I heard it described by my friend Joe Hays as a rollercoaster ride… I think now we truly know what he means. Well, to some degree. Today the doctors delivered some “hard to take” news that the brain activity from the MRI, showed some acute trauma to the brain, that may have or did cause Noah’s current state. How, where why… still questions.
So today before lunch, we had the news that “this may be the best he will get.”

This afternoon, after going in to visit with my little nephew, it was evident to me, the news we received did not necessarily correspond to the things I saw. He arched his back, he would twitch every once and a while, certain sounds would come out of his mouth. Julie said at one point, a few hours ago, he held her finger when she put it in his palm. He curled his toes when they would tickle them. He flinched to the coldness of the thermometer. He made a “gagging” sound when they were sucking out saliva. And all of these “changes” occured after the doctors said there would be a zero chance of recovery.

I guess God may have a different opinion. For the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective. We all know there is a fine line to walk from the doctors perspective, in delivering news. You dont want to be too optomistic and give false hope, but you dont want to shoot down any hope at all. Yet… somehow, you have to say what you think is going on, and what solutions or results will come from that testing. We, as believers in a God who gave his Son to die, and raised Him from the , know the impossible is possible…. with God. There is not really a “no chance” when you talk to a believer. There is always that “eternal healing” that may be the answer … but God could decide that Noah needs to be in the arms of his mother.

One of the nurse practitioners was telling Julie that in acute traumas from a lack of oxygen (which is what they are saying occured in Noah) would cause damage to the brain, but its a mystery of his situation now. Why? Because in most cases, when there is a lack of oxygen, the other organs begin to fail first. Kidneys, liver function, stomach, bowel movements, lungs, arms, and finally the brain is the last to fail. But here we have a little boy, Noah Allen Whaley, defying the norm of medicine. His body is breathing on his own. He is excreting fluids he is taking (breast milk they are giving to him via trache-tube). He reacts to certain stimuli now. The DR even tested his eye reflexing by moving an object quickly with a flick of his(Noahs) head with the movement.

No chance of recovery? No chance. Prayer is our medicine. Prayer is our source of communing with God. Prayer is there because a life was given so that we could have hope and faith in a God who loves us. I’m sorry for the quick bad news earlier today, but I reckon this may be how things go for some time.

Ethan spoke to those of us in the waiting room today, after visiting with the DR’s about the love he has for this boy of his. No matter how he is, or how he will be, right now he is proud of his son, and he loves him. It’s God’s gift to Julie and Ethan. And its evident they truly love him.

Julie expressed her respect to the neuro team for their knowledge and God given abilities, but said “my hope is in God. Something higher. Its Him I trust. It’s God.”

KEEP PRAYING. thank you friends.
steve

Just got a call from April asking me to go up to hospital now. This would be ok for me to say, since she said it. Not sure the source or the reason or what, but they have given Noah a very slim chance to recover. So just pray right now for Julie and Ethan, and all the family gathered around.
Steve

I’m wrapping up the day with a brief summary of everything I can remember, in case we left something out, or in case I just need to release it.

After Noah’s MRI, they removed the ventilator tube. The only tube he has now is a feeding tube. Now that there is no ventilator tube, Julie was able to hold him for the first time tonight. I was able to spend a few moments in the room with her and Noah, while she rocked him and talked to him. Not sure how much it helped Julie, but it sure was nice to see her arms around him. And have him wrapped up in those pink,blue delivery blankets.

There has not been any results or news from the Dr’s, which is why you haven’t heard much.
Mom just called me on their way home to share some quick updates. Which are introduced with the cautious comment of this could mean anything.

This evening while Mom and Dad (tim and donna eller) where in their with Noah, he arched his back. The nurses however were not around during this time. Julie also said tonight, when she would tickle and scratch the bottom of his feet, he would curl his toes. If those reflexes last or not, if they are real or not, I don’t mind seeing them. It does my heart good to see his body receiving the signals it needs.

The preliminary tests on the placenta and other bloodwork don’t lead the doctors to think there is an infection. But they were also unable to get any fluid during his spinal tap. Another tap may be done later, but has not been scheduled at this point.

Your prayers and love are deeply felt. God is in control. I hope today’s Day of Prayer has brought you closer to God than you were this morning.

Noah was taken down for an MRI around 1pm today. Will take a few hours to complete, and then maybe 24-48hrs for results. Julie and Ethan talked to the neuro-team, and here are some notes I took from that conversation, accurately or not, but gives a little summary.

There was an enzyme that was off the charts yesterday that has dropped 50% from what it was. It is also a normal occurance in newborns. It seems Noahs brain that supports his vital organs and other “involuntary” functions is working, ie. heart, kidney, lungs, stomach, etc… There seems to be another part that is not functioning, ie. eyes, arms, legs, pain stimuli, etc…
It could almost be related to a coma, in how he is reacting. There has not been a cause, nor a solution as of yet. Hopefully the MRI results will be able to give more conclusive results, as well as possible avenues to go down for treatments and even possible outcomes of what to expect.

Keep praying. God is still listening. Thank you
Steve

How powerful that today is the day of prayer. Today, Noah Allen Whaley will be 2 days old, around 9am. We spent the better part of the last half of yesterday at Texas Childrens hospital. Noah arrived around 1pm, where they began testing immediately. What for, what did they find, what do they think, how will they fix it??? They are all just questions waiting to be answered right now.

As it is today, Noah is breathing on his own. He has a tube in his mouth in case he has a seizure, but as far as draining the fluids from his lungs, that has been completed (I believe). There was a great show of love last night for the Whaley’s, from family and friends, and friends of family. There is a lot to write and inform you of, but its hard to think how to order it, and where to put it. Right now, Julie and Ethan and Alyssa need our prayers. They need us to run into the palace of our Creator, bow down at his knees, and worship Him, and then petition and pray and ask for baby Noahs body to be completely healed. For the hands of Jesus to hold Noah close to his chest.

Last night at First Colony Church chapel, some of our church body and family held a prayer time for Noah and the Whaleys. It reminds me how God designed the body to function. When one part hurts, we all hurt. We one part rejoices, we all rejoice. I want to say thank to that gift of love last night, as well as the continual prayers.

April (Julie’s sister-inlaw) had inquired what we should be telling our children about what is going on right now, and this is what was initially said:
Tell your kids that Jesus is holding Noah right now, while his mommy and daddy cannot. Because our kids know Jesus, and they know he Loves us, and they know he is here to help us. And what better image to have, than Jesus sitting at the side of Noah… loving his heart, holding his hand, singing him songs, telling him stories(or parables) of the times when He was here among us.
Lord grant us strength.
More updates to come later…. steve(julie’s brother)

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Here are some preliminary emails about Noahs first few days:

Wed, 4 May 2005 07:51am Please update this. Noah is being moved to Texas Childrens this morning. I dont have any information other than that. I believe they were going to do a CAT scan, but not sure if that was done or will be done once he’s moved. Please lift them up, Julie Ethan, Alyssa and Noah. Steve

Wed, 4 May 2005 08:07am I have a prayer request for my new nephew, Noah Whaley, born yesterday morning, 9am. Julie (my sister) and Ethan are being transferred from a hospital in Rosenberg to Texas Children’s Hospital. He was born with a great deal of fluid in/on his lungs, and had trouble breathing in his first 10minutes of life. He was taken to the NICU where they were able to get him stable, put him on a ventilator, take blood work and xrays. All tests came back with no sign of infection or abnormalities in the lungs. His oxygen levels were good, and his blood gas was good. Just a lot of fluid in the lungs to expel. He was given a “drainage” tube to do this, and was pushing out the fluid on his own for the most part. His oxygen level via the ventilator was lowered yesterday, as they were trying to enable his lungs to perform their job. This morning, they were scheduled for a CAT scan to rule out any brain related cause for some of his delayed movements as they monitored him. The Doctor came in this morning, and decided to move them to Texas Childrens Hospital. I dont know why, or what prompted the move, etc… it would only be a brothers guess and a great deal of speculation. Please lift up Julie and Ethan in your prayers as they cope and struggle with this situation of life. Lift up Alyssa, 2yrs old June4th. Terry Whaley is Ethans mom, and Julies parents are Tim and Donna Eller. Thank you for the church body to come together in this time as one part hurts, so that we can all take over and help heal. Steve
Wed, 4 May 2005 11:47am Please pray for little man Noah. A physician from Tx.Childrens (who picked up Noah in ambulance for transport) stated it was a miracle he is breathing on his own, due to the low and lack of response from neurological testing that has been performed thus far. Noah is going to TCH now to undergo 3-4hours of testing for neurological damage, responses, etc… Julie and Ethan will be going to hospital shortly with Alyssa, as Wed/Sun are the only days 2yr olds can visit the NICU. A miracle may describe it, but we know the true hand of God, or at least we trust we know it. Please offer up your petition to the Lord for his protection and deliverance, through the will of his Powerful Spirit and blood of Christ. Steve