A Mother's love

It's 8pm in Tennessee on Sunday night...

Sara is sitting by Ethan's bedside and being his cheerleader, comforter and strength. During a phone conversation with her, I could hear Ethan's tiny voice in the background as he called out to his mommy. As they had their conversation... I could hear it in her voice...she is being so strong. I'd say that I don't know how she's doing it...but I know her strength comes from the only One who is able to give strength in the enormous quantities that she needs right now.

Sara is simply amazed at the love that everyone has shown to them. She spoke of a wonderful local Pastor, Gary Dodd, who has been there with her praying and ministering to her each day that she has been there. Members of his church have all sent cards and well wishes to her... but she says, "they don't even know us!" I assured her that there are far more people praying for the two of them than she can ever imagine...people from all across the country. A few local Nashville friends of friends here in CA have gone to visit her and pray with her... they don't know her either, but have been called to her side.

It means so much to her and she thanks

everyone from the bottom her heart.

Ethan's condition is not quite what they are calling "stable", but he is not considered to be in the "critical" state anymore. He continues to take antibiotics to fight the infection in his lungs. It is not pneumonia, but there is some congestion in his chest. Each day they get him up for just a bit and have him take a few steps. He is also sitting up for a portion of each day. Some of the time he is able to have some nice conversations with his mom. He says that he really misses his friends very much. Other conversations are not as easy for Sara to have with him. He is in quite a bit of pain. Those of us with 6 year olds, or young children know that they can't understand it when they are in pain, they get mad when it won't go away... Ethan is unhappy that he is in pain. The biggest request that Sara has is that we would all be praying for God's miraculous removal of Ethan's pain. It is understandably the hardest part of all that they are going through.

Ethan is having hydrotherapy every three days. He will be having it tomorrow. During the procedure they give him Ketamine, which puts him "under" so that he will not feel any pain during the treatment. The hydrotherapy is basically a process where they clean his skin and put on new bandages. This Tuesday at 9:30 am, TN time, Ethan will be having his next surgery to remove the cadaver skin on his chest and neck and replace it with skin grafts from his legs. During and after the surgery for a short time, Ethan will be back on the ventilator

and will be more heavily sedated.

Another request that Sara has made for prayer is that Ethan will begin eating. He doesn't have the desire to eat anything that they have offered to him. Because of this, he is continuing to be fed through a tube in his nose. He is most likely not hungry due to all of the medication that he is on, but it would be awesome for his appetite to return.

Monday morning, tomorrow, the intercessors prayer team at Hillcrest Christian School where Ethan attends first grade, will be having a time of prayer with Sara by speaker phone. We will be joining together with her and raising our voices to the Lord on Ethan's behalf. This will be happening between about 8:30 am - 9:30 am. You are invited to join in with us from wherever you are and make your requests known before our Lord. He is listening, and He promises that whenever two or three are gathered in His name that He is there...He will be with you wherever you are praying, as we become one in prayer.

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