Update - 28 Sep

Dear friends, I thank you for your prayers for Lizzie. I know you prayed becos Lizzie is much better this morning. Thank you!! With additional O2 thru' the ventilator (40%), Lizzie's O2 level was in the 80s when I visited her this morning. The surgical team came by and said that they will try to remove the ventilator this morning. It's about time, cos Lizzie's been making suckling noises(asking for pacifier or, better, milk bottle!!). Elaine and I thank God that despite not acceding to our request for no surgery, He made this surgery count. Lizzie is pink as a lobster and quite alert now. She was about to look at mummy, daddy and visitors. She opened her eyes and look when I called her name. Before I left NUH this morning, the docs came in and switched the ventilator to unassisted mode. Lizzie is breathing on her own!!! They also reduced the O2 to 30%. Although her O2 level dropped to 70, the docs are confident that she will be about to manage it on her own. Lizzie's finally getting her pacifier. We are praying that she will be discharged from Paediatric ICU this weekend to a normal ward. We will update you again. Thanks for your prayers.
God bless, Simon

Lizzie in critical condition

Dear friends, I went to see my Little Lizzie this morning. She opened her eyes for a while but they are not focused. The nurse told me that her O2 level has been in the 60s. When I was there, it dipped to the 50s. The registrar and professor were called in. When I left the hospital, they were still trying to improve her O2 level. The prof told me they will still go ahead to remove the ventilator today.
Please pray for Lizzie that:
1. there will be no further desaturation of her O2 level. Pray that God will open up all the air passages and her lungs so that oxygenated blood will flow freely and her O2 level will rise.
2. the current low O2 level will not affect her brain or her physical development. No part of her body will be affected as God provides the grace for her not just to survive, but to live victoriously.
Thanks for praying.
May God bless you too. Simon

Surgery done on 25 Sep

Dear friends, we saw Lizzie for a long time on 24 Sep.
She kept her eyes open for the longest time - 5 hours straight. We can tell that she is tired but she refused to close her eyes. It seemed that she could sense something is going on and wanted us to see her eyes before they close for a long while. The memory of that day is so precious to us (I have uploaded those pictures in Day 47). Lizzie went thru' the surgery to implant an artifical stem to aid blood flow to her heart. She is now sedated and intubated (a tube inserted thru' her mouth to her lungs to aid breathing). According to the Docs, the surgery went well. However, Lizzie has lots of tubes and insertions into her arms and legs. The number of electronic devices hooked up to her tiny body is depressing. Elaine and I are hoping that these devices will be taken off Lizzie in the next few days as she grow stronger and heals. More importantly, we are hoping that she will be able to breathe on her own so that they will take her off the ventilator. Once she is off the ventilator, they will stop the sedation and we can see Lizzie's sparkly eyes again. Please pray for our little Lizzie. She has gone thru' so much for a 48-day old baby, barely full sized.
Thanks for your kind thoughts and prayers.
God bless,Simon & Elaine

Final scan before surgery

Dear friends, the cardiologist scanned Lizzie today at our request before the surgery on Monday. The disapointment continues. Lizzie's condition is the same. Still nothing from God. Elaine and I spoke to the surgeon this morning and confirmed that the surgery will be done on Monday morning, probably around 8.30am. It will be approximately 2 hours long. The procedure is to put an artificial stem on the right side of Lizzie's heart to provide more blood flow from the lung to the heart. Following the surgery, Lizzie will be warded in a different ward for recovery. She will also be on medication, although mild, permanently. The surgeon is not able to tell us that this will surely be the only operation needed before the open-heart surgery when Lizzie is 20kg. Subsequent follow-up surgeries may be necessary before that. Please pray for God's grace and mercy for our little Lizzie. She is sleeping soundly every day (otherwise crying angrily for her pacifier!!), oblivious of the surgeries she need to face for years to come.
PS: Please do not come down, or send us anything. We appreciate allthe gifts and visits with great gratitude, but we really only need your prayers for Lizzie.
Thanks, Simon & Elaine

Surgery date confirmed

Dear friends, the Docs had a meeting today and confirmed that they are operating on Lizzie on Monday, 25 September.
Your kind prayers are most appreciated.
Thanks, Simon & Elaine