The Joy of Serving

My 5-month old grandson, Michael, is in Children’s Hospital in Seattle.  He’s been there for about a week.  It was suspected he might have swine flu.  He was in very serious condition.  He was limp, couldn’t move his arms or legs and eventually could not breathe on his own and had to be hooked up to a ventilator.  We have been asking for prayers for Michael and probably hundreds of our brothers and sisters here, near home, and also in India began to pray for him.

For a long time he has been just laying there all hooked up to all kinds of tubes and electrodes to help him breathe, eat and also to monitor his vitals.  When we drove up to see him this past Sunday he had improved a little; able to move his arms and legs some.  And he could open his eyes about half way.  His doctors and nurses were excited about these developments.  But Monday he seemed to have reverted some.  Our daughter, Erica, called us about it and was feeling down.

The results for swine flu eventually came back and they were positive.  But it seems by then all his symptoms didn’t completely add up and they began to think he might also have infant botulism.

There is an effective treatment for infant botulism.  It is extremely expensive and has to be flown in from some place in California.  They ordered it flown in and waited for the test results to come in.

In the meantime Michael is lying there and suffering.  Our daughter is suffering, too, in ways that only a mother can suffer.

This morning I received a call from Erica.  They have now also confirmed that Michael does have infant botulism.  That poor little guy!  I can only imagine how it must be for him to lay there day after day, not being able to move, or even cry.

My thanks go out to God that they now know for sure what Michael’s illnesses are.  I also thank God that there are treatments for him, and that he is expected to have a full recovery.

There is another thing I am thankful to God for; the loving tenderness with which I observed some of Michael’s doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and others attend to Michael.  At times it seemed as if they were treating their own child.  So I thank God for the Children’s Hospital.

I give God all the credit for the good news.  As it says in James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights . . .”

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