Christopher's New Heart !
Prayers have been answered! A big thanks to all of you who prayed and cared!
What is all of this about? you ask?
Well, as you will recall, at the end of November 2009, Baby Christopher was born. He is the son of a Sports Writer in Oregon. We have posted several of his articles on this blog. If you have not read those articles or would like to reread them, CLICK HERE and HERE
Christopher was born with severe Cardiac and Vascular problems. Long story short and bottom line is that within a couple of days after birth, it became apparent that intervening and temporizing surgery would not ‘work’. A Cardiac Transplant was urgently needed or else....
A book could be written about what happened and how Prayers were answered by God to effect a transfer of Baby Christopher to a Pediatric center where a transplant could be done (the hospital where he was born was not equipped for that type of surgery).
He was transferred in a Medical Jet shown in the picture above. Somewhere in that maze of equipment is Baby Christopher.
After waiting for almost 6 weeks, a donor heart was obtained. And another jet brought the donor heart, leaving behind a family who surely was grieving over the loss of their precious baby. But, in their grief, they gave the gift of LIFE to Baby Christopher. Pray for the family, friends, and relatives of the donor baby.
There is a wonderful website, Caring Bridge, which allows folks to follow the events experienced during illnesses, surgeries, etc. I was following the saga of Baby Christopher via that site.
Yesterday (Jan 16, 2010) Baby Christopher received the gift of LIFE. He was given a new heart!
Assuming that you would like to ‘experience the day’ with the family through the updates that were posted, I did a ‘cut and paste’ of the events and put them on this sub page for the blog.
Below are the JOURNAL entries on the Caring Bridge website that were posted by Lori (Aunt of Christopher and sister of George, the Sportswriter Father) as the events of the HISTORIC day in Baby Christopher's life unfolded:
Saturday, January 16, 2010 3:32 AM, CST
WE GOT THE CALL!!! Please pray for Christopher!! Shannon (Mother of Baby Christopher) and I are heading to the hospital right now! Mom & Dad (Grandparents) aren't far behind.
Pray for George (father of Baby Christopher) as he tries to get a flight out (of Oregon) first thing in the morning. Pray for all of us as we walk this road today! Pray for the donor family in their grief!!
Thank you for your prayers!!
We love you all!
Call my cell - we will try to update on caring bridge also.
Love you and God bless you all!
Always for Him-
Lori
Saturday, January 16, 2010 7:57 AM, CST
Shannon, Mom, Dad & I are sitting back with Christopher waiting for them to come and take him to the OR. They told us that they are planning to take him back at 8:30am. George got a flight and should be in the air momentarily. He should arrive in LR around 2 PM.
Please continue to pray for Christopher. That all of his organs will continue to function and to be stable throughout the procedure. Please pray for the surgeons, the whole team - well really 2 teams -- 1 to harvest the heart and bring it to ACH and 1 to get Christopher ready and put his new heart in. Please pray for the donor family who gave us the most compassionate gift of life in what has to be a very difficult time.
Pray for us, as they have told us this is going to be a very very long day.
We are trusting God and placing our sweet boy into His loving hands again today!!
To God be the glory-
Always for Him-
Lori
Saturday, January 16, 2010 9:14 AM, CST
They took Christopher back around 9:00am. They should begin surgery around 9:45 am. The heart is in the air... on its way here!!
Saturday, January 16, 2010 10:03 AM, CST
They started surgery at 10:00am. They have an arterial line in and they are starting everything else to get him ready for his new heart!! Keep praying!! Will update as we know more!!
Always for Him-
Lori
Saturday, January 16, 2010 10:43 AM, CST
The plane has landed in Little Rock with the heart!!
Always for Him-
Lori
Saturday, January 16, 2010 11:03 AM, CST
Ok we were confused and the ACH team had actually landed at the city where the heart is located and not in Little Rock. They are now at the hospital and will be harvesting the heart within the hour.
Always for Him
Lori
Saturday, January 16, 2010 11:42 AM, CST
Christopher is on bypass and is doing well. The organ donor is going into surgery. Pray pray pray for that sweet donor family!
God is good!
Always for Him-
Lori
Saturday, January 16, 2010 12:48 PM, CST
Just got word that the heart is GOOD!! That is a huge thing!! Still waiting for word that the heart is out and on its way!!
Always for Him-
Lori
Saturday, January 16, 2010 1:28 PM, CST
The heart is on its way!! Pray for safe travel! The team and the heart will arrive around 2:00. Amazing that the heart will arrive about the same time George does! God is sooo good!
Always for Him-
Lori
Saturday, January 16, 2010 2:51 PM, CST
The Eagle ...I mean George has landed!! He beat the heart to the hospital. The ACH team ran into some weather and aren't here yet!!
Always for Him-
Lori
Saturday, January 16, 2010 2:55 PM, CST
The heart is here and they are beginning to sew it into Christopher! Pray for the surgeons!! God is good!!
Always for Him-
Lori
Saturday, January 16, 2010 3:27 PM, CST
They are about halfway through!! They said they would probably be done in about 20 minutes! :) Pray that God guides the surgeon's hands even as He holds Christopher in the palm of His hand!
Always for Him-
Lori
Saturday, January 16, 2010 3:55 PM, CST
Heart is in!!!! Clamp is off!! He is doing well. He is bleeding a little bit!! But nothing unusual. No surprises!!
The heart started beating all on its own!!
Thank you Jesus!!!
Always for Him
Lori
Saturday, January 16, 2010 5:11 PM, CST
Christopher is completely off bypass and doing great!! They are closing his chest - which is a praise because a lot of times they have to leave the chest open for awhile. They will observe him for another 45 min. to an hour and then he will go to a room and then it will take 30 min to an hour to get him settled. And then George & Shannon will get to see him!! Thank you so much for following along with us today!!
God has been so gracious to us today! We give God all the glory!!
Always for Him~
Lori
Saturday, January 16, 2010 5:30 PM, CST
Check out George's post on his blog...
Thank you all for your prayer support!
Always for Him~
Lori
Saturday, January 16, 2010 6:11 PM, CST
Christopher is all closed up and heading to his room!! God is so good!! He is doing great!! We serve the Great Physician!!
Thank you for praying!! Please continue to pray as he recovers!!
We have felt your prayers!!
Always for Him-
Lori
Saturday, January 16, 2010 6:33 PM, CST
Another praise, his kidneys are already working!!!
Praising God from whom all blessings flow!!
Always for Him-
Lori
Saturday, January 16, 2010 6:54 PM, CST
George & Shannon are back with their sweet little fellow with the new heart!! God is good!! Praise God!
Always for Him-
Lori
Saturday, January 16, 2010 8:44 PM, CST
I just saw my sweet little nephew. He looks so good!! It has been an amazing day!! Watching Miracles is a blast!! Thank you for taking this journey with us. Keep praying for Christopherbear - he has a long recovery ahead of him!!
Praising God for his amazing mercy and gift of life!!
Always for Him-
Lori
Well, there you have it. One LONNNNG day in the life of Baby Christopher.
And then.... on the next day.... Shannon the mother of Christopher wrote this:
Sunday, January 17, 2010 10:56 AM, CST
Hello Everyone!
Shannon here. Christopher has been moved from bed space 21 to bed space 12. How we have looked forward to this day! Before his transplant, Christopher was in a suite with 3 other babies. As days slipped into weeks I continued to watch as babies and toddlers left and new ones came in. Christopher and I stayed put in our little corner. I would lean over him and whisper, "It will be our day soon! We will get to move from this suite." And then I would swallow a tiny lump and pray, "Lord, can it be our day soon?"
And our most compassionate and loving Father knew the perfect timing…held the perfect day right for us. And as you all know it was yesterday, January 16th. There is a Psalm that Bible scholars believe was used in temple worship. In Jewish liturgy it is called "the Great Hallel" recited at the Passover meal. It sums up our day yesterday because the entire Psalm is punctuated by the refrain, "For His lovingkindness is everlasting." Let me share a small portion of Psalm 136:
"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks to the God of gods, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
To Him who alone does great wonders, for His lovingkindness is everlasting."
That was our day yesterday—a day of complete praise, a good day, a happy day. We all reveled in God's abundant loving sovereignty. I was not anxious. I just enjoyed being held by my Lord, in His care, as He took control of all events relating to Christopher's surgery.
After the surgery Dr. Jacquis told one of the medical staff he had "never had a better heart coming off of bypass," referring to how it responded and began beating on its own after coming off the bypass machine. We know that God orchestrated the timing of Christopher's birth, the timing for his new heart. God is the One who gave men amazing skill and knowledge about the human body so that they in turn could bless the life of a little baby boy. God directed the surgeons' hands. God protected Christopher's organs and God will be the One who restores his little anatomy.
Before the medical team took Christopher back to surgery, I couldn't help thinking, "I get to hold him soon!" It might be weeks still. It might be a month, but nevertheless I will get to hold him. Since Christopher was on the ventilator for so long, he will have to learn how to breathe on his own. One of the nurses told me that babies who are vented can get lazy. They don't use the muscles needed for breathing because the machine does everything for them. So over the next few days, the oxygen levels will be slowly turned down as the doctors watch and wait for Christopher to do the work on his own. He could do well or it could take a longer time. But when he comes off the ventilator I get to hold him!
Thank you for your prayers. We had the joy of being with friends and family yesterday, but we also felt the prayers of so many people who were not able to be with us...which of course is you all! Isn't God so good to give us the joy of friendship with brothers and sisters in Christ!
Please continue to pray that God will strengthen Christopher's body and that He would do an amazing work of restoration. Please continue to pray that God would protect that little baby Bear. Lori and I will get together soon to update the photos.
Please also continue to pray for the family somewhere that lost a little one yesterday morning. We're so thankful that, in the midst of such sorrow, they provided the gift of life to our son.
To Him who alone deserves all praise and honor.
Shannon
Well, there you have it....
The summary of the day that Baby Christopher got his New Heart.
Probably the family of the donor also had a Caring Bridge page and was posting something about their precious baby having died but, who, in dying gave the gift of LIFE to another baby.
Neither family knows each other but the family of Christopher rejoices for the gift from the unknown donor and family.
"THANK YOU Unknown Donor and Family !!!"
Yes, someone died so that Christopher could have a NEW HEART and a NEW LIFE.
And, this is a vivid illustration of what The Lord God Jesus Christ wants to do for not only Christopher but for everyone.
Jesus DIED so that he could provide a NEW HEART to anyone willing to accept it.
Christopher accepted the donor heart. And now he lives.
But Christopher's life is still temporal. He will someday die again, whether tomorrow, or a hundred years from now or sometime in between.
But the NEW HEART that Jesus gives is one that will last for ETERNITY.
How can you or I receive Jesus' gift of a New Heart?
He (Jesus) has told us how. Jesus said: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (Jesus), that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3: 16 ... ... He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3: 36
Everlasting life because those who believe in Him (Jesus) and who accept his gift of salvation ( forgiveness of sins and eternal life) will be given a new heart , one that loves and obeys God.
This 'New Heart' concept was first introduced in the Old Testament. God was speaking to his Chosen people (but this applies to everyone who accepts Jesus, the Lord God as Lord, Master, and Savior) when He (God) said:
Then I (God) will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose hearts follow the desire for their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 11:19-21
I (God) will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26
On January 16, 2010 an Unknown donor died and gave Baby Christopher a NEW HEART.
Jesus died about 2000 years ago to provide a NEW HEART (Salvation and eternal life) to anyone who will accept it.
Baby Christopher has had an Earthly Heart Transplant and will one day receive the Eternal Heart Transplant from Jesus when he personally accepts Jesus as his Savior, Lord, and Master.
Have you received your Eternal Heart Transplant from Jesus?
If you would like to know HOW to receive this Heart Transplant, CLICK HERE