Thursday, June 30, 3:30 p.m.

Rebekah just called.  The expected xray has been taken and read and Eden's intestines appear "perfect."  That's the word they used!  So, beginning tomorrow feeding by tube in very small amounts will be resumed (after 14 days of intravenous nourishment only), and Eden will be watched very closely for any symptoms possibly indicating anything amiss with her digestion. 

Also, Eden is up to 3 lbs., 8 oz. 

Rebekah is still experiencing shortness of breath and pain from the embolism, but appears to be improving gradually, if unevenly.

We're so thankful to the Lord for the way things are now with Eden and Rebekah, and we're thankful for your past and continued prayers. 

Tuesday, June 28, 6:45 p.m.

Rebekah was released from the hospital midday today.  She is a little nervous because she is still experiencing all of the symptoms of the pulmonary infarction (shortness of breath, pain in inhaling, coughing blood, wheezing), but not as much as a few days ago.  She is to monitor symptoms and contact the hospital if they worsen.  Still, she is very glad to be out of the hospital and in her own home. 

Rebekah's  blood pressure was slightly high today, after being dangerously low a day ago, so this issue remains difficult.

Eden is doing well, resting a lot, and is up to 3 lbs., 6 oz.  On either Friday evening or Saturday morning Eden's midsection will be xrayed to check the condition of her intestines.  If the xray shows the improvement expected (given the baby's lack of discomfort or pain, and her growth), they will begin reintroducing breastmilk in very small amounts via a feeding tube.  The results of the xray will be important, as well as the results of reintroducing the feeding, so its prayers against pins and needles again this weekend. 

We thank the Lord that Josh's mom Cindy has been able to be there since we left June 13.  Cindy has been Rebekah's transportation and has provided other care for the last couple weeks.  It would have been much more difficult for Josh and Rebekah both had they been on their own this month, and we're certain that it has been helpful to have the moral and spiritual support of present family members from the beginning of this ordeal. 

Thanks for your prayers. 

Sunday, June 26, 11:30 p.m.

Eden is doing well. 

Rebekah is being treated with antibiotics for pneumonia, although she may or may not have it.  The infarction may present as pneumonia.  She was able to speak with us on the phone tonight, but her breathing was very labored and speaking was difficult.  She is weary. 

Thanks for praying. 

Saturday, June 25, 9:16 p.m.

Better day for Rebekah, although still hurting.  Still in pain and talking very softly; coughing a lot when trying to talk.  Release from the hospital expected sometime the first of next week. 

Eden up to three pounds four ounces.  Josh and Rebekah gave Eden her first bath today. 

Thanks for your prayers.

Saturday, June 25, 5:43 a.m.

Eden is doing well, up to 3 lbs., 2 oz. 

Rebekah is in a lot of pain still; exhausted and and unable to talk.  They're still casting about some trying to find a combination and dosage of pain meds that will control her pain more effectively.  Her blood pressure fell to very low levels, and so they skipped a dosage of her blood pressure meds.  She's been having trouble with eratic blood pressure (mostly too high) since the preeclampsia early this month. 

Thanks for your prayers. 

Friday, June 24, 3:26 p.m.

Just chanced calling Rebekah's cell phone, and her mother-in-law Cindy answered.  Rebekah is experiencing pain breathing, and cannot speak easily.  Still on the pain meds, and dealing with finding the right medicine and dosage.  When I called they were walking Rebekah down the hall.  Cindy said the heperin would not dissolve clots, and that they were told that the timeline on the body's absorption of clots was highly individualized - some folks feel better in three days, others in three weeks, others in between. 

Eden is sleeping a lot, and things are going along blessedly uneventfully.  She has reached the 3 pound mark though.  Thank the Lord for that.

Appreciate your prayers.

Friday, June 24, 12:45 p.m.

Received a text from Josh this morning that read in part, "Rebekah probably has pulmonary infarction caused by blood clot.  On pain meds now.  Continuing to treat with heparin."

From what I've read in the past half hour or so, this is a serious condition, with outcomes varying greatly depending on a variety of other factors.  Most of those who are treated do well, and mortality for those being treated appears to be about 5%.  "Infarction" means tissue death. 

No word on Eden.  Please pray.

Thursday, June 23, 8:30 a.m.

Dear Praying Friends,

Rebekah has been admitted to Beth Israel Deaconess hospital for a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in lung).  She is being treated medically, and is expected to be hospitalized a few days. 

Rebekah had been having some pain when taking big breaths all day yesterday, and was in the NICU with Eden last night when a nurse inquired about her obvious discomfort.  A doctor was called, Rebekah was sent to Emergency, and an xray revealed a clot.  So she was admitted last night.  Rebekah is thankful to have been diagnosed and treated quickly, glad that she is in the same hospital as Eden (three floors away), and dreadfully disappointed to find herself back in the hospital - all at the same time. 

Eden appears to be doing well, all things considered. 

Thanks for your prayers.

Wednesday, June 22, 5:30 p.m.

Bekah spoke with Robin just a few minutes ago.  Eden has had a good day, sleeping most of the day, which is good for her. 

Also, no xrays are now planned for nine more days, which we assume means that the confidence level about the intestinal condition is greatly increased.  Also, Eden will not be fed except intravenously for the same period, when they plan on reintroducing mother's milk slowly.  Thank you for praying, and please continue. 

Tuesday, June 21, 11:45 p.m.

The PICC line is in!  Thanks for your prayers.  The line is in a vein on the back of Eden's head/neck.  The line would normally run all the way to the heart, and Eden's line was only able to go as far as the base of her neck/shoulder area, but it was judged to be good enough with only a dangerous surgical option left. 

It was a good day otherwise, too.  No xrays were done because Eden's symptoms with her intestinal condition were favorable.  Also, Eden's weight surpassed her birth weight for the first time, weighing in tonight at 2 pounds, 14 oz.  An added advantage to the PICC line will be a greater capacity for delivering nutrition intravenously. 

So, a good day.  Thank you, Lord.  And thank you again for your prayers. 

Tuesday, June 21, 9:00 a.m.

Rebekah just called.  There's a little more air in Eden's intestines, which is not good, although not catastrophic, and according to the doctors not altogether unexpected even on the way to a good outcome.  With the new development, however, the monitoring is stepped up again with multiple xrays per day. 

The failed attempt at installing the PICC line was in her left leg.  Next attempt today will be for a vein in her head.  That's hard for all of us to think about, but we pray for success.  The PICC line is needful and what will come after that if a PICC line cannot be installed involves more risk.   

Rebekah is weary with concern for her baby, recovering from the C section and monitoring/treating her own hypertension issues, trips to and from the hospital.  Our thoughts are never far away from what is happening with our children and grandchild in Boston, and it weighs heavily on us - what a trial it must be for Josh and Rebekah! 

Thanks for praying.

Monday, June 20, 7:30 p.m.

The PICC attempt failed.  They're going to try again tonight or tomorrow morning.  Please pray - it will establish a longer lasting and safer (less susceptible to infection) intravenous access.  Fallback procedures to install the PICC may require anesthetizing Eden, which will be dangerous given her size and fragile condition. 

Monday, June 20, 5:02 p.m.

Last night's xray showed continued improvement in Eden's intestines. Abdominal xrays will now be reduced to once a day, at 5 a.m. For the past few days xrays were at 2 a.m. and 2 p.m. This is the third report in a row showing improvement, however slight, and we certainly hope that the reduction of xrays is at least in part due to an expectation of continued improvement.

A third attempt at installing a PICC line (peripherally inserted central catheter) for longer term intravenous access should take place sometime this afternoon or evening. There have been two failed attempts at installing a PICC line in Eden's right arm. They will try veins in the legs before resorting to using larger veins/arteries in the neck.

We are of course thankful to the Lord, and to you for your prayers, for the improvement in Eden's intestinal condition with antibiotic treatment. We are thankful for the caregivers, and for the close attention that they are giving Eden. We are so thankful that so far there has been no perforations in Eden's intestines, which would require immediate surgery. And while these delays and difficulties with installing a PICC line prevail, we are thankful that the more temporary IV in Eden's left arm has been holding longer than it might have.

The improvements are wonderful and encouraging, and we all thank God for them. But we also know that Eden is still a very tiny and sick girl whose hold on life is not nearly as tight as we want it to be. Pray for Eden, Rebekah (mom), and Josh (dad).

Saturday, June 18, 1:09 p.m.

Our little Eden has necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Rebekah and Josh have been told that the next 48-72 hours are critical. The mortality rate for babies her weight is 45%. Please pray.

Saturday, June 18, 9:23 a.m.

Our little Eden has taken a step back. Josh is at the hospital now to talk to the doctors so our info is incomplete, but we do know that there is a problem with Eden's intestines. They are swollen and she is in pain. She had a bowel movement last night but it was blood and mucous or bile. They suspect an infection, but are unsure. A team of surgeons has been put on standby. Feeding has been stopped and she is back on intravenous feeding. The PICC line is probably back on, but of course the present crisis has to be gotten through first.
Thank you for your prayers.

Wednesday, June 15, 12:28 p.m.

Baby Eden's unassisted breathing has been gong well.  It was expected that she would wear down and require CPAP assistance again by now, but so far so good. 

Yesterday they attempted to install a PICC line in her arm for long term intravenous access, but without success.  They are going to try again today, and if it doesn't work the fallback will be to use an artery in her neck. 

Those are the latest issues - the last I heard her weight was holding at about 2 lbs. 6 oz. 

Thank you so much for your prayers. 

Saturday, June 11, 10:47 p.m.

All,

Thanks for your prayers - more encouraging day today.  Rebekah's hypertension improved today, and she should be released from the hospital tomorrow.

We visited the hospital tonight and got to participate/watch the "care" session, in which mom gets to take the baby's temp, change the diaper (more like a fluffy cigar band), and hold the baby up for weighing and things like that.  Tonight there was an adventure because the baby threw up and expelled the breathing tube.  The respitory doctor was present at the time, and decided to leave it out because replacing it is stressful for the baby and they were planning on taking it out tomorrow morning anyway.  So they hooked her back up with the CPAP(?) and were confident and hopeful that she wouldn't have to go back on the breathing tube again. 

She weighed in at 2 lbs. 8 oz., up an ounce from the last weigh in, although the attending nurse said that weight tended to be something parents focus on with the preemies, but the medical people not so much. 

Anyway, thank you so much for your prayers.  It has been a trying week for all of us here, with more to come I suppose, but we know that Rebekah and our new grandaughter have been well-prayed for from all over the country.  Thank you so much.  See those of you in Tennessee soon. 

Tuesday, June 7, 8:44 p.m.

All,

Sorry to leave you without info.  Josh and Bekah's apartment is temporarily without internet service, and Rebekah has been in parts of the hospital where we couldn't visit but one at a time for a few minutes, let alone use Josh's computer for emailing, etc. 

Baby Eden was born at 2 pounds 13 oz. and 15 1/2 inches long.  She was born with a true knot in her umbilical cord - they suspect it must have happened immediately before delivery, since there were no indications of a problem in heart rate, etc. up to the time of delivery.  She is breathing with assistance (CPAP[sp?]), but the doctors and nurses were pleased with her lung strength when born - crying out loud.  She has had a couple of episodes of what they are calling "forgetting" to breathe (that must be a description meant for us laypeople), but has started up again easily with mild stimulation.  She is in the NICU unit with restricted visiting opportunities, but Josh escorted Robin, Ruth, and I back to see her for a few minutes yesterday.  I was impressed that in the NICU one nurse was assigned to Eden and only one other baby - she just went from room to room, and each baby was viewable on a monitor in the other room!  Eden looks like a perfect and perfectly beautiful little baby, with the emphasis on the little.  She is on an antibiotic because of suspicion of a blood infection, but talking with Josh it sounds like it is uncertain whether she does or did. 

Rebekah is still having hypertension issues, and they have had trouble getting it down (although as I write I hear over my shoulder in her room that her last reading was improved).  She is very happy to have her magnesium treatments over, and the nausea and other unpleasant side-effects that went with it.  Otherwise, she is tender from the C-section, anxious to see more of her baby (and hold her), and ready to get out of the hospital. 

After long hours at the hospital the last few days, Robin, Ruth, and I are working on getting the nursery ready at Josh & Rebekah's apartment.  They were caught quite by surprise by all of this, and Rebekah isn't supposed to be lifting for several weeks after she gets home (so there will be an upside for having to visit Eden at the hospital for an undetermined number of weeks).  So we are trying to make things a little easier for her when she gets home, which may be Saturday or Sunday. 

Thank you so much for your care and prayers.  What a support in prayer we have seen - from you all in Tennessee, from Josh's family and friends back in Wisconsin, from their church here in Boston, and from family and friends across the country.  We've heard about people asking for updates that we had no idea could even have known.  And we're so thankful for all of the prayers - things are in a really good condition right now, especially considering all of the scenarios that might have happened.  Scary to even think about it.  Thank the Lord for praying friends. 

It was quite a scare leading up to the birth, and the clock ticked along very, very slowly for Grandpa and Grandma Bunn waiting in the hospital waiting room for a couple of hours while we were waiting for word on the outcome for both mother and daughter.  As it stands now, Rebekah is well into a recovery that is almost normal (excepting her hypertension problems), and every day that passes for Eden without event is a good one.  Please keep praying, particularly for Josh and Bekah's little one. 

Yours in the Savior,
Chris

Monday, June 6, 3:23 p.m.

Rebekah did not deliver last night as anticipated. The vitals for the baby (a girl, by the way, already named Eden Grace) are holding steady and Rebekah's symptoms have lessened since yesterday, so they are still trying to extend the pregnancy. They are taking labwork on her every six hours. The doc who was just in said that every day in the womb lessens the baby's stay in NICU by 2 days, and of course is valuable for the baby's development. Robin and I were in the room for today's ultrasound, and the doc estimated the baby's weight at 3.5 lbs., which is a lot better than what I had picked up from Wikipedia.


Josh's and Rebekah's church is showering them with love and prayer.
The kids' apartment doesn't have internet service right now, so I'll be emailing and updating from the hospital.


Thanks for praying. Keep it up.