This blog post is part of a series that I began for telling our story. You can read the first post here.

From this point forward, I’m going to be sharing the text of posts as they were written at the time. Some will come from this blog; others, from our CaringBridge site. I may from time to time write my own reflections after re-reading, but mostly I will just be sharing words as they were written. So much of this journey for me is revisiting what happened, and realizing just how difficult the journey was for us. And now, seeing how far we’ve come since that time.

Thanks for being patient with me. Every time I stop writing, I get stuck. I think this passage sums up nicely why I stop writing periodically, because it requires me to dig deep into my heart. On this topic, the emotions are always scary to face.

From my sister on May 5 (portions of 2 CaringBridge posts, omitting the sharing of our address since we no longer live there):

If/when they move to a long-care facility then we will update that address here as well.

At this time the main need/want that the family has is company in the hospital, especially at meal times.  If you live in the area please consider visiting this week, with Samantha being out of the ISU this is much easier to do, and there is a beautiful park (see picture) that you walk through just to get to her room! 

All of Samantha’s labs that were ordered yesterday came back very good and healthy.  Her platelette count was some elevated, but the studies have shown that in patients with cases like Samanthas that this is a good sign – that her body is taking over and helping to fight the infection – which is a great thing!  Praise the Lord.

The EEG won’t happen for a little while but the MRI was done today.  So far no news on that – but hopefully no news is good news.  But it is very difficult as parents to wait to hear.  Please continue to pray for peace and comfort for the whole family, and thank you for your on-going prayers for health, strength and healing!

And also from my sister on May 6, CaringBridge:

Sammy is going for an EEG right now because of some possible seizure activity. Please pray that this test gives some answers. Also please consider going down to visit the family. They could really use some company tonight. Thank you!!!

This post was written by Travis on CaringBridge, although logged in under my sister’s name:

Dir. & head of Pedi Neuro came into today! Awesome guy (a Lutheran go figure, small world!) Good news is infection is under control and showing signs of diminishing. Praise Jesus! However, no one expected Sammy to make it this far…that’s how bad the infection and damage was/is. As a result, her brain is shrinking from the damage, cells, white and gray matter that were eaten away, Sammy’s prognosis is, well, hard to take right now……..

However, she is amazing us all. God is amazing us all! Alleluia! She is eating on her own from a bottle, she is responding to noises, and voices and lights. She kicks and moves…All very good signs reminding us that as we pray, God in Christ Jesus is the GREAT PHYSICIAN!

Her prognosis….well, that is tough. They say that her learning, cognition, etc…should be fine. Her motor skills, however will be almost non existent. They say she may never be able to walk, dress, feed herself, etc… She may have recurring infections. She will need home health care and PT and OT most of her life.

But, praise be to Jesus, she has life! Life here..albeit different that what we planned. God loves her and IS taking care of her. LIFE…eternal….YES! All because of Jesus and His baptismal waters!

What’s next. She will remain for a while here at the Hospital for more EEGs and tests. Soon we will move to Healthbridge hospital, in partnership with our Docs here, for long term antibiotics through her heart port, OT, and PT. After that, we will be under care of some of the best doctors and specialists in the world here in Houston that have already agreed to take on Sammy as a patient.

God is good….Look at all He has done. Even bringing us into the Houston area at all! We are still taking this in one step at a time. One moment angry, the next tired, the next hopeful…..In it all PLEASE, PLEASE continue lift Sammy up to our Jesus!

Thanks and we love you all! God bless you all.  Steph and Travis

Next post coming tomorrow.