will be in an infantile state for the duration of his life. He will struggle with mental retardation, seizures, movement ability and control, ability to chew, to go the restroom, to sit, to walk among many other challenges. BUT that's not what today was about, the things Thatcher won't be able to do. Today was full of peace, of a renewal of our spirits, revelations of God's goodness, and full of evidence of God's miracles both big and small. We have prayed from the beginning of this pregnancy that God would use Thatcher in a big way to bring glory to His name. Today, God used Thatcher to bring people together from all over the US to The Netherlands, Africa, China, Greece, and Australia to look to Him in prayer. A baby who they've told us will not develop past infancy has done more for the Kingdom of God before he is even born than his two parents have ever done! Praise God! We are more convinced than ever that He is using our child to bring glory to His name and will continue to do so in a big way. We are continuing to trust in Him, our Creator and Perfecter of life. We know He can heal and we believe He will heal His child, our sweet baby Thatcher. Thank you all for your prayers, stories of healing, and encouraging words. We are so humbled and blessed by the out-pouring of love from our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. We only ask that you continue to go to God with expectancy of Him healing sweet Thatcher in accordance to His will.
