Each New Day

"Thank you Lord for each new day. Another day of life, and another day that we get to go to the hospital and be with our daughter. Thank you Lord for answered prayers. You showed your power and mercy this past weekend and continue to work miracles. Help us to hold onto hope, trusting that you will heal our daughter and allow her to be a testimony of your hand upon her life. We pray that she may be a humble and faithful servant of yours all they days of her life."

As many of you know this past weekend Grace gave us quite the scare. For a micro-preemie she has been relatively stable, but while waiting for her brain procedure at Sick Kids she contracted two infections and went into septic shock. The doctors told us multiple times that they didn't think she would make it, and to say goodbye to our daughter. By all human accounts the situation was hopeless.

But we continued to hold onto hope that God would heal her in a radical way and surprise the doctors with a miracle. He is the God of the impossible after all!

They then discovered that the bacteria in her stomach had actually killed part of her intestines and she needed emergency surgery (which doctors told us she would very likely not survive). Though our hearts were broken we were at peace with God's will for Grace's life and chose to continue with whatever life saving measures they offered, despite the risks. We had to make peace (and prayed for peace) with whatever God's will was (and is) for her life, but we continued (continue) to hold onto hope and God's promises seen throughout the Bible towards his people, declaring healing in Jesus' name. While it wasn't easy, and still isn't, we came to understand that God healing our daughter could mean taking her home to him.

Sam and I saying goodbye to Grace right before she was taken away for her life saving surgery

By the grace of God she survived the surgery, her blood pressure stabilized, and the antibiotics seem to be working. She is even getting back to her feisty self as they wean her off fentanyl! Yesterday I was able to hold her again, and marvelled at the fact that if it weren't for God intervening she wouldn't even be in my arms, staring back at me in the way only she can.

This experience has made me so thankful for each day that we get to be with Grace, now 4 weeks and 5 days old. It's also made me acutely aware of how precious life is and how each new day is a gift from God, so use it well!

Each new day we keep on hoping and believing He can, focusing on what he is doing, rather then what tomorrow may bring. We know that God will give us strength for tomorrow and new hope for today, because we have seen it and felt it over and over these past 5 weeks.

Thank you Lord for your faithfulness.