Holly and I just met with the doctor tonight. She informed us that Emilie’s low blood pressure may be a result of her patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) still being open. This is a valve in the heart that normally closes upon birth. However, because she was born at 24 weeks, this valve has potentially not closed. The doctors will be performing an echocardiogram of her heart tomorrow to confirm whether the valve is indeed still open, and whether they will have to perform surgery to close it.

As you can imagine, surgery on a baby Emilie’s age, weight, and size is far from ideal. Further, the doctor is concerned that performing surgery on her heart compounded by the bleeding in her brain may be too much for her little body to endure.

Our Sun Stand Still prayer is that God would heal our daughter without the need of surgery. Based on her critical condition this prayer sounds impossible, however so does making the sun stand still for an entire day! (See Joshua 10) So while the doctor stated that its unlikely for the PDA, if open, to close by tomorrow, this is EXACTLY what we’re asking from God. I’m asking all prayer warriors to partner with Holly and I to pray to this end! We need God to close this valve so no surgery will be needed.

Thank you so much for your prayers!

Matt 7:7 – Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened for you.

Jeremiah 32:27 – behold I am The Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything to hard for Me?

Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them ALL.

James 5:15 the prayer of faith will heal the sick and The Lord will raise him up.

Emilie is much better today, weighing in at 1 lb 14 ounces. Whatever illness the doctors  perceived she had must have been nothing more than her throwing a temper tantrum. Both her blood pressure and oxygen support levels are stable, and her bilirubin levels have come down. This means she no longer needs phototherapy (i.e she’s no longer under the blue light). They had to remove the PICC line on Tuesday night to test it for bacteria. We’re still waiting for the results.

Head Ultrasound

Emilie is scheduled to have another ultrasound today. She will have one every 2-3 days. This is the test which determines the condition of her brain and the severity of the bleed. She has already had four of these test, each revealing that her condition is progressively worsening. This is our mountain that we’re believing God to remove!

Our prayer is that God would confound the doctors by allowing the next ultrasound to be totally clear of any bleeding or damage to the brain. This prayer of faith is rooted in James 5:15 & 16…

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick [Emilie], and the Lord shall raise him [her] up….The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

After each ultrasound the doctors give us their prognosis based on the results of the test. It’s at this point that either Holly or I will say,

“Doc we really appreciate all the work your team is doing. However, concerning the condition of her brain we are believing that God will heal her. This is what we’re praying for and what we’re standing by.”

The doctor then usually looks at us like we’re either a) crazy, or b) not in touch with reality (which is a form of being crazy). As we stand there with a mountain of evidence against our faith and declare that no matter what this evidence reveals it shall not come to pass, we silently whisper the prayer…

“O my God, we trust in thee: let us not be ashamed [for standing on your Word], let not our enemies [this doctor’s evidence] triumph over us. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed…” Psalms 25:2 

Without going into too much detail, tonight Emilie is not doing so well. To put it simply, the doctors say they believe she is sick. Not sick like congestive heart failure sick. But sick like has a cold sick. While normally this would present no major challenge, her early birth and fragile state makes EVERYTHING a challenge. At this moment her blood pressure has drastically declined, her oxygen support has spiked, her mean airway pressure is increasing, they’ve started her back on antibiotics and blood pressure support medication (all of which is not good). Currently the doctors are running several tests on her and are giving her another blood transfusion. 

While our faith in the promise of God that our baby will live abundantly has not wavered, walking through the valley of the shadow of death is not easy. As we sit in her room watching all of this taking place, we find ourselves crying out to God, telling Him to “do it already!!!!” And yet nothing changes. The pressure still drops, the oxygen support still increases, and the doctors case against her abundant life grows stronger. 

I’d be lying if I said we have not questioned the process and path God has chosen to take us on. Our faith is  challenged daily, and not an hour goes by that doubt does not creep into our minds. And yet for some crazy reason we just refuse to let go of the promise… we refuse to loose hope. 

While this by far is the most severe test of faith Holly and I have ever been through, we also know that this will be our greatest victory. July 30th is coming, and everything that takes place from now to then is just the devils last stand. While he tests our faith tonight… he will not win the war. Boom! 

Eph 6:12,13 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand in the evil day….”

…I think she looks like her mother 😉

10 days old, 1lb 12oz 

Ok, she doesn’t need to literally pass gas… but we need her to be able to pass gas. Let me explain. Yesterday we met with the doctor and he informed us that because they have not yet given her any food, her stomach should be filling with some gas. This gas is an indicator that her stomach is working and that when she is given food it will be properly processed. However up until this point the doctors have been unable to find any gas, which leads them to believe that her gut is not working.  

Also, the doctors are fearing that there is a small puncture wound in her esophagus. If this is true, it will cause further complications when feeding her. Without being able to perform the necessary procedures to determine the extent of the wound, the doctors are extremely hesitant to move forward with giving her food.  

Prayer Focus

Holly and I ask that you please pray for these two areas: 1) that her stomach begin working properly, and 2) that the puncture wound in her esophagus would heal asap! 

We know our God is the great physician who does not practice medicine, but He is medicine… and nothing is too hard for Him!

Promise

I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is there anything to hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27 

On yesterday Holly and I began reading the book Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick. It’s based on Joshua chapter 10 when the Children of Israel went to battle against the Amorites. God had given Joshua the upper hand on his enemy and total victory was very close. However, Joshua feared that as the sun began to set, he would lose the advantage on his enemy as they escaped through the edges of nightfall. At once Joshua cried out one of the most audacious and bold prayers every written in the bible: 

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon in the Vally of Aijalon!”

And immediately without any delay the bible records:

“So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped [for an entire day], till the people had revenge upon their enemies…for the Lord fought for Israel.”

Miracles Do Happen

Yesterday we met with Dr. Lou who further explained the condition of Emilie’s brain and the extensive bleeding that has taken place. He showed us an ultrasound of a normal 24 week preemie’s brain. He then contrasted it with Emilie’s ultrasound. Through this comparison we saw very clearly where the bleeding was taking place, how much bleeding has already occurred, and how it has overflowed into her brain tissue. 

After his presentation I asked him if he had ever seen a baby fully recover (100%) from this type of bleeding. He paused and then responded,

“While I’ve heard from other colleagues and research of great recoveries, in my 13 years of experience I have never seen a child fully recover from such extensive bleeding.”  

I then asked,

“So in your estimation it would take a miracle for my daughter to fully recover, hit every growth milestone, and be a normal healthy baby?”

 His response was simple,

“Yes, it would take a miracle.” 

Our Sun Stand Still Prayer

As we continued talking with the doctor, we found ourselves in the position of Joshua, proclaiming audaciously that the sun would stand still. We explained to Dr. Lou that we believed God was going to let Emilie be his first witnessed miracle, and that on July 30th we would be bringing her home healthy, happy, and 100%. 

Steven Furtick sums up the circumstance of audacious prayer like this, “You will never know what it’s like to experience God’s power until you have the audacity to believe, pray and act in the confidence that our God is a God of the impossible.”  

Partner With Us

Holly and I would like to invite you to walk with us as we journey through Sun Stand Still over the next 102 days till July 30th. We know that many of you have already partnered with us in this faith journey, and we are so grateful for your many prayers and support. As we read this book we invite you to read along so we can all experience God growing and expanding our faith in what He is able and willing to do!  

“Man’s Extremity is God’s Opportunity”

It was on Friday that the doctor first informed us of the possibility of internal bleeding in her brain. She explained that because her blood vessels are so fragile, they easily rupture. This ruptured blood vessel causes bruising in the brain.  Unlike a bruise you or I would get on our arm, which would eventually heal after some time, bruises in the brain have detrimental effects on the development and function of the brain. Ruptured blood vessels irritate and scar the brain tissue. It  also can apply pressure to the brain, moving it to one side or another, which can lead to brain swells and a host of other complications.

The doctor continued by describing the varying levels of brain bleeds (levels 1-4). A level 1 bleed will have minor to no impact on brain function and development. A level 4 bleed on the other hand is consistent with severe mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and the like.

As the doctor continued explaining the possibility of such bleeding, my chest grew tight, my breathing became short, and I felt that my greatest fear was becoming a reality.

Holly and I were aware that the chances of a brain bleed were high, and this was confirmed when the doctor returned with the ultrasound results that Emilie had a level 1 bleed on her right side. Yet in spite of this we remained hopeful that it would not present any major setbacks.

But then came the blood transfusions

A blood transfusion has one primary purpose – to replace blood that is lost. Over the course of several days, the doctors were discovering that Emilie’s Hemoglobin and Hematocrit (H&H) kept dropping, requiring more blood transfusions.  If blood is being lost we’re forced to ask the question, “where is the blood going?” While some is naturally lost as a result of the many test they’re running on her, it does not equate to the great deficit her H&H test is revealing.

At this point the doctors began speculating that the bleed in her brain was growing more severe. This speculation was confirmed after her second ultrasound. Her original level 1 bleed was upgraded to a level 4. Sitting in the Neonatal waiting room, we listened to the doctor give us our three options: 1) We could maintain the same level of care realizing however that our daughter will have severe mental handicaps; 2) We could maintain the same level of care but if her breathing declines do not resuscitate her; 3) We could remove all breathing support and simply hold her while she slowly dies. While it was clear the doctor wanted us to choose option 2 or 3, our Faith in God simply would not let us. 

Miracle Territory

From a purely scientific standpoint, a child has a one in a million chance of recovering from a level 4 brain bleed. While the child’s body will physically grow and be able to support life, their higher level brain function and motor skills will remain underdeveloped. The child will have difficulty walking and talking on their own. Their reasoning and computing skills will be severely diminished. While they will physically grow into an adult in many ways they well remain as a child. Consequently they will need life long support. 

The night before we received this report, I snuggled into Holly’s small hospital bed with her. As we laid there reflecting on the events of the last few days and the emotional roller-coaster we’ve been on, we wrestled with where our faith would land….  Did we believe God was able and willing to heal our daughter?… Why was He allowing this to happen?… What did we do wrong?…. Would we trust God through this storm? Through the questions we cried, we prayed, and we held each other close. 

It was that night that we decided no matter what happens we will trust God for full healing and deliverance. And in one step we crossed over the scientific realm and planted our feet on Miracle Territory.    

I do not at all understand the mystery of grace–only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.  –Anne Lamott

Oh Almighty God that sees and knows everything

“Father, in Christ Jesus’ Name, I plead the Precious Blood of the Lord Christ Jesus over Emilie-Grace Yelorda this day and every day to come, and I bind Satan, the spirit of death and all spirits not of the Holy Spirit up and off from this child, this day and every day to come, all in Christ Jesus’ Name.”

“I bind to Emilie-Grace Yelorda the Lord Jesus Christ’s warrior angels and ministering angels of safety and protection to watch over this child.”

“I decree and call, by trusting faith, complete protection against all infirmities, all illness all premature death, all deformities, all underdevelopment of vital organs,  this day and every day to come, for Your Word says that we shall decree a thing and it shall comes to pass, all in Christ Jesus’ Name.”

“I call Emilie-Grace Yelorda  safe and healthy and claimed for the Kingdom, all in Jesus’ Name.” Lord  I lift up you most holy and power name, because you are worthy, worthy, worthy, to receive praise and honor and glory. I thank you because you are a miracle working God, I thank you God that the name ‘Emilie-Grace’ is  engraved on the palms of your hands. Lord I thank you that as you hold the right hand of Holly and Pastor Seth Yelorda, you have already said to them ‘do not fear’ because you will help them. You have further admonished them not to be afraid, because you  ‘God’ will help, you Almighty One, will make the Yelorda family into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. They will thresh ‘this mountain’ in their lives and ‘crush it, (hallelujah) they will winnow it, and the wind will pick it up and a gale will blow it away (thank you Jesus), and the Yelorda family will rejoice in the Lord and glory in the Holy One.

Father I thank you that you are a God who does not recognize the word ‘impossible’ because your word said that You ‘Almighty God’ will make rivers flow on barren heights (because nothing is impossible with you); and spring within the valleys (because nothing is impossible with you); You Almighty One, will turn the dessert in the Yelorda’s family life, into pools of water and parched grounds into spring (because nothing is impossible with you), and Lord You will do all this so that people may see and know and understand………………………….THAT THE HAND OF THE LORD HAS DONE THIS, THAT THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL HAS CREATED IT………………..because this battle is not ours………But the Lord……………amen, amen, amen.

We thank you for answering all the prayers on behalf of little Emilie-Grace and we wait expectantly with jubilation always praising your holy and awesome name, amen amen and amen

Stay blessed

Mary

Thursday April 11, 2013

• Born 17 weeks early
• Weighed 1.5lbs 
• Her heart stopped upon delivery and needed resuscitation 
• Right lung appeared collapsed 
• Esophagus was undeveloped, ending in a blind sack 
• Blood pressure was extremely low
• Airlifted from Riverside to Anaheim
• She’s placed on an oscillator which supports her lungs and breathing

Friday April 12, 2013

• Gained 1/2 pound
• Ultrasound revealed level one bleeding on the brian. 
• Discovered she has Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) which is condition in all 24 week babies where the one of the heart vessels does not close
• Blood pressure remained low
• Oxygen levels in blood irregular 
• Received one blood transfusion
• Blood found in lungs

Saturday April 13, 2013 

• Her body is extremely swollen and bruised do to fragile state of her skin 
• They placed her under a UV light to address bruises and jaundice
• Blood pressure beginning to stabilize
• Received second blood transfusion 
• Oxygen levels in blood still very irregular 
• Functioning on 100% oxygen (goal is 21%) 
• Doctor gives her Surfactant to help keep the lungs expanded  
• Blood found in urine
• Blood sugar is abnormally high
• Received transfusion of clotting factors to prevent further bleeding

Sunday April 14, 2013

• Second ultrasound reveals level four bleed in brain.
  This type of brain bleed is consistent with severe mental retardation and cerebral palsy. 
• Doctor gives three options: 1) Maintain same level of care, 2) Maintain same level of care but do not resuscitate, 3) Remove all support and hold her while she dies.
• Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) Line is inserted into right arm
• Functioning on 76.3% oxygen (goal is 21%) 
• The church comes to hospital and prays!

Monday April 15, 2013

• First stable night for Emilie since Thursday
• Blood pressure stabilizes
• Oxygen levels in blood stabilize
• Functioning on 55% oxygen (goal is 21%)  
• Holly discharged from hospital

Tuesday April 16, 2013

• Levels remain consistent! 
• Blood Oxygen levels improve 
• Functioning on 39% oxygen (goal is 21%) 
• Doctor informs us that on Wednesday they will perform 3rd ultrasound on brain… #praychurch