Dear Praying Family,

Thank you for your continued prayer, love,support and encouagement.
Jonah has contracted a Sepsis infection in his blood. He has had many transfusions.
The source of the infection has not been determined.
He has been very close to death 2 times this week.
The Lord is also very close to him, and us as well.
We are trusting in Christ, who loves us all so very much.

Jonah is being treated with anti biotics.
Just seeking more prayer, hoping your Church may receive this in time to pray as a Church.
So glad to have you as our supporters.
So glad to have the Mission, BMM, so strongly behind us, there for us.

Looking forward to a good time of worshiping our Lord, and ministering to our Church family.

Thanks again, so very much. It’s been a long hard journey. Jonah has been thru so very much,
it really hurts to see him have to struggle so. He can be in no better place, as in the will of Jesus.
Nor can any of us.

We love you dearly,
In Christ’s Love,
Marty for Val

I am posting this from my church in hopes that you will have time to pray in yours.

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As of April 5th…2011

Dear Praying Family,

We are ever so greatful to you all for your prayers for us and our baby.

We went thru some dark days, as it looked again that we would lose Jonah,

but God has answered our prayers once again.

Jonah is still running a fever, but is mildly improving.

There is talk of possibly releasing him to a rehab hospital in Westchester,

in possibly as little as a month, or as long as 6 months.

We look forward to this, yet the challenge of having Jonah an hour away, instead of a few minutes

is one we have no idea how to work out logistically with considerations of the entire families needs.

We are still completely on our own in regards to staying w/ Jonah at the hospital and caring for our

other 3 children.

This has been a most difficult and challenging time in our lives.

The Lord has supplied us w/ strength, although at times it seems we are not able to rise to the callenges,

but God is with us.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers for Jonah’s recovery and for our family.

Jonah is 14 weeks old today. He is still in ICU.

In Christ’s love,

Marty for Val Silverberg

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God has shown us great miracles in the fact that little Jonah has lived through all that he has. This tiny child has literally been brought back from death’s doorway via heart attacks and breathing problems… he’s endured high fevers, poor breathing, digestion, and brain wave activity… it’s truly amazing!

If you are new to Baby Jonah’s plight, please just search “Baby Jonah” even in this site’s search box and you can read how very much this family has endured. God is faithful all the way along, and we may not understand what is being accomplished by all of this. However, of this one thing we can be sure: God is, always has been, and will always be…IN CONTROL!

NOW:

Dear Praying Family,

Jonah’s condition has taken another turn for the worse.

His Sepsis infection has returned, he is running a fever,

his central line is infected, and he is generally doing very poorly.

3 attempts were made to put in a new line, all failed.

The cardiac team does not want a line put in his upper body,

as they still hold out hope for the next round of surgeries to

save Jonah’s life. Upper body lines would eliminate the chance for

such future surgeries. The team meets today to discuss what to do.

Jonah is still unable to digest nutrients, and is on the ventilator attached to his

trach tube.

We are very worn out as well.

Thank you for your continued faithful prayers.

Jonah will be 13 weeks old tomorrow.

In Christ’s Love,

Marty for Val

on the 24th after his Trach tube surgery

“Dear Praying Family,
Trach surgery went well. Jonah continues to recover from it. Please continue in prayer for him and the rest of our family. We are hoping and praying for him to recover from this surgery, and his sepsis infection. Then we hope to find out why he is not digesting any nutrients. It has been suggested that his G-tube, for feeding is leaking.
Thank you so very much.”
In Christ’s Love,
Marty for Val

All of this has been such a long trial. Please join me in praying for God’s best to be evident. That the most awesome glory go to God while the wonders He has wrought through this little one’s life testify to His love for every detail of every heart beat, breath and movement. Of course, I am asking for Jonah’s physical comfort and healing, but also his emotional peace. I cannot imagine! Does he get to be cuddled at all with all the tubes? I pray so. I know that Val has made every effort to be at his side as much as possible and is surely having physical contact with him.

I am asking specifically for prayer for Jonah’s mother and father, Val and Marty Silverberg. How very hard it must be to see there little one in distress. I am also asking that as you look at your own family gathered around the dinner table, or as you read them a bedtime story and tuck them into bed; or as you simply hold them in your lap close to your chest — will you not send a great prayer of thanksgiving for the precious gift that you have been given in that child(ren)?

Now, will you also lift up a heart-felt prayer for Jonah’s older brothers and sister? These children haven’t gotten to even play with their little brother, but in their limited child-like understanding, have to come to terms with “we don’t know”. His older sister Shakinah is especially sensitive to the precarious uncertainties of her little brother’s future.

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Baby Jonah will be facing yet another surgery Tuesday the 22nd. After being born with a major heart deformaty only about four months ago, this tiny boy has not even been able to go home to his missionary parents home with his older brother and sisters. Marty and Val Silverberg have had to face numerous surgeries, near death episodes, nutritional concerns, brain functioning scares, recently a sepsis infection due to numerous blood transfusions and now … tomorrow, Tuesday, March 22nd, little Jonah faces a life threatening surgery as they place a trachiotomy tube which may prove too great a strain on his weak heart.

Dear Praying Family,
 
Jonah is still not receiving food.
He is on IV drip.
 
Val has decided to go ahead w/ Tracheotomy surgery.
She wants to be able to take him home.
He cannot breathe on his own. Drs. say it is a mystery why.
He is not able to digest nutrients either.
Trach surgery comes w/ risk of fatal heart attack.
Hoping for surgery this week.
Little Jonah has been thru so much.
Please continue to Pray w/ us for a miraculous recovery.
Also, we all need strength to go on.
 
We have received much encouragement from some of you, esp those, going thru or having gone thru similiar. Thank you for sharing w/ us your pain and encouraging us.
 
In spite of reports stating different, we are still w/o any help either at home or at the hospital.
We are grateful for a woman and her daughter who want to come and help from 2 hours away, and are prayerfully working thru the best way to receive their help, which may be available Mondays and Saturday afternoon.
 
Thank you so very much for your continued prayer support during this long and difficult time.
Jonah will be 12 weeks old on Tuesday.
 
In Christ’s Love,
Marty for Val

AND THEN

Dear Praying Family,
 
We received a call tonight that Jonah will have the Trach put in tomorrow, which is Tuesday, 3/22/11.
 
Val is a bit out of sorts as the heart specialist is weary of this trach surgery at this time, and Jonah’s ability to live thru this. Val feels it needs to be done, and I support her decision.
 
Also found ouit from Josh’s bus driver that tomorrow, Tuesday is a half day for Josh, further pushing things out of sorts. We had many other things on the sched for tomorrow also, we’ll see what the Lord allows.
 
Thank you again for your prayers.
 
In Christ’s Love,
Marty for Val

I hope you will keep this tiny soul, his family and the surgeons and nurses who care for him in you prayers.

Dear Val & Marty,
I am especially praying for you to have blessed assurance and that your darling little one will be cradled in the loving arms of God as he faces this next big event. I do believe God is sparing the child much of the pain we loved ones fear he is going through. We have such a loving and merciful Father.
Alongside you in the Spirit, Ellen

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I like counting down toward Springtime, because I KNOW my time of struggling will be at an end…soon.

Unlike the seasons of a calendar year our seasons of testing and trials do not usually come with a fixed end date to be marked on our calender of events. In fact, while we are enduring the various pains of such a season of gloominess, it may actually seem as if we will never emerge from it. Yet, God’s Word has various places of encouragement for us in these times. God will never leave us or forsake us. He loves us; seeks only our betterment as His children. God allows us to undergo suffering from time to time so that we might more readily identify what Jesus Christ did to deliver us from our sins.

Spring IS coming; Winter WILL end.

Here is an update from Marty & Val Silverberg who are missionaries in the Bronx. There have been numerous postings on little Baby Jonah who has really had quite a struggle physically all his 4 little months of life. You may find out more about his story by simply searching “Baby Jonah prayer” on this site or just search it on the web.

Dear Praying Family,

There is little change in Jonah’s condition.
Sepsis infection is improving a little.
Another serious situation in which Jonah is not
able to digest nutrients even after surgery and w/ a g tube for feeding.

Your continued prayers are very much appreciated.
Thank you again.

In Christ’s Love,
Marty for Val

Please join us in continuing to pray for Jonah’s many physical needs and the Silverberg family as a whole.

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Dear Praying Family,

” The Lord’s Mercies are New Every Morning”

Thank you so very much for your love, prayers and support.

Jonah had another crisis on Wed

He had a virus and very high fever.

Valerie said he had thew RSV virus, caught from human contact.

The doctors could not control the fever. His heart rate was over 200 beats/ min.

for most of the day. The doctors and nurses worked feverishly over him.

Valerie told me as she watched, she was afraid he was dying, and the Doctors

couldn’t stop it from happening.

Well. Praise to the Lord, he began to come around and do better.

Val spent the night again at the hospital on Wed.

Jonah is not well but doing a little better.

We are still seeking help w/ someone to stay w/ Jonah when Val is not there.

We are also looking for the right person to hire for some nights w/ Jonah.

We are very thankful for the young women who did this to help us for 2 1/2 weeks.

Naomi was a huge blessing. How wonderful for her Family and Church to allow her to come

all the way from upstate NYand stay for that time. She asked for nothing in return. Only to

be a blessing.

It has now been over 2 weeks since she had to leave.

Also, we are praying for someone who can help on a regular basis  w/ our 3 children, form 2-9 PM,

like 5 days a week. Or a part of that time or days. We need some continued regularity  for the

childrens’ sake.

Josh is a handful, so the situation needs to be appropriate, as I will be home some of that time.

When Jonah comes home, we will still need the help.

If we lived by the Church, some folks would help. We live several neighborhoods away, and no one

in the Church has a vehicle. We also live by a different subway line.

Please pray w/ us for the Lord to provide the above mentioned help.

Thank you again, so very much for being there for us to rest our burdens on.

We love you very much,

In Christ’s Love,

Marty for Val

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Silverberg Family ’09 Bronx,NY Missionaries

(photo from http://baptistbulletin.org/?p=5804 )

This post is very long for two reasons. One, I was too ill to work at computer even, and two, I included all the information that was sent me. This way, you will have a better idea of how to pray. I will post the two updates on critically ill Baby Jonah (and the entire Silverberg family) that I have received since the last post with the most recent first.

Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2011

Dear Praying Family,

Thank you again for your patience and perseverance in prayer for and with us.

Yesterday was a very difficult day. Jonah was struggling all day and in a lot of pain. X-rays revealed his breathing tube had pulled out of his lungs and was stuck in his throat. The tube was then removed and Jonah breathed on his own for 4 hours before failing and being put back on the ventilator. Doctors will meet today to discuss how to proceed. We are afraid tracheotomy is looking like a very real next step. When Jonah will get out of the hospital, we have no idea.

We are very glad he is alive, and hope he gets to come home before he goes in for his next surgery, which is scheduled for age 6 months, but may have to be delayed some now. Jonah is 10 weeks old today.

Last night, Val stayed at the hospital. It was very rough on us all. Shakinah, who is already not dealing well being a sibling of an older brother w/ Autism, was in tears last night. She wanted her mother. I, am suffering quite badly from the 32 foot fiberglass ladder job, which did more damage to my spine and neuromuscular condition than I thought, and also suffering sleep deprivation, had a very hard time putting the kids to bed alone. To get Joshy to sleep, Val has to get in the bed w/ him. She is usually exhausted and ready for sleep. I cannot do that, nor could I sleep all squeezed up like that in my condition. I found a way to finally get him to sleep, but it was nearly 11 PM. As usual, I squeezed in a little more work, till 1AM. Figured I’ d try to be in the bed about 5 hours. Figured wrong. At 3:49 AM, I was awakened by Shakinah, who was very disturbed by the continued absence of her Mom. Josh then awoke also. We didn’t get too much more sleep. Val did come home in time to get them ready for school. I took Shakinah and Josiah, and Val rushed to get Joshy and on the bus, which I fought so hard to get re-routed for a trip under 1 hour for him. Then Val went back to the hospital. I am trying to work, but moving very slowly. Then I’ll get the kids and start all over again.

We really need your prayers. Things are getting harder and harder. Our hired help is no longer available at the hospital. Val’s family will not help. My mom is 83 and not close by. The Church has some very nice people, but this is a type of inner-city mission, and we are also a Church. So no one is helping from the Church. In fact, these dear folks look to us to help them. One women, very new to Christ has offered to take Shakinah for a day. Shakinah does not know her, and we do not know her that well.

The Lakes have helped w/ the kids, and will help more. They also have their hands full w/ their own 2 children and a lot of ministry. So, there it is. We have sought help, and the Lord has deemed we continue to bear up under this load. So we go on, in the strength he provides. 70 straight days, except one day that all of us were snowed in. No end in sight. The isolation of ministry in the Bronx, and in fact NYC as a whole, is a very difficult aspect to ministry here. We have always known this. It is getting increasingly difficult for our children. Please keep us in your prayers.

My greatest joy, is being at Church, teaching the word. When I am doing my calling, while draining at times, this is like a refreshing vacation to me.

Thank you for allowing me to share. Thank you also for your comforting prayers, love and support of our family in this difficult time. Your e-mails have been a blessing to us.

Please accept our apologies for not being able to find the time to respond to your e-mail. We know we are loved and prayed for by many.

This is a huge encouragement to us.

We love you dearly in Christ,

Marty for Val

 

Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”

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Here is the update from the Silverbergs:

Dear Praying Family,
 
The head surgeon met with his team and believes that the fatal prognosis is premature. He believes that what was seen on the tests may just be the scar tissue from the surgically attached pulmonary veins.We are thankful to the Lord. We believe the many prayers have made a big difference. Thank you so very much.
  
The surgeon also believes that the large stent placed into the aorta is delivering to much blood to the lungs. Remember, Jonah has only one pumping chamber, so blood is delivered to the body and the lungs from the same place. They are now giving Jonah medication to increase his heart output. Surgery was considered and ruled out, for now. They are also overfeeding him to try to get him to grow. A trach tube is also being considered. For now, there is continued life. We are happy and relieved. There are still many problems that must be overcome if he is to live. Our visit to Woodlawn Cemetery is now off the”to do”list for today.
  
Last week was a very rough week for us.We are so thankful to you for your prayers. I have not been able to e-mail many of our supporting churches, as when I searched for an e- mail address, I could not find one for many of our supporting churches, other had changed, and we don’t know to what, others had mail returned as undeliverable. Could you please get the word out to your church that we need the e- mail address, as we covet the prayers of our supporting churches. Right now, I simply do not have the time to be on the phone, esp. for many phone calls. My priority is the Lord, my family, and the ministry.
   
In Christ’s Love,
Marty for Val

So, friends this is great news! The fact that there is such a promising prognosis following a formerly grim one brought to my mind the following thoughts. “God will make a way where there seems to be no way.” It reminds me that God specializes in the impossible!

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Here is what Marty wrote:

Dear Praying Family,
 
Tests revealed Jonah’s Pulmonary veins, those that were rerouted 7 weeks ago and attached to his heart, are collapsing. Thus, when off the ventilator, he cannot breathe.
Doctors told Val that it is only a matter of time before they completely collapse, and he will die.
 
How much time is not known.
 
We still hold out hope. We hope the surgeon who did the operation will still have one more option to try.
 
We hope the Lord will have one more miracle for us.
 
Thank you for your continued prayers.
 
In Christ’s Love,
Marty for Val

Now I am wide awake in prayer for this dear family. The three siblings have not really been able to spend much time at all with Jonah. Marty and Val have been going through ongoing anguish of watching their littlest child struggle to overcome incredible health hurdles. With the latest prognosis, the Silverbergs need our encouragement all the more.

As for my reaction to this traumatic news? “Wow”! Two months young, and this tiny baby has been through so very much. Looking back at all the postings I’ve done of his status updates doesn’t really allow us to appreciate the magnitude of the challenges faced, nor the intensity of the prayers offered up on Jonah’s behalf.

And as variable as our concerns and prayers have been, there is one thing that slows down the inevitable emotional roller-coaster of such an on-going trial. That one thing is not really a “thing” at all …rather…a person. Additionally the term “person” cannot adequately even describe the absolutely awesome God who holds all things in existance. The Almighty has never once turned away from what is happening here.

Our mortal minds are not even capable of understanding “why” God allows certain things that seem so awful to happen, yet there is this “surpassing peace” that remains. God’s grace to us amidst our darkest trials remains … We cling to the steadfast truth of God’s Word which is His way of revealing Himself to us.

GOD IS LOVE ! As such, He is the very essence of love. He loves us more than we can fathom. I cherish that knowledge!! At such a time as this I rely on that fact to help me trust that as observers of Baby Jonahs gigantic struggles, I believe God protects that tiny body from some of the pain we believe he is feeling. I can pray for God’s will and not my own to be done, because my request for something might accidentally not be in the best interest of Jonah or his family.

Therefore, as difficult as it is to know how to pray… As much as I want to encourage Marty, Val and their family after being told that Jonah will most likely not survive this — I realize that saying “I don’t know WHAT to say,” is actually a profound utterance.

It admits to myself, to the subjects of my concern and prayers, as well as to The Almighty to whom I direct those prayers, “I have no power here. I would like everything to be fine, but I am incapable of doing anything but rely on the foundation of my faith…God Himself!

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Romans 8:26-27 that says:
 26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
 27and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

I think that is so comforting!! Even when I can’t find the words, God even provides the interpretations of my groanings into an eloquent petition before The Sovereign God!! Amazing! Then there is the often quoted twentyeighth verse:

 28And we KNOW that God causes ALL things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. {emphasis added}

This does assure me that things that seem to me to be “bad” may actually be viewed in a different perspective. It is like in the Book of Genesis in the Bible when Joseph stated to his brothers years after they sold him into slavery, “what you meant as harm, God intended for good”.

These are just some of the thoughts that I wanted to share with you as I am praying about this entire situation that the Silverbergs are in. My heart aches for Little Jonah and his entire family (even the medical staff who are battling right alongside him). But, I am only human and want to wave a wand to make everything fine. I try to “make sense of it all”. However, I realize that is vanity and chasing after wind. After all: what person could comprehend the ways of The Almighty?

Therefore, I offer you Beloved this:
I do not know what to say. Yet, I will proclaim that God is Love and has His best in store for them. And those “them” is us (those of us who have confessed & repented of our sins and applied the saving grace that God freely gives to all who will believe in the Redeemer Jesus Christ)!

One last thing–
Would YOU (yes YOU) please take a moment to share from your heart in the comment section whatever you feel led to write. I believe God can use YOU and ME to use this opportunity to display some of God’s love to our brothers and sisters.

Remember, you are even saying SOMETHING with “I don’t know what to say.” <3

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Here is what the Silverbergs wrote:

Dear Praying Family,
 
Thank you again for your Love and prayers on our behalf.
 
Jonah was taken off the ventilator last night. He couldn’t breathe on his own. He was put back on the ventilator. Please pray for him to be able to breathe on his own soon. We disagree w/ the decision to pull out his breathing tube so soon after a major surgery.
We wish the doctors didn’t do this. Taking out the tube and the putting back in was very stressful for Jonah. We think this will set back the recovery.
Jonah also has an infection in the stomach wound. Any infection for this little baby is extremely dangerous. Please keep praying for Jonah.
 
Naomi Rider, our friend and helper form Indian Lake NY will be leaving early Wed. morning. She has been a huge blessing.
Val is very concerned w/ leaving Jonah all alone every nite. We have someone we can pay a few times a week, for a little while.
 
Please pray for me. I have been in massive pain. I believe it is from not being able to do my rehab exercises even once a week.
Also sleep deprivation and being on my feet for so many hours every day these past 8 weeks.
 
Val was kind to allow me to do a quick 1 1/2 hour rehab session in the makeshift gym I set up in the basement. I usually hurt pretty bad afterward. However, I followed the workout w/ 1 1/2 hours of snow shoveling today. I did the sidewalk, the driveway, dug out our vehicles, the sidesteps for the dogs, then redug out the vehicles from ice that the plows plowed them in with, twice. Also, the neighbors put 4 foot of snow in front of my car, which must move for alternate side tomorrow, so I had to long toss that. I hurt. I believe Jonah hurts a lot worse.
Thanks so much for your prayers.
 
Jonah will be 8 weeks old on the 22nd.
 
In Christ’s Love,
Marty for Val

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