Jason Held Christian Today!!!

First, there was the discovery of the new world... Then, there was the first man on the moon... And today, there was me holding my baby for the first time in almost 11 weeks, a day in my life that I will never, ever forget. All is not lost with his recovery.

On Sunday afternoon last week, Christian aspirated, stopped breathing and took ten minutes of resuscitation to recover from his episode. The doctors told us that he would more than likely not live through the episode. They told us that we would be able to hold him if he passed. We cried like we've never cried before. We prayed like we've never prayed before. I begged like I've never begged before.

And our prayers were heard. All of your prayers were heard.

Though he is still critical, Christian is still very much alive and with us. He survived his episode, though at what cost is still unknown. He has been on a steady dose of three antibiotics and nitric oxide. His oxygen levels have been extremely high. He has dipped and raised, dipped and raised, but he is seeming to recover. His color today was very pink and healthy and his weight is up to 3 lbs. 13 oz. He continues to grow and to look healthy as an ox on the outside. His lungs are showing minimal improvement from the x-rays, but he seems to be slowly getting better. The doctors told us he was as sick as a little baby can get and that he was septic from a severe infection.

However, he was well enough today that the nurses felt he was strong enough to be taken out of his incubator and placed in his daddy's arms, and I can't even begin to describe what a feeling it was. To receive such indescribable joy from an event that is taken for granted thousands of times a day around the world... It was incredible. Time stood still. It is a moment that will profoundly mark my lifetime and leave a lasting impact on my psyche. I held him for an hour and begrudgingly shared him with Michelle (I say begrudgingly with the utmost of love and affection) so that she too could hold him for an additional hour. After the ordeal we have been through the past few days, this meant more to us than any single other thing that we could have possibly received, done, heard, etc... Multiplied one hundred fold. It was simply indescribable.

Our prayer for a sign was answered today, and we continue to pray for our little boy. Please continue to pray with us for God to hold our little boy in His arms and to heal him. We love you all and appreciate your thoughts and prayers more than you will ever know. You have had a profound impact on this family's lives.

With Love,

Jason & Michelle