Only the walls of the Glenn Surgery did not take seven days to come crashing down...just three! Do you believe in miracles? Do you believe in the power of prayer? Because God has heard our prayers, seen our tears and surely He has healed Jackson!
The news broke yesterday morning as we arrived at Children's Hospital...when the first whispers of the possibility of coming home today started! Today those whispers became a reality! To go from an open heart surgery...
to DISCHARGE...
in 72 hours...is Seriously Ridiculous! What typically can take weeks to recover...Jackson has experienced super-natural divine healing in only 3days! And our little warrior...is ready to go home! His vitals/sats/pressures have been perfectly awesome through out the weekend! He is eating like a champ! His chest x-rays are clear! And his echo this morning showed that the leak/insufficiency in his tricuspid valve is improving! The discharge papers are in the works, and we should be home early this afternoon! How awesome is our God!
Our last year has been insane:
- From my miraculous survival of a motorcycle accident through four flips and a life flight...to the finding of Kelly's pregnancy with Jackson - 3 days later!
- From selling our home in 3 hours after being placed on the market...to the miracle finding of Jackson's fatal heart defect (Hypo-plastic Left Heart Syndrome) - just two weeks later at Kelly's 18 week ultrasound!
- From the impossible move...to the Fetal Aortic Balloon Valvioplasty on Kelly - the same day as closing!
- From the 7 months of prayers, tears and pleas for healing in Jackson's heart as we "waited in the wilderness"...to the divine finding of our home - with the delivery just days away!
- From the c-section delivery...to the separation of mommy and baby - as an immediate life saving surgery needed to occur in Children's Hospital's Cath Lab hours after birth!
- From the first open heart surgery (the Norwood) to move Jackson's aorta to the right ventricle, place the B/T shunt and reconstruct the entire circulation of his blood...to be discharged less than a week later - only to return to the hospital over the Christmas Holiday, just 3 days later!
- From the 3 long months of isolation, waiting and stress of having a Norwood baby in our home, the weekly hospital visits and echos...to the complications of Jackson's Cardiac Cath in preparation for his second open-heart surgery (the Glenn).
- From the perfection/textbook Glenn surgery this past Thursday...to being discharged just three days later!
I can't begin to tell you how warm and full our hearts our today! The mercies and blessings have been new every morning! One of the greatest blessings in this journey is the relationships that have been developed. And, over the last three days we have had some amazing conversations and reunions with Jackson's team of doctors and nurses! Our team has not only been a huge blessing in our family...but has become an amazing group of friends! We have had some very deep conversations in the midst of our journey, where we have been a shoulder for tears following the shock of a car accident, and prayer partners through a call to medical missions! These friendships have radically transformed our lives - and have been an awesome opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus...right here - right now!
But it was a conversation in the midst of the chaos in the CICU this past Friday, which may forever change our call to ministry! A guy about our age made a comment that Kel and I will never forget! He lives within a mile of our home [it is awesome how God choreographs this divine appointments, isn't it?] and has attended our home church - Northway Christian Community - several times with his wife, but transparently shared with us, "I am a horrible Christian! What I see everyday, has truly made me rethink what I believe about our God." And all I can say to God is "thank you for teeing this one up!"
Yall - I hope you realize the depth and breadth of his statement. I could write for days on what he unloaded in 3 seconds. What does it mean to be a Christian? Why do our fears, doubts, worries and questions make us "feel" horrible? What do we see everyday that causes us to stumble? And what is wrong with truly searching and coming to grips with what we believe in and about our God?
Everyday we see the devastation of a sinful nature and evil world! There is an enemy that wants nothing more than for us to buy into - and live - according to his lies, deception and temptation! And they are just that...lies, deceptions and temptations! But God! For we who believe in the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus - our Savior, Redeemer and Lord - do not have to be controlled by our sinful natures, and live according to this world! We can live above reproach - for there is Freedom and Power in the blood of Jesus! [if you don't believe me...please read the book of Romans. And then read Genesis through Revelation!]
I don't know why God has called us into this crazy, insane storm over the last year - or - what opportunities lay ahead for us to share God' miracle story of Waiting, Healing and Victory! I don't know why He chose Jackson, our family and you to walk by faith through the fierce wind, waves and seas of these last 12 months...but I do believe that God is Sovereign and that His Redemptive and Restorative plans are at work in our midst! This journey is no where near over! And everything leading up to this very moment - is all in preparation for the Greater Things that are Yet to Come!
Our little warrior has truly transformed our understanding of God's Seriously Ridiculous - Crazy Love, Grace, Majesty, Peace, Strength, Provision and Healing! We have all witnessed the devastation, tragedy, crisis, sorrow, pain and suffering of our imperfect world and physical bodies. And yet here we stand - by faith - through the shaking of our deepest sorrows and struggles, praising our Lord and Savior through the adversity and hardship! Jackson's life is a miracle of God...and a true witness to God's Victory and Healing! But, Jackson is not the only one who has experienced healing through this journey! Many of you have shared the emotional, physical, mental and spiritual healing you have experienced as you have walked with us through this storm! And now...it is time to "launch"!
Kelly and I have prayed/are praying through so many visions, dreams, thoughts, and opportunities - and we are ready to Go! Tomorrow morning - we will follow God's lead and launch the first "devotional" on our new blog site...www.alleyesonjesus.org! We will continue to regularly update Jackson's and our family's progress here at the Barrett Journey...but be sure to check out our new ministry launch tomorrow! And this is just the first step...we will see where God takes us next!
"Yes - what we see every day may cause us to question and doubt our belief in God - but what do you do with the miracle of Jackson?" This response was not only for our new friend in the CICU...but for you as well! Do you believe in Christ Jesus? Have you accepted Him not only as Savior - but as Lord? What do you believe about His healing and miracle of life? I don't know your response - for it is your decision - but, I do know ours...God you have taught us and told us that in Christ - we will have peace and strength - and in Him is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge! Yes - in this world we will have trouble. But we take heart! For [Christ] has overcome the world...when God raised Him to life on the third day! We press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. [Psalm 29:11, Colossians 2:3, John 16:33, Acts 10:40, Philippians 3:14]
Are you going to allow God to draw you closer through the struggles and hardship...or you going to yet again turn your back and walk away? Are you searching for answers? If so, than go directly to the source of All Truth and open up the Word! Today - make that decision to forget the past and receive the heavenly prize as you fix your eyes on Jesus - and press on to reach the greater things that are yet to come!
And just so you know...as I push "publish now" on this post - the discharge papers are done, the order is in - and we are going home!!!
Thank you...for standing with us, reinforcing our foundation of prayer, and loving us in ways we have never known! We love you...we are praying for you...and hope that today - is a new day in your life!
All Eyes on Jesus!
1 comment:
PRAISE THE LORD!!!!! Here I sit with tears of joy flowing freely, having shared your message with many others. God bless little Jackson & give you all strength to see you through this newest phase of your lives.
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