Baby Jonah’s Struggle Update
Baby Jonah
Jan. 12th, from the Silverburg’s, missionaries in Bronx, New York, regarding their critically ill, new born son, Jonah.
Dear Praying Family,
I am trying to dig out from the snow.Cars are plowed in and sidewalk must be cleared. No place to put the snow, so i must carry shovels full and make a pile. Right arm won’t raise up anymore.Val took Shakinah and went to spend the day w/Jonah. I am watching Joshy and Josiah. Jonah is still w/ us. He has not moved or been conscious since last Tuesday’s surgery. So far 3 cardiac arrest’s. The doctors did a sonogram of his brain yesterday, at his bed, not daring to move him again. They are trying to be optomistic and hope there is no permanent brain damage, but he has not reacted to pain yet. They gave him some pain med’s and changed the dressing on his wide open chest yesterday. They are hopeful that they can close him up by Friday.
Please continue to pray w/ us that they can close him up because the risk of infection is huge. Also, please pray for no brain damage and that he will wake up soon. To close him up, he must drain fluid, so please pray about blood pressure issues.
We are greatful to you for sharing our burden w/ us.
In Christ’s Love,
Marty for Val
Please keep all these things in prayer as the Silverbergs are going through this trial. It would be a special blessing if you were to leave them an encouragement by posting a comment to this post.
Feel The Pain Baby
I just received this update on baby Jonah:
From the Silverbergs (Missionaries in New York)
This is another update from a family whose baby is fighting for his life after some intense heart surgery. See previous postings for more information and join us in prayer!
Dear Praying Family,
I just found out from Val what happened to Jonah on Saturday, as I was unable to get to the hospital because I was caring for Josh. Val thought she told me,but she didn’t.
Aparently, when being moved for a cat scan to check his brain function, Jonah, “coded”. He went into cardiac arrest, could not be revived with the paddles, and had no vital signs for some time. They did eventually revive him.
Thus, they are afraid to move him again, so they have taken him off pain medication to hope he feels pain and reacts. If he does not react, he could have irreversable and severe brain damage, or no brain function at all.Please pray with us. It sounds terrible, but we hope he reacts to pain, and not just feel it.
In Christ’s Love,
Marty for Val
So dear praying friends, you can see several prayer needs here:
•that someone could care for sibling Josh so that both parents can get to the hospital;
•great physical needs for baby Jonah;
•guard the health of Val & Marty, give them supernatural peace
•wisdom, insight and skill of medical staff
•Godwilling, a miracle so profound that God receives great glory and observers come to faith and spiritual growth
•that they all are comforted by love & support of our prayers.
Please take this time to let them know that you are praying; let us shower them with the love of God. Please add a comment, Bible verse, or whatever encouragement that you feel lead to post for them.
I created this edited photo of Baby Jonah as an encouragement and entitled it “Showers of Prayers for Baby Jonah”.
Baby Jonah Pics
Baby Jonah 2011-01-03
WARNING: the family want to share photos of their baby Jonah fighting for his life right now, but also are sensitive to the fact that some people may not be up to viewing his medical process photos. Others will find these photos a wonderment as they see the extremes that medical personnel are employing on behalf of this tiny little boy. Therefore, I have placed the medical photos as a link [med photo]- if you want to see for yourself. You decide. In any case, I will at least post his pre-surg photo to spur on your prayers <3.
Here is what Jonah’s parents said about the photos:
If you would be willing, we’d like to share more of our burden with you. If you are willing and able, we’d like to e-mail a picture of Jonah to you, we believe that a picture is worth a thousand words. We do not wish to offend or disturb any one of you. We are merely seeking to share our heavy burden and believe if you were able to see our little baby, you might be able to even better pray for us. The picture may be disturbing, so if you are willing and able to see it, just click on the link [med photo]. Thank you again so very very much.
Two pictures are of Jonah before he went for his first surgery (Mon. 1/3). The other two are of him [med photo] 1 day after his first surgery (Wed. 1/5) AND [med photo] The next day (Thurs. 1/6) he was taken into surgery again to open up his vein to open up a blockage that was preventing him from fully draining the fluids from his body. Even more lines and tubes and meds were placed at that time. (no pics of that).
Please pray that he would continue drain the fluids so that the doctors will be able to close his chest. The original plan was to close it on Monday, but he had an episode on (Fri 1/7) – he was moved in order to take a CAT scan because his eyes were dilated and they were concerned about possible swelling on the brain. When they brought him back to his room, his blood pressure dropped and his heartbeat was erratic. So they had to give him fluids and more meds to get him stable again. So that put off the surgery for at least one more day. He has begun a round of antibiotics, because the longer his chest is open the greater his risk of infection. So again please pray that they would be able to get the fluids out and the swelling down enough that they would be able to close his chest.
Thanks again for all of your love and prayers, Marty & Val
Additionally, here is a photo of Jonah’s Big sister with him. Let’s keep her in our prayers as well. God is at work in a mighty way in this tiny little one. Remember, YOU can leave comments to encourage them.
