Similar Posts

24 Comments

  1. Praying for you all!

    I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.”
    (Psalm 31:7, NLT)

  2. I’ve been there, in the hospital, watching those tiles. I’ve seen my son attached to wires and monitors, and so much medication that I didn’t know what to do. I’ve also seen my son die. He didn’t’ get to come home, or grow up. I’m so thankful for our community in that time. Thankful for the community of heart mommas that were also in the same spot as we were. Thankful for those that came to the hospital to just sit with us, those that took us out to dinner, those that came when he past away and loved on us in those last moments. I’m so thankful for our community of believers that loved on us in the days to come, that showed up at our house when we got home so we didn’t have to go into our house alone, those that brought meals everyday for a month afterwards, those that took our other son for playdate & let him spend time with them to get him out of the house, and those that still sit with us and cry. Our son has only been gone a few short weeks, but I am so thankful for our community & church. We would never have made it through as well as we did without them. Thanks for sharing this!

  3. Continuing to lift you and your son and your family up in prayer daily. My husband actually read part of your last post as an example in his sermon on James last Sunday – giving you credit of course. (I had shared it with him because it touched my heart so.) It was a blessing and reminder to all who heard it how we are to be thankful for all things and trust the Good Father. I am so glad for all the people surrounding you all right now and for how God is providing for your every need. Thank you for being transparent and sharing this with the world. Praying for a full recovery and continued strength in the journey.

  4. Hi Kim,
    My granddaughter is going through cancer treatment for the second round. She had cancer the first time at 2 years old. She is now 5. We almost lost her last time. Our family has a community of support and it is still so very hard. God has truly blessed our son and daughter-in-law with a lot of help. We as the grandparents take care of our granddaughter, Hazel’s, 4 siblings 2 days a week when she is in the hospital and her other grandmother 2 days a week. One day a week a friend helps with the siblings. I still have 2 children I homeschool so this is no small task. Thank you for encouraging others to help those in need. I will be prayng for your whole family. I know how hard it is and thankful for God’s help.

  5. Major Hugs! I don’t know what Dx sent y’all into the hospital, but I do remember the early days. My son (and I) have spent about a year and a half of his 6 years inpatient (so, not counting Dr appointments). The first 5.5 months were straight, in the NICU. We have seen the same things you have and so much more, good and bad.
    We also had a HUGE community around us… The entire KLove community on the day he was born. I think that is a big reason he is here as the only surviving major heart condition Micropreeme in my state and one of (if not the) first to survive in the world with his condition.
    Yes you absolutely need support, that is something we forget this many years in managing his health. I sometimes forget how shocking “Open Heart Surgery” is to the general public. We have developed a few systems and tricks to help and allow him more control over his health care. IVs for example: Nurse counts to 3 before sticking, then we sing the “ABC song” she has until the end of the song to get the needle in (plus a noobie is NEVER allowed to stick him, only the best or the PIC team). If they can’t get it by then (he is a VERY hard stick) then they have to take a break until he is ready to try again. This sometimes takes some convincing. Lidocaine or VICKS vapor rub applied before helps numb the skin. Some people have found that a buzzy (buzzyforshots.com) helps, but unfortunately it doesn’t work for him.
    I joined your Facebook group, so I’ll read up more on what is up with y’all later. So until then, from one hospital mom to another- HUGS!

  6. YES !! I have NEVER read a post like this and I am so glad someone has the courage to say those things ! So so important. As a pastoral family who lost a child in 2015 and then had another one in the hospital for 38 days this year, we had a lot of help and love from our church family. But then I hear people complain that when their hard came, no one was there for them. Well, these people were never envolved in church life, came occasionnaly but left as soon as the service was over so no one had a chance to get to know them, never helped others or shared in small groups… how could anyone know ?… Living in community is both giving and receiving, sharing life together and praying for one another, not just sitting in the same worship hall a few times a year.
    I’m thankful you have community and am prating for you as you walk this hard road.

  7. Thank you for using God’s gift to help others. I juse read your three part story. We miscarried our first, firstborn needed three heart surgeries, and then my husband comes back from war and no longer wants to be a family. I tried like you, “fixing” myself so he would come back. And he did, a few times. Each time still not being faithful and leaving again. Until the last time when he chased me with a truck. Then God woke up my eyes and showed me I was good enough and I didn’t need a husband to make me or God happy. I can be a great mom and homeschool adequately, not alone, with God’s help and yes, the people He put in my path. It has taken me years to reach this point, true peace, true happiness. May God continue to give you strength and peace and please remember God says he will be a Father to the fatherless. Merry Christmas!

  8. This post was so good. Thank you for sharing your story with us. You are encouraging others and spurring us on to be more like Jesus!

  9. My heart is with you, Kim. I have been a prayer warrior for many Momma’s over the years going through the same thing Luke, you and your family are going through. I’m here if you need someone to listen and I’m here to pray for you all! PM me if you need me anytime day or night. Terri Adwell Dippel on Facebook. Sending much love and hugs

  10. I sit here crying you’ve reminded me what is important.
    My son as an adult had brain surgery and that was hard for me I can only imagine how hard it is for you with a young son.
    Thank you for sharing and you and yours will be in my prayers.

  11. I love this precious post. Starring at ceiling tiles happens when your caring for aging parents too. I would add, the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes goes a long way in knowing how to serve them. Hugs and lots of prayer for you all.

  12. I sobbed as I read your post. My daughter and I just returned home from several weeks of ceiling tiles, tubes, bruised IV pricks. Our journey isn’t over yet either. She was badly burned and we continue daily wound treatment accompanied by ungodly screaming.

    I don’t know what we would have done without community. You said it so well. You never know how badly you need that community until this type of a situation arises. I have been changed as well. I want to be available to give what I can to other mommas in need. Washed underwear is the biggest “little” blessing. Any of us can do that! Or just to sit. Hospitals can be very lonely.

    I don’t know your situation, but I am praying for you and your sweet Luke!

  13. I just found your blog and will be praying for your son. I wanted to make note of you saying he was hurting with insertion of the IV. I have birthed six kids and only took one time getting an IV to tell me never again. I asked for a tiny shot of lidocaine with the other 5 (the lidocaine shot didn’t hurt at all) right over where the IV was to go in. I never felt the IVs. Some looked at me strange but other nurses were amazed. It’s the small things that help so much. Blessings and prayers.

  14. Community is great and I wish I had one but, after 5 years of living here, I still have not one single friend. Yes, I tried for the first 18 months after we arrived. I was the one to ask others out, I asked them over to our home, and I called and communicated but to no avail. My husband and 5 of our 7 kids loved the church but me, well I just couldn’t find my niche, though I went almost every time the doors opened and offered to help here and there. Then it happened and it’s just gotten mych worse and I’m even lonlier.

    January 2014 I traveled to California to see my spiritual-adopted mom and get away for a week. I had just started my first full-time job since marrying my hubby in 1988 and having 7 kids. My pain doctor had warned me a couple months before that at anytime my back could finally go out and I would probably be bedridden or at least in a wheelchair. I had major back surgery in 2007 but the outcome wasn’t what I hopef and my back, hips, and legs got worse over time. I was delaying the inevitable, surgery, because the last one took 2 years to get me back to somewhat normal. Then it happened. I woke up the day I was to fly out and crumpled to the floor in agony and my feet unable to hold me up. I wasn’t going home and it would be 3 months before I did return home after a cross country car ride because sitting on a plane for over 4 hours was out of the question.

    I hoped that our church would help and this may be my way to finally get someone to come see and talk to me, but I was wrong. I tried going to church but as my doctor said sitting up is going to be the worst and after 10-15min I was in the foyer lying down on one of the couches trying to keep it together. My doctor said that I needed to stay in bed and only sit up an hour each day, if at all. Insurance denied my appeals for the surgery I need so I was looking at a long haul.

    It’s been 3 1/2 years and surgery is still denied and I continue to remain bedridden at home. No one at church has come over at all and the very rare occasion that I can go to church offers me only stares and a couple how are you’s. It’s left a bad taste in my mouth and I wish so badly to move back to our home and church where I was loved, cared for, and accepted.

    So, you can talk about community but you forget there are many of us that can’t go to church and don’t have that no matter how much we want it. We aren’t lazy or making excuses. We are the forgotten Church and the ones that need community more than anyone, yet it seems that no one really cares anout us and rather we shut up and go away.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *