Saturday, February 9, 2008

Mallorie

***Update***
Mallorie is stable! After a really rough night in the NICU the night I first posted, requesting prayer, she has remained consistently stable. The doctors have removed her from paralysis, and she is now beginning to wake up and move around. She is still in need of prayer, especially when it comes time to take her off the vent, but for now, praise God she is stable! Thank you so much for lifting her up. God is always working, whether it is in the form of a miracle of healing or not. But getting to witness these particular types of miracles is something I will never get tired of.

Several months ago God sent one of His greatest blessings of encouragement to me in the form of a lady from Texas who had a living, thriving little girl with trisomy. She's shy about having her name out, so I won't share that detail, but I want you to know that I have hardly ever come in contact with someone with such a natural gift for saying what I needed to hear on a daily basis. She has prayed for me and each one of the girls in my life going through the same thing, and even though her plate has been more than full with the things going on in her own life, I have known that I can count on her like clock work each and every step of the way.

Mallorie, her youngest daughter, is amazing! She was born with a cleft palate, spina bifida and trisomy, yet she has blown away the doctors by the way she has grown and developed in such a short time. Mallorie turned one on Wednesday. I celebrated with them right here from Memphis, praising God for what He has done in her life. I love that beautiful baby, without ever haven gotten the chance to see her or hold her myself. She has been a tangible sign of God's power. He is the one who holds all life in His hands, and He will not be dictated by a medical diagnosis!

On Thursday, Mallorie went in for a corrective surgery for her palate. She has already undergone one palate surgery very successfully, but several were needed before the work was complete. Yesterday she began experiencing complications. I am not an expert on medical terminology, so I won't try and explain what is going on. All that I really know is that she and her family need prayer right now. I don't know what God's plan is, but I know that He has already used Mallorie to express Himself with an eloquence that words can't match.

I don't know how you have come to find this blog. Maybe you have known me all my life, or maybe we have never met and you simply found out about Poppy through some other means. Regardless of how you have gotten here, you now find yourself to some degree surrounded by the reality of sick babies. My prayer for all of you and for myself is that my heart never closes up and becomes resistant to hearing about even one more precious life. I don't want to fall into the trap of apathy or numbness when it comes to praying for "the least of these." I think it's not possible, but I know it is. I know that I have watched stories on the news or read articles in the paper, and let the mass suffering of the world slide through my mind, absorbed on only the most basic level. I guess it's impossible to fully take on the hurt of the world, but it's not too much to take the time to open your heart and pray for a life that God allows you to come in contact with, whether through a personal encounter or through something like the internet. Please pray for this family today.

16 comments:

Jesse said...

Each and every time I hear about another one of these sick babies, my heart breaks. It is strange to think anyone could ever become "immune" to caring or praying for them, though I'm sure, like you said, it can (and sadly does) happen.

I will be praying for Mallorie and her family. Thank you for sharing so we can pray.

Rebecca (Ramblings by Reba) said...

I will pray.

Let us know if there's anything else we can do.

Q's NEWS said...

How astounding that precious Mallorie has been alive a complete year - that, in itself, is a miracle. I will pray hard that this "bump in the road" is just another chapter in her miracle. Please keep us posted.

Love from WV
Susan

Cathy said...

Thank you so much for putting this in writing for precious Mallorie. I live close to Mallorie and her family and have had the chance to hold this beautiful Angel. Thank you for your words and the prayers that you ask on behalf of Mallorie.
CAthy & Annabel

Anonymous said...

Dear Heavenly Father,
You spoke the world into existence,
and You knit Copeland, Eva, Maddox, Mary Grace, Poppy, Tristan and Mallorie...

Your perfect creative powers are amazing, but we ask You to help us trust You and want Your will!

Thank You for the community of believers, who reach out and love each other as Your Son modeled.

Thank You for blogs and the opportunity to learn about families who we will meet someday in Heaven.

I praise You for Mallorie's 1st year Birthday ~ What a gift for her family!

I praise You for allowing medical staff to treat and care for these human bodies of ours. I pray for Mallorie's Doctors and nurses. May they have warm hands and hearts? May they have minds focused on the best care for Mallorie and her family? May they be used to demonstrate Your power?

Thank You for Your love, and help us to love You even more.

I pray these things in the name and through the blood of Your own Dear Son, Jesus.

Amen

Anonymous said...

We will be praying for the health and strength for this family and all the baby's that go through this journey.Dude99

Laurie in Ca. said...

Hi Angie,

Thank you for letting us know about the needs of Mallorie and her family. I will add her to my prayer list along with her precious family. Wow, a year old little blessing. God truly has a purpose for every single life created. Please let them know I will be praying.
Praying for you too and everything going on right now for you:)

Love, Laurie in Ca.

Emily said...

praying for mallorie and her family....

Kathryn said...

I would be honored to add Mallorie to my prayer list. I check on all of you daily, and would love to be updated on how this precious little one is doing as well.

So Blessed said...

Praying for Mallorie and her family...and your family, also.

Kim (marygracesummons.blogspot.com) said...

Praying hard for dear Mallorie and her family.
With love,
Kim

Anonymous said...

Angie,
I will be praying for this family who has been a blessing to you.I hope we can lift them up the way they have lifted you up.

Unknown said...

through the journey I took w/ you and w/ Nathan, I have been completely changed by the power of prayer, and I have seen it at work in the most amazing ways. I will pray for Mallorie, and I know God will continue to touch this family with His gifts of love and peace, just as He has touched ours.

Anonymous said...

I am wondering if there is an update on Mallorie? I have prayed for several days and had not seen an update. Thanks!
Franklin, TN

The Adoption Of William said...

Praying for this sweet girl!!

With Love,

William's Mom :)

Just Me said...

So happy to read Mallorie is doing better.

I was really touched by your last paragraph, but it took me until today to figure out what to say about it. Sick babies/kids are my work, and what I think about during my time off. They are my life, my passion. If, however, I wept for every hurting family I encountered, the tears would never stop. You reminded me that there is ALWAYS prayer...prayer costs nothing, but can make a HUGE difference. I don't have to cry, but I can carry those who have touched my life in my heart, keeping them in my prayers. I appreciate your prayer that "...my heart never closes up and becomes resistant to hearing about even one more precious life..." I need that.

Thank you...and congrats on getting your letter/application done! I am "all set" to take my parenting classes in April. I am looking forward to learning new things, and meeting new people.