UPDATE!!! Mayla Grace

First and foremost, we are incredibly thankful and humbled by the showering and outpouring of love, support, prayers, and encouragement from all of our family and friends. Truly, and like we've never seen, is a global prayer effort occurring for us and Mayla during this incredibly challenging time. In our recent update, we were a bit vague on the happenings with Mayla, only indicating she has a "heart issue". This was unintentional as time, internet connections & signals, and emotional drainage are great limiting factors. The truth is, she has Transposition of the Great Arteries which is a congenital heart defect where the two major arteries are switched on the heart (the aorta connects where the pulmonary artery should & vice versa). The first thing the doctors have said to us the last couple days is that it IS CURABLE, and following a successful surgery and recovery, Mayla will lead a perfectly normal life, though they don't recommend professional sports. I contend that with the enlistment of major sponsorship and a large salary, a personal cardiologist can be hired and then she is all good. I figure by then, barefoot waterskiing will be main stream and pros will make tons of money... 

While the surgery is not common in the sense of it being done every day, it is not uncommon and is done with very high success rates. Of course, no heart surgery, particularly on an infant is without risks... The surgery will be scheduled once Mayla has been stabilized in the intensive care unit. Until then, it is a delicate balance of adjusting machines, oxygen levels, medication and other things in order to get those levels where they need to be for her to stabilize. It's also not a quick process and will take some time. We have the utmost confidence in the Kinderspital Zürich and the care our baby is receiving. We believe wholeheartedly that we remain in Zürich, for such a time as this. So that more or less summarizes our precious daughter.

Keri and I are another story. While we remain strong, full of faith, and hope, and even joy, we are on a whirlwind of an emotional roller coaster. Anyone who has ever seen their baby/child connected to wires, tubes, countless IV's, almost completely sedated and drugged can understand. For the others, I pray it's something you are never faced with. As stated, we have complete confidence in the hospital, but that doesn't eliminate the pain and tears that come when alarms sound and monitors flash, or multiple nurses and physicians rush to your child's side, or you are ushered out of the ICU away from the work ensuing on your child. We struggle with the pain of not being able to hold our child, to have her with us in the same hospital room, for Keri to feed her and grow her intimate connection, for me to sing and lull her to sleep (or writhe from screeching, matter of perception), and countless other feelings and emotions. Most of the time we are strong, praying without ceasing, making the most of every minute we have with her, other times we break-down and cry like we never have before; the pain of seeing our beautiful one the way no parent ever should have to. 

Still, we do have faith and hope, and this comes from the Lord, and we cling to this. In the midst of our sadness, He provides hope, He provides joy even. And it is by His grace that we, and Mayla Grace, will come through this. We were reminded the last couple days that the Lord God has knitted Mayla together in Keri's womb. In this, Mayla's two main arteries were as well knitted together the way they were. And while we may not understand this now, or even in this lifetime, we do know that the story of God's healing and re-knitting (so to speak) through the care of physicians, specialists, nurses, her parents, family, friends, and other loved ones, will be the story that lasts beyond a lifetime. He IS in control. He HAS the victory. And so we can remain strong in and through Him, the Great Physician and Healer, knowing His concern for Mayla and her well-being and her healing far exceeds ours. Thanks to Him hearing and answering prayers, He and Mayla left us with a beautiful gift as we said good-night to her; open eyes with movements and stares into the eyes of each of her parents. I had the opportunity to see her eyes open this morning and for Mayla to lock eyes with me; Keri however, was out of the room at the time and missed it. I and another prayed incessantly that Keri would have the opportunity to lock eyes with our beloved daughter. He hears our prayers, He answers our prayers, and so proves He is in control and reassures us of this control and while Mayla is drugged and sedated like no person should be, she showed her strength as she opened her beautiful eyes wide open, looked to the right and locked eyes with her dad, then moved her eyes to the left and locked with her mom. This is the beautiful imagery He has given us to sleep to this evening. Thank you Father! Thank you again for your prayers, please continue to partner with us and so many others around the world lifting the three of us to Him who cares more than any other.  

~ with all our thanks, love, and appreciation 

Will (and Keri and Mayla too)

Mayla's first evidenced eye opening

Keri's first visit with Mayla

Will spending time with Mayla in the evening, and her home for the next...

Mayla's home, already decorated with love, and grace. We do need to replace the pink name sign though...