A Time for Prayer
Last Friday, November 24th, while visiting a friend's farm in Union City, TN, our sweet little Ethan was seriously burned by a fire. He has sustained 2nd & 3rd degree burns on 35% of his body. After being taken to a nearby hospital he was sent by medivac to Vanderbuilt University Burn Center in Nashville, TN. This center is a level 1 Burn and Trauma center and is considered to be one of the very best in the area.
Though Ethan has sustained very terrible burns, we are praising God that he was not injured even more seriously. Ethan has no burns below his belly button and none on his back side. His face has some 2nd degree burns on various places, such as his forehead, but the doctor is hopeful that in time these scars may not be very noticeable. The 3rd degree burns begin on the lower part of his cheeks and continue down his neck and chest. Portions of his ears may need some reconstruction but the bone and structure are still there. There are also 3rd degree burns on his arms and armpits and on portions of his thumb and first finger on each hand. When he arrived on Friday he was placed on a ventilator and was given additional blood. He has been on pain and deep sleep medication which has kept him from being able to respond to Sara, which has been understandably difficult for her. After the first three days of stabilization, Ethan had his first skin graft surgery this past Monday. Portions of skin from his thighs were used to graft his hands, arms and armpit area. Cadaver skin was used on his chest and chin area. Though he will be considered critical in condition for some time, the doctors feel that he is responding very normally and that he is doing as well as can be expected at this time.
On Wednesday, they began slowly easing up on the medication that is keeping him asleep. Thursday, they will be removing the breathing tube. Please be praying that there are no complications and that the procedure goes well. Ethan also has a strep infection in his throat and also an infection in his lungs. His doctor says that this is something that is very common and is expected.
Friday is a Big Day.
Ethan's doctor, Dr. Summit, will be removing the bandages and looking at the skin grafts to see if they have taken successfully. If things are going well, they will be planning for surgery on Monday to do some additional grafting on his neck and chest. This is the area of most concern. The doctors believe that he will regain full movement in his hands and fingers, but their concern is for the mobility of the neck area and the area near his armpits.
Sara is SO thankful and touched by all of your care, concern and prayers. It is at times like this when we are able to be the hands and feet of Jesus and take care of the ones that He has put into our lives. Sara has been overwhelmed by all of the loving and supportive phone message and calls. She truly is blessed by knowing that everyone cares about them so deeply. At this time, it has been requested that friends bless Sara by using this blog to communicate their well wishes and prayers to her. She will be able to print them out and share them with Ethan as he begins to progress and is able to be more alert. The information will be updated frequently as to Ethan's progress and any needs that they have.
Your prayers for God's strength are sustaining her right now. Even though she is so incredibly saddened by what has taken place, she knows that God is full of mercy and that He will see them through this difficult time. As Sara is able to be quiet with Ethan and with the Lord, she will be able to see His Mighty Hand at work in their lives.
Sara is staying at the Ronald McDonald house near the hospital. Anyone who desires to send her a card is asked to send it to that location.
Sara laPorte c/o Ronald McDonald House
2144 Fairfax Avenue
Nashville, TN 37212
Please continue to pray for strength and healing and for God's miraculous restoration. Please know that your prayers are no small gift! It is a incredible gift when we are able to reach out in faith and lift up the ones we love into Christ's capable hands....that His Glory may be revealed.
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30 Comments:
Our Savior is full of hope and trust. It is so cool when Ashley reminds me every night to not forget to pray for Ethan. Our children know how powerful our Lord is.
Remember Psalm 138:3 "When I pray, You answer me; You encourage me by giving me the strength I need." Our God is an awesome God and He will answer our prayers. (Matthew 21:21) God will heal Ethan and He will give you both the strength to endure. Please find comfort in His presence and seek Him with all your heart.
Gwen, Bella, Cassie and their Mommy pray that God daily blesses you and Ethan with strength and courage to face this traumatic time. May God bless the doctors and nurses with wisdom and discernment and may they continue to bring you and Ethan good news. We ask that God spread His healing power over both of you, may you both grow stronger in mind, body, and spirit each day. Amen.
We are thinking of you and sending you strength and light everyday. You are both in mind with love in our hearts. We will be especially thoughtful in sending blessings on Friday when the doctors look at Ethan's grafts. Stay strong and believe and see Ethan well.
Dear Ethan, I hope you feel better. We are praying for you in Miss Brennan's class everyday.
Love Hannah G.
When I heard about Ethan I went to the Lord in Prayer. I kept thinking about cool water feeling so good on a small burn. The Lord reminded me he is the living water that can heal and bring comfort. I will be praying for the healing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hannah's Mom
Dear Ethan, I hope that you get better soon and I hope that you can come back to school one day - Love, Hannah D
Sara, my thoughts and prayers are with you and Ethan throughout the day. This must be the hardest thing you have ever had to face...but I know that Jesus is with you, right by your side. This has not caught him by surprise and He has planned for his grace for you in this season. LOVE YOU!
Sarah and Ethan, My name is Pam. My sister-in-law, Nadine, asked us to pray for you - and we are. I will send this to all of my prayer warrior friends. Please know that you have a mighty army of the Lord lifting you up to the throne of God daily. Remember Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm yu, plans to give you hope and a future". We pray that your hope is in Him and that He will bring healing to Ethan and strength to both of you and wisdom to the doctors. May you feel Gods presence with you at all times.
Love in Christ, Pam
Sara and Ethan,
We at Born Learners so want to do whatever we can to help both of you. You are so special to us, truly family. Sara, just know that the healing energy of the most high is operating perfectly right now within Ethan, and that same energy is your Peace of MInd. I love you and the staff does as well. Please let us know how we may assist you. We are ready.
love you both,
Ms. Bea
bebea347@aol.com
Dear Sara and Ethan,
We are praying for you guys daily. God has an amazing plan in all of this. "Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." Isaiah 41:10 With God the impossible is possible. Fix your eyes on Jesus. God Bless, The Harris Family
Ethan & Sara,
We are thinking of you both everyday and sending you our well wishes. Please let us know how and when we can help, we are ready anytime.
Our Love and Prayers,
Shelley, Nate, Caleb, Maddy & Joshua Myer
Hey everyone...my name is Krystle Gravitt, Catt gravitts niece. I was with Ethan when all of this occurred and have been trying to do all i can to raise money here at my college. On behalf of everyone thanks for all that pray so hard!! God bless
Sara,
You cannot even imagine the outpouring of love from so many people... People all across the nation are lifting you up in prayer. You are SO loved and I long to be by your side. Aidan and Blake remember without fail to pray for you at every opportunity. When they get in the car after school, Aidan says..Mom, we prayed for Ethan today! And Blake says the same. I know that you have been there before while the kids are doing PE. Every class is spelling and shouting out "God bless Ethan" as they do their exercises... you are powerfully loved, my friend..
Love, Lorrie
Our dear Sara and Ethan
If I received a penny for every time You and Ethan are in my thoughts and my prayers...I'd be a millionarie.
If you received a penny for every thought and prayer that is being sent to Heaven for the two of you, a gazillionaire you would be!!!
Sara, Nothing could ever test our faith and resolve as much as seeing one's child hurt. But Ethan is such a lucky boy to have such an amazing and dedicated mother, as well as the love and prayers of so many people. The thoughts and prayers of all the Zippers are with you every day, and we look forward to the day when we can see Ethan again - whole, healed and pain free. Stay strong - we love you.
Ethan,
Hi Little Buddy! I know you'll be okay and we're all praying and pulling for you! You are one blessed child to have your wonderful Mom, Sara, right by your side. I love you both and you are both in my constant thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Jen (Michigan cousin)
Ethan,
Hi Little Buddy! You are your Mom are in my every day thoughts. I love you both and my prayers are constant! I can't wait to see you both soon, you're a strong little boy and I know you'll get through all of this! I love you both so much!
Jen
Sara,
My prayers go out to you and Ethan. I can only imagine how difficult this is for you and Ethan. God's awesome power will see you both through this. Sara, keep singing to Ethan. Music is such a magic healer. I love you both dearly.
Love, Ms. Brook
Sara, claim Romans 15:13 ~ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I'm praying for peace, hope & complete healing.
Dear Sara and Ethan..
Ethan and you are in my thoughts every moment and in my prayers the whole day... Christian prays for Ethan every night.
I talk to my family in Miami and my friends and everybody is praying for Ethan. My sister went today to a healing mass and over 300 hundred people were praying for Ethan and you, after mass she call me and told me that the Father aproach her and told her that she will see the miracle in Ethan.
You just have to belive in his word and his promese.
Remember that God is in Control. God will never allow His children to be tested beyond what anyone can bear. Difficult situations often bring many of our deepest fears and inadequacies to the surface. Trust your Heavenly Father. Let Him carry you through each step of what appears to be a really hard situation. He has the big picture in mind (Romans 8:28).
God Bless you and Ethan every second of the day,
I love you
Sarah and Ethan,
You are in our thoughts, hearts, and prayers and please know that we are sending you our prayers and blessings every day.
Jesus wants us to have hope in him, even when things seem hopeless. Nothing is impossible for God.
Prayer: Thank you for doing miracles, Lord. Nothing is too difficult for you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Sandy, Richard, Hayley and McKayla
Sarah and Ethan,
You are in our thoughts, hearts, and prayers and please know that we are sending you our prayers and blessings every day.
Jesus wants us to have hope in him, even when things seem hopeless. Nothing is impossible for God.
Prayer: Thank you for doing miracles, Lord. Nothing is too difficult for you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Sandy, Richard, Hayley and McKayla
Ethan and Mommy,
This note and prayer come from Misty
Ochoa's mom and dad in Knob Noster,
Missouri. We have heard of the little mountain God has given you both to climb. What a comfort to you both that Jesus Christ the Lord of us all is right there holding each of you're hands as you make this climb. And, we are right there with you both in our hearts, spirits, love and prayers.
Jan & Lew Clark
Sara and precious Ethan,
May you know that we are MANY praying for you and your precious one. May the Lord God place His shield of protection around Ethan and may He continue the healing process in Ethan. May He give the doctors, nurses, assistants and all who serve and tend to your precious Ethan, wisdom, insight, great discernment and may it flow from a heart of love. May you, Sara be filled with all peace and praise as you see the Hand of God moving in this situation and may you continue to sing to your precious Ethan to sooth and reassure him. May God grant complete healing of every burn wound and may the healing process be swift. Ephesians 3:14-21 "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father from whom every family in heaven and earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man(woman); so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith and that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all fulness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen
In His Love, Queenette Baur, a mentoring mom in MOPS.
Sara our hearts go out to you and Ethan and we are upholding you in prayer. Lindsey says "Ethan, I hope you feel better". I cannot imagine what you are going through but our precious Lord Jesus knows your every thought. Psalm 56:3 "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you." Our Lord brings us hope, even in the darkness and we pray that Gods love and all the prayers brought before him give you and Ethan strength. Jeff, Cindy and Lindsey West
Sara our hearts go out to you and Ethan and we are upholding you in prayer. Lindsey says "Ethan, I hope you feel better". I cannot imagine what you are going through but our precious Lord Jesus knows your every thought. Psalm 56:3 "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you." Our Lord brings us hope, even in the darkness and we pray that Gods love and all the prayers brought before him give you and Ethan strength. Cindy and Lindsey West
Sara & Ethan:
Hi, It's Mike Gibson, Sara. Cathy told me whats happened. You're both in my prayers. The out-pour of love and support from this blog and webpage is so touching. It's trully amazing! I know your beautiul little boy has his mom's core of be-friending every stray. Loving and giving to everyone he meets.
Stay strong!
Sara, Rob and I just heard the news and are praying like crazy for you, your family and Ethan. We are so thankful he is strong like his mommy and will get through this with flying colors. Ethan you hang in there little guy, when you get through this your life will be more blessed then it is now. There are so many people out there who you dont know who love you and are cheering you on!!! God has you in is hands and is healing you everyday!!!
All our love and prayers,
Rob and Vicki
The Lord's love embraces every aspect of our being and our life. I know he will protect Ethan and will bring comfort to you as well. In the meantime I will pray for you both both every morning and every evening and will send this message to my friends who will also respond to our prayers.
Dear Sara and Ethan,
Tyler and I pray daily two,three times a day and Thank God for Ethans healing. You are stronger than you know, you are a great Mother,Friend, and Sister so remember everyone is praying for you.
You and Ethan have given sooooo much to everyone, I know it's all of our pleasure to be here for you both. The mind is stronger than the body,so try to invision his healing, invision him running and playing and it will become a reality....We love you both so very much and are here for anything you need...Love for now,.Tamara and Tyler
Dear Ethan,
I am praying for you every night with my mom. I pray that all your pain will go away and that you can come back to school soon. I miss you.
Love Bailey W from Miss Brennan's class.
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