Please... please pray for Andrew!

[Jennie@ifish]

He has several things going on. He quit school as he is bored, and it is difficult for him to read since his last surgery.

Besides that, he has a problem that is pretty private, but we could sure use prayer about it. Both for me in helping him in dealing with it, and for him, dealing with it.

He is thinking of moving to San Fransisco to work in a restaurant. He has always loved that city.

I'll miss him, but he is young, and I want him to follow his dreams.

Regardless, he needs prayer as he starts out on another journey in life, and also for the problems that life can bring.

He says he does not believe. But, I do! And I believe that he will, again, someday. If you raise them in the way they should go... right?

The candle is forever lit.

Jen

[Don Becker]

:pray::pray: for Andrew and for you! Don

[Grantspastor]

I'll pray for him

[duckcall]

'Will pray that God will protect him and give you comfort.

[CATCH AND EAT]

Jen, keep praying for the young man that he will find himself. Sorry to hear he quit school. Perhaps he needs a break or something. Love and support him but let him fly from the nest.

As a father with a child in college (child that sounds funny for 19) I can relate to wanting to help them and have them do what we would do. My girl is clear back in Rhode Island and the only control we have is the purse strings. What she does beyond that is her choice and freedom. We prayer that we brought her up right and that she will somehow find a way to follow the Lord in her life.

We just have to pray for them every day.

[DAB]

:pray:

[Jennie@ifish]

It's funny, C and E. I think you will find that when she comes home for the summer, it will be even harder than when she was away!
When he was away, all I could do was pray and hope.
Now that he is home, attending school here, (or was) I felt like I had to wait home nights again, when he went out! LOL I didn't, and thank Goodness he's a good guy with little to worry about, that way... I liked it better when I had NO clue what he was doing!!!

Jen

[PapaHog]

Jennie, I will continue to pray for you both.

[STRUTTIN-1]

Prayers that the Lord help guide him.Maybe this new life is were it will start.

[Poindexter]

Prayers for wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit for your son and patience for you . . .

[Blind Bobber]

Pray we will. My boys are 9 & 11. I can only imagine at this point.
Keep
The
Faith :pray::cool:

[Ryan Pultz]

you got it! rp

[CGRFish]

Jenny, I will pray for Andrew and you. My son is 20, struggling and bored in college, and searching for a direction, so I can relate all to well to what you are feeling.

For many years my wife and I were baptism prep counselors in our previous church. I can't tell you how many (most!) of the young couples who were raised in a beliveing home, but then as college students / young adults had their faith waiver severely. As they matured, they returned to their foundation and their faith. We have to raise our kids with the right foundation, pray for them constantly, and God will take care of the rest!

[letsfish]

What a great group of encouraging friends you have! I just want to also encourage you to be the "mom" he will always need, though that role is ever-changing and particularly difficult when you are must to let go and let him "fly". I will be praying also for Andrew's direction -spiritual and otherwise.

[CATCH AND EAT]

It's funny, C and E. I think you will find that when she comes home for the summer, it will be even harder than when she was away!
When he was away, all I could do was pray and hope.
Now that he is home, attending school here, (or was) I felt like I had to wait home nights again, when he went out! LOL I didn't, and thank Goodness he's a good guy with little to worry about, that way... I liked it better when I had NO clue what he was doing!!!

Jen


Funny that you say this Jennie, we noticed the same deal when Caitlin was home during Christmas Break. What are you doing , where ya going???????? I guess you never stop being a parent. We will always have a concern over our child no matter how old they are.

Prayer helps us get through the wonder that we have of our children and the hope they will be good people.

[X'deyes]

Prayers for Andrew and you!! God Bless!

[FishinGrl22]

:pray:praying

[Cliff D.]

Prayers for both you and Andrew. Toughest job i've ever had,being a parent, favorite one too!!

[Jennie@ifish]

Today Andrew decided on surgery for his blind eye. It could be good and it could be bad.

Please continue to pray for him. It will happen next Wednesday.

J

[Jennie@ifish]

And... my cornea is bad, now and I have to have a replacement, the week after Roo's surgery.

It's an experimental cornea replacement surgery where you only have to lay on your back for two hours, instead of 24. A partial corneal implant.

It's kinda risky, but ... I close that eye most of the time anyhow.

Wish me luck, too!

[hookumhi]

Prayers sent

[fishnhuntnfool]

Prayer said! I remember struggling through the same issues with college boredom and then completely forgetting about God except on Sundays and sometimes not even on Sundays, but God had a plan to bring me close to him right before I got married and I haven't gone astray since! God is awesome! I'll also say a prayer for his surgery as well.

JP

[Lou]

:pray::pray::pray::pray::pray::pray: for you both!

[brshooter]

Jennie,
Gini and I are praying for both of you.

God Bless.

[Jennie@ifish]

Andrew has had to postpone his surgery. :(

Please keep him in your prayers.

Jen

[MsOutdrs]

It's funny, C and E. I think you will find that when she comes home for the summer, it will be even harder than when she was away!
When he was away, all I could do was pray and hope.
Now that he is home, attending school here, (or was) I felt like I had to wait home nights again, when he went out! LOL I didn't, and thank Goodness he's a good guy with little to worry about, that way... I liked it better when I had NO clue what he was doing!!!

Jen

Jen...This may help or it may scare you..lol...but remember when you were that age? And your parents were probably worried about the same things about you? You managed to grow up to be a productive, good person...Teach by example...they always seem to find their way, just as you did!

[PapaHog]

Prayers for Andrew and Jennie. :pray::pray:

[letsfish]

Prayers for Andrew and Jennie. :pray::pray:
DITTO!

[Poindexter]

:pray::pray::pray:

[Jennie@ifish]

On March 30th, Andrew and I both have an appointment at the low vision clinic. Pray that the doc please helps Andrew to read and to see better.

The next day, I have surgery. (May 1st) to have a corneal implant. (A Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty... LOL) I'm nervous about this. I use this eye for not much more than balance right now. I dare pray that I'll ever be able to see with it again, but... maybe? Our Father is the supreme healer! We'll see!

The next day, Andrew has his first echocardiagram in three years. He's supposed to have it every 6 months, but he is 18, now, so makes that choice himself. I just thank God he's going to do it... and I hope he follows through.

I guess I would want to ask for prayer that Andrew indeed follows through and goes, as it could save his life... even though he is scared to find out what it might show. If his aorta has grown, he may have to have his aortic valve replaced. However, if he has it done BEFORE it dissects like mine did, then it's not nearly so dangerous.

So, there is good and bad in all of this. I just pray so hard to my Heavenly Father that he takes care of my son, as Andrew is an adult, now, and won't listen to me!!! LOL

Just an update, and thank you so much for your continued prayer, as I pray for each one of you. (And please know that even if I don't post, I am praying for each one of you as best that I can!)

I also pray that more ifishers come here for prayer! It's an awesome place to come for comfort and healing, thanks to our Heavenly Father!

[Don Becker]

Continuing best wishes and :pray::pray::pray::pray: for both of you, Jennie. Don

[CGRFish]

Still praying for both of you! :pray::pray::pray:

[Jennie@ifish]

What a roller coaster.
My eye surgery went good yesterday, and I'm recovering and it all looks good.
I was doing the happy dance... until....

I went to Andrew's aorta appointment with him.
I just had a feeling.... a feeling about this.

He hadn't been for a while, and finally decided to go. It was almost like a "last appointment" with Mom before he took his health concerns over.

While waiting, I asked him that awful question. "What if?"

"What if it's too big, Roo, and you are told you should have surgery now, before it dissects like mine did?"

They decide on two criteria. How big it is, and how fast it's growing.

I dissected at 4.6.

Well, I was right.

I asked Dr. Menashe how big it was. As soon as he told me "he'd get to that." I knew. :(

When he got through with the listening, he took a deep breath, and....

Explained it was 4.7. The last reading two years ago was 3.7. That's a bunch. :(

You guessed it.

Andrew is in for aortic valve sparing operation and they will replace his ascending aorta with teflon, or whatever mine is.

Ah, crap. And I said that. When I did, the doc said, "That's what I said when I learned about it." :(

You guys, this is my priority. I may have to give up ifish. I need to help Andrew, and I don't know if I can even keep it up, while I do. It's a big ordeal. It's scary. It's alot of time spent.

We don't know if we are going to go to Stanford, or stay here and get it done.

Right now, I need to rest and recover from my surgery. I was under general for four hours and my eye hurts, and I'm supposed to not be on the comp. But, I had to tell you.

Poor Roo. He was just moving out and he was so excited.

Ah, crap. I know this is the Angler's Chapel, and I apologize for using that word, if it offends some of you. It's just how I feel right now.

It's good. It's good in a way. If he can spare the valve and keep his own, then he won't have to have to be on coumadin like I am... and it may be stronger than mine, and he might be able to live without as much worry about things as I. Still, there are worrying factors, but it might be best.

That doesn't make me feel much better, though, right now.

What a roller coaster marfan syndrome is.

Pray for strength in me. I need to be strong and positive for him.

He blames me, sometimes, for having him, because I did know it was genetic. I did know there was a chance I'd pass it on. I just didn't know how serious it was, (marfan) at the time I became pregnant. No one told me. Even so, I do guilt about it.

He didn't ask to be born with marfan. I should have been better educated on it.

Ah, crud. I need to take a nap.

I just had to ride home in a car with him for two hours without crying. I wanted to, so badly, but even worse, needed to be strong for him.

He's gone now. May I cry? It's a big, scary operation. :(

[Eagleclaw]

We'll be praying for you and your son.... stay strong.:pray::pray::pray:

[Pete]

My prayers for health and strength for both of you ... take care of yourself so you can take care of him, too.

[StickFish]

The words will come some day, or maybe they will be in the form of notes on a staff - I don't know. Much like I don't know what to say other than you both are in the hands of gods son.

Rest and be thankful for the care you are both about to receive - best wishes my friends

[STGRule]

My prayers and hopes are with both of you.

[letsfish]

Oh Jennie, please don't despair. Yes Andrew needs you and you are scared ....But, The operation can help so much! And he will be better for it. You will be closer to him, and he to you.
You are doing the right thing and you have ifisers behind you!
Will continue to pray for both of you!

[MsOutdrs]

Absolutely..you are in all our thoughts. I know it must be so difficult, dealing with your own issues and also your son! We moms ALWAYS put our children first, as it should be. You are in a tough spot for the moment, dealing with your own issues and now this. But God doesn't put so much on you that He thinks you can't handle. I don't pray to the "Big Guy" too much cept occasions like this...I don't like to be a pest!!! lol But this one calls for it! I'm not too good with words at times like this either...I hope my sincere thoughts are felt.

[Jennie@ifish]

I think what bugs me most is the guilt.

I decided to have Andrew when I was young, and did not know that he would see my life as a mirror of what his life might be. I knew I had marfan syndrome, and all I went by is that I knew that I was glad that I had lived. I decided to go ahead, with that thought. I wanted babies so badly! That's all I wanted in life! :)

So... I had Andrew and then David. I was happy.

Andrew has marfan, David does not. (That we know of- we are now going to have his heart checked, also cuz marfan people don't always have the physical looks of marfan.) Andrew has thrown this in my face when times were hard, more than once. "I didn't choose to live!!!" Argh... Teens!

Anyhow... I will do anything to take this pain away from Andrew. Including, putting a Nintendo on my credit card to make him happy. (Sheesh, louishe!) I will be paying that off for a while! I can't believe I did that!

But, he looked so sad! Would a Nintendo help that? Was he just using me? UH HUH!

But, I did it. :(

I figured it would help him as he sold his when he decided to move out. He needed extra cash. Now, he can't move out, really. He already paid his rent, but he'll need to stay here for most of the month.

Anyhow... it is what it is, and I will help him through it.

Last night, he went to Portland to visit his friends and commiserate with them.

I got one of those middle of the night phone calls that I've always dreaded. He was so upset. He had gotten pulled over for a traffic infraction and they towed his car, because he didn't have proof of this month's insurance. He had last months and had forgotten to put this month's in. :( I told him how important that was!!!

The cops said they called his insurance, but I don't really believe that. If they had, they'd see we do have current insurance. Plus... are they even open at 1 in the morning?

He got towed and was left alone in some street, in Aloha!

Sheesh!

He said to me, "Mom... this is the worst day in my life! First, I get told that I'm going to die..." I interrupted him.

"Andrew! You aren't going to DIE! You made a choice today, to LIVE!"

I really think that sunk in. He was silent. He did make the choice to live, by saying yes to surgery. He could have said no! He said yes!

I really believe this will save his life! It will!

Now, we just need to trust our instincts on whether to go to Stanford, where they have more experience, or stay here to get it done.

I vote Stanford, but it is more expensive, and travel is hard.

We will see.

It is very hard for Andrew to watch my life, my surgeries, my troubles. He sees me as a mirror of what his life might be. That's why I do guilt.

But-- I do wonder if perhaps this may bring him closer to his Heavenly Father.

I just pray that it does!

In the meantime, let's play Nintendo! (rolleyes)

Jen

[letsfish]

You got it Jennie! Those that live with Marfan, or other anomilies that are life threatening, are really living because they value that life in a deeper way. Coupled with an understanding of the value our Lord puts on it and you are living one very precious and exciting life.
Precious. Exciting. Scarey. That last one has to be so hard to get use to. May God give both you and Andrew the depth of understanding to weather these periods of understandable fear.

[Sweet Melissa]

I don't know what to say, except "Ah, crap." I will pray that this will draw Andrew closer to God, somehow.

[Grizzly II]

Praying for you and Andrew. My son Mike will have part of his jaw and tongue removed on May 8 because of cancer. I know that he and I have gained strength from the people on here praying for us. I know you and Andrew will too. He is young and that is to his advantage.

Rod

[Jennie@ifish]

Arima, I'm so sorry for what you must be going through.
Somehow it seems backwards sometimes, doesn't it? When our kids have to go through tough times.

It's hard, even when the kids go through emotional hurts with friends, but when it's physical it seems unfair, sometimes!

Hang in there, and so shall I!
:)

[CATCH AND EAT]

Hang in there Jennie. Not good news but yet it is good news. They caught it in time and they can do something about it. The good with the bad sort of deal I suppose.

One thing you need to work on yourself is to not blame yourself for his condition. You did not know, it's not your fault. Just what happens in our lives. If I have a heart attack I'm certainly not going to blame my parents who both have heart conditions. It is something that I need to be aware of and address should something happen. DO NOT FEEL GUILTY and do not let him push that trip on you.

Far as Ifish, you do what you have to Jen. You have some pretty capable folks watching the board for you here. I trust they will not let ya down. Let go a little.

Very happy to hear your eye surgery went well. Congrats.

[happybrew]

"Oh Crap" is an appropriate expression for that situation. That must be so hard for him, to be trying so hard to establish independence as a young adult, and then have circumstances pull the rug out from under him. And people his age tend to have strong emotions as it is due to all of the major life changes that happen during that time.

I'll pray for the both of you during Mass tomorrow.

[PapaHog]

Jen you know that I am praying hard for you and Andrew. If there is anything, anything at all I can do please call on me and I will do it.:flowered:

:pray::pray:

[Fast Water]

Hang in the Andrew and Jennie.

:pray:

[duckcall]

Will pray for His Spirit to give you comfort.

[Jennie@ifish]

http://sarah.pollock.id.au/My_surgery.html

There is a gal that had this surgery. Wow. 9 hours. That is so scary. :(
I'm really scared. I can think of nothing else, this morning.

At least it went well for her. I know it will go well. Right? It will, won't it?

Yikes. I'm so scared for him! Or, for me? Am I being selfish?

Andrew is God's child. Not mine. I have to remember that.
He loves him so much.

[Thumper]

Andrew and you are in our prayers.:pray:

[joemomma]

Praying for Andrew and family:pray:

[Jennie@ifish]

Can you believe that this is what I prayed for, above, the day before Roo's appointment?

I guess I would want to ask for prayer that Andrew indeed follows through and goes, as it could save his life... even though he is scared to find out what it might show. If his aorta has grown, he may have to have his aortic valve replaced. However, if he has it done BEFORE it dissects like mine did, then it's not nearly so dangerous.

Can you believe that? I guess I can.
Better watch what you pray for!

Thing is, it's still so dangerous. That's why they don't just do it for all of us that have enlarged aortas. They have to weigh the risk against the ... risk! The risk of dissecting, versus the risk of surgery.

It's a long, 8 hour surgery where lots of things can go wrong.

If you are interested in learning more about Andrew's surgery, I'll keep you updated on this forum. I may start a new thread, but here is a good link of info, including Dr. Craig Miller, who may be doing this surgery.

Here is the link. (http://stanmed.stanford.edu/2003Summer/heartfelt.html) This is five year's old, but most of the info is still valid.

I'm stunned. I think I'm depressed, but I don't know. I just walk around like a zombie. This is going to be hard on us, but we will make it. I just know we will.

I love my son, so much. I know you know that. I know you know what it's like to love your children. I just don't want him to have to go through this.

I want him to live and be happy and do all the things that young men and women do. Live on their own, and date, and go to college, and you know... all that stuff!

I want him to be silly and laugh with his friends, and make me laugh.

I don't want to see him sick or hurt, and I know that this surgery requires a six month recovery time.

Ugh.... it hurts to think about it. I'm going to do everything I can to make this easy for him. It sure hurts, though, to see your kids hurt. He's worried. I see it in his face, and I have to be strong. I want to be strong and positive for him.

Jen

[Hooked on Fish]

prayers sent.:pray:

[Lou]

:pray::pray::pray::pray::pray::pray::pray:

[CGRFish]

Jenny,

Hang in there... I'm praying for both of you :pray::pray::pray::pray::pray::pray:

Mark

[brshooter]

Jennie,
Gini and I are keeping Andrew and you in our prayers.

[Jennie@ifish]

Thank you!
I'm going to start a thread on here how this all goes, so I can have a diary of it. Please, feel free to pray on that thead, too! PLEASE!

Also, today I went to the doc. Prayers answered for me! Thank you, Lord!

I can see again! I'm healed!

I was legally blind before the surgery and I am at 20/50, now!!!

AT least, one letter on the 20/50 line, and that is WITHOUT glasses!

It's not the same as real sight, but it's good enough for me!

I can't read with it, at all, but maybe that's to come?

They said that it will get even better!

[PapaHog]

WooHoo... God is good. Praise the Lord.

[Jennie@ifish]

Need prayer for me. My eye all the sudden went blurry. I am going to go lay flat on my back. I'm afraid that my cornea has become unseated. Call into the doctor. Awaiting his call back. So bummed.
Hope that it is just blurry, but... I'm scared.

[Jennie@ifish]

False alarm, I hope! Doc thinks I am OK! What a ride!

[duckcall]

Wrap your arms around Jennie and give her your comfort and healing.

[garbageman]

:pray::pray::pray:

[Poindexter]

Take care of yourself, Jennie. Am praying for you and your son's quick and sustained recoveries . . .

[eyeFISH]

Jennie

DSAEK is the single greatest surgical advance in treating diseased corneas since I started practicing ophthalmology.

Compared to standard penetrating keratoplasty (PKP), DSAEK is so much simpler to perform, has a vastly faster healing/recovery time, and has better overall visual results.

I've had two patients with corneal edema due to endothelial failure undergo the procedure with STUNNING results.

You are in for a definite treat!

[fairweatherfisherm]

i am pretty new on i fish but not in the lord, sometimes the only weapoon we have to defend our kids from the enemy or to get them into the kingdom is prayer. i understand you have some serious medical stuff going on and i am praying for you right now. paul considered suffering a blessing and james said to count your trials as good becaused when you persevere it will build your spiritual character. prayer is our best tool in these dark days. pray for each other, pray for fish. jesus' closest friends were fisherman.:pray: