Update - 10 May 2010

Our first reaction to Lizzie's decreasing oxygen level was to meet her cardiologist immediately to come up with a remedial plan for LIzzie. However, after calming down a little, we decided that the first thing to do is not to run to anyone but God. We will keep the appointment on 24 May so that we can pray for her.

We are more vigilant in monitoring Lizzie's condition and are taking readings of her oxygen everyday. We noticed that it is lower when she is awake, at around 68 to 74%. When she sleeps, her oxygen level is higher at around 78 to 82%. We are collating this data to meet her cardiologist on 24 May.

Please therefore pray that in the short term, Lizzie's oxygen level will improve, especially during her waking hours when she is quite active (as a 4-year-old) so that her cardiologist and surgeons will not immediately require her to go under the knife. And, for the longer term, for God to heal her of this heart condition so that the need for a major operation will pass by her, not just this time, but for good.

Lizzie enjoying a little drizzle in her ladybird gumboots

Why we are praying for a miracle

Dear friends, thank you for reading this blog. Knowing that you read it gives us motivation enough to keep blogging about Lizzie's progress. We will also be using this blog to keep all our friends updated of any procedures and developments in future. Having the comfort that our daughter is covered by your prayers means a lot to us. We know that prayers will move the hand of God, who is always merciful and loving.

I also want to explain why we have been stubbornly praying for a miracle, instead of trusting medical science to take care of Lizzie's conditions. We do believe that God can heal us through doctors and surgeons, and such professionals and their knowledge are God-sent. In Lizzie's case, the experts are saying that they can operate on her when necessary to put in a human graft (a donor artery) to address the issue of the missing pulmonary artery. In the same operation, they will also rectify the VSD (simply, a hole) in her heart.
What these do not address are:
1. donor graft is not permanent. It may calcify and require replacements, every 10 to 15 years. For a 4-year-old, that will mean many surgeries for the rest of her life.
2. Her chromosome defects and her calcium deficiency will be permanent.
3. She will be on life-long medication which will have other side-effects.

In short, medical science cannot do a lot for Lizzie.


We therefore covet your kind prayers for her in the following areas:
1. A creative miracle from God to correct her heart, chromosome and calcium conditions.
2. No more surgeries. Even though Lizzie has gone through 2 surgeries since birth, she hates surgeries, as do her mommy and daddy.

"All I asked, Oh Lord, is a pulmonary artery and no more surgeries... and lots of marshmallows!"

We believe that God hears us and loves Lizzie. Her condition and her healing will be a testimony of that. There is nothing too great for our Almighty God and His everlasting love. His healing will be perfect in timing and in purpose. Thank you for your prayers.

Prayer request

Dear friends,

In the past few months our Lizzie has changed in so many ways - her physical and mental development have just surprised us on a daily basis, and we give thanks for that.

This month, however, we would like to ask for your prayers for Lizzie's oxygen levels.
We are very concerned and a little disheartened at the sudden drop recently - her normal levels are above 75%, but in the last few days it has come down to the low 70's, and she's occasionally looking blue during these episodes.

We know that God's will and his plan for her is sovereign, but we are still praying that Lizzie would not need to have the open heart surgery at this time, and that this low oxygen will not affect her irreversibly in anyway. We are praying for His grace and mercy to be upon her, and for us, as her parents to have the wisdom to make the right decisions and care for her to the best of our abilities.


We have been experiencing the joys of normal parents with a normal child in the last few months - as Lizzie is actually catching up with her classmates and able to really communicate with us, she also started ballet lessons (which she loves), and we have even gotten her chronic constipation problem successfully under control.



We are sad that just when things seem to have gotten to the point of normalcy, have may have to return to the situation of a pending surgery once again. Dealing with fluctuating oxygen levels has always been stressful for us, but we are determined to stay focused and continue to entrust her life into God's hands.


God bless you all.

Elaine

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Dear Friends,

How time has flown by, and once again I'm struggling to get this posted on time!

We've just had a very festive Chinese New Year, with Lizzie enjoying her very first school field trip to Chinatown - the teachers organised two busloads of preschoolers to walk through the streets of the night market, and even buy their own souvenir.

Then they spent weeks practising for a CNY concert which was performed in their school carpark. Though it was in the blazing hot sun, the kids put on a good effort, and the parents were ever enthusiastic with their cameras and camcorders - I was no different!

CHINATOWN FIELDTRIP

"Flamingo" class photo

Its fun being a tourist

"Nian nian you yue"

"I love you tiger"

First day of CNY

Hooooray!

Just making sure Mummy trimmed my hair properly

Thanks Aunty Sheryl for designing my rockin' T-shirt

Everyone remember to say grace before we eat!

Thank you Jesus for the food....

SCHOOL CNY CONCERT

Sitting with my two pals - Shevaun & Hon Wei

Can you spot the three buddies? They have their arms around each other!

Hope you enjoyed these photos and videos - we are deeply touched to know that you are still supporting us in prayer and that someone is actually reading our posts. It does prompt me to keep this blog up to date!

Blessed Chinese New Year to you and your families.

God Bless,

Elaine

Merry Christmas!

Dear friends,

Once again, the new year is almost upon us and we can't believe how time has swept by so quickly.

This year has brought many ups and downs, but through it all, God has been faithful to us, most of all to
Lizzie, for whom this year has passed without any major emergencies, or the need for any surgery.

Our little one started pre-school in September and has shown great progress in her social and physical development.
Best of all we are pleased to report that she is communicating more clearly and uses words that often surprise us (perhaps because we have underestimated her abililities?), and as a parent its these little things that bring us great joy.

Sometimes as I observe her play and interact with her friends, I silently thank the Lord for allowing her to come as far as she has. All the while we are always aware that God is the one in control of every situation, and as we make plans for the future, we are constantly reminded that tomorrow it can all be easily taken away, according to His perfect will - so we should never take things for granted.




So as we approach the new year I am wondering what it will hold for us.
We continue to hold on to His promises for comfort and healing, and that the plans that He has for us will give us hope and a future. We try to instill in Lizzie a love for God and His Word, and to teach her that in every situation there is a reason to give Him thanks, and to pray unceasingly.

We are well aware of the complicated road that lies ahead and we have not given up our prayers for a miracle - there was a verse which spoke to me (Jn9:3)- about a blind man, and the reason for his affliction. Jesus answered that the true purpose of his disability was not because of punishment, nor was it because of anything anyone had done, but solely that the works of God would be manifest in him. Therefore we are submitting our daughter into His hands that whatever He has instore for her will be for His glory.




We give thanks that Lizzies eyes have been fine this past year - she is squinting less, vision is still normal, and her constipation is getting sorted out gradually.)

Lizzie getting her eyes checked

So as 2009 draws to a close (I am literally typing this on New Year's Eve to get in one last final post before 2010!) we want to remember those of you whom we have not seen for a while, those of you who were once close, those that prayed with us, who helped us in various ways, and those with which we have lost touch.




We just want to let you know that you are not forgotten, but we do remember you and think of you now and then with fondness and gratitude. You know who you are. We are sorry for not keeping in touch more often, but hope that in 2010 you and your families will be blessed, and that it will be a time for old ties will be renewed.

God Bless,

Elaine, Simon & Lizzie