News About the Infection

I humbly bring this newest news to you :

The Medical Side of this Update: GiGi has a confirmed infection at the site of the shunt. She has been placed on a mix of antibiotics and will undergo surgery either this afternoon (tuesday) or tomorrow morning. This means that she will be placed back on the ventilator. After the infection clears, the neurosurgeon will replace the shunt in a new site. This will delay her homecoming by a few weeks. She is not as responsive as she appeared last week. In someone so small the infection can tire her out abd it is all her liitle body can do to fight it. There isn't any extra energy for feeding, cooing, breathing on her own. She underwent another blood transfusion last night.

Prayer Requests:
1. For the antibiotics to fight the infection and the site to heal quickly and without incident.
2. For the neurosurgeon and the OR Team handling her, that they will use wisdom, dicernment and good judgement in her care.
3. For GiGi to be protected from the long term effects of being on a ventilator, Lord please, protect her from any ill lasting effects.
4. For the nursing staff to follow her closely as she rides this storm of infection and to not be burden by anything that would hinder them from caring perfectly for GiGi and all of their little patients.
5. For Jen and Drew, that God will protect them from worry and dark thoughts. May they continue to find strength throuh Him and with Him.
6. For Kelly and Conor, who are waiting fo rtheir baby sister to come home, may they trust in the Lord with childlike understanding and faith.

Personal Thoughts:
"We do not know what to do, but our eyes are fixed upon you" 2 Chronicles 20:12 ;we walk by faith, one of my favorite songs, Lord let us not walk by sight because it is hard to see this from a human perspective. Let us walk byfaith and keep our eyes, ears, hearts fixed on you. Love and hugs to all of the Gilfillians

Setbacks & Prayers Needed for GiGi

Hello Friends,
PLEASE lift our dear Gigi and her family up to the Lord in prayer. She has had several setbacks during the last 24-48 hours. There is swelling around the shunt area and it's possible that the spinal fluid (or cerebral fluid?) is infected. They did a tap to test the fluid today. Don't know results yet. Gigi is lethargic and not responding well like she has been. I don't know many details.

I feel like Satan is really attacking because Gigi was so close to coming home and was doing so well. Of course, Satan wants to delay her going home as long as possible. We must pray against the spirit of fear that is creeping in and for protection for the whole Gilfillan family.

Isaiah 50:10

"Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God."

It seems pretty dark right now, but we must TRUST in the NAME of the LORD and rely on HIM for Gigi's healing. HE alone IS our LIGHT when we feel surrounded by darkness.

Thank you dear ones.

Courtney

Latest News...She is off Oxygen

Hello Everyone!!

The latest news I have recieved here is that GIgi is off of her oxygen. Thank you Father! This means that she is so close to coming home, it is amazing. What a little blessing and what a great miracle and what Good News :)

Yesterday I had the oppurtunity to speak with Jen live, on the phone, and I cannot tell you how good it was to be discussing carseats, JCPenney pictures, baby blankets, cooing, and all that fun stuff that surpasses ventilators and pulse ox machines. I got off the phone and thanked God for his kindness in that conversation. We were both multitasking as we spoke (because there was much to be done in those precious hours between the kids being at school and trips to the hospital) but even though, it was just sheer JOY to be talking about GiGi coming home!

The way Jen explained it to me, GiGi has to pass a carseat test. She has to be able to sit in it for two hours
without needing any oxygen at all. With the above news, I am hoping this means that she is able to pass the test, too and that her homecoming is shorlty forthcoming! But how wonderful that they make a device called a carbed so that if Gigi's lungs are not ready yet for the carseat position, she can still ride home like a Princess in a Care Seat bed!

Is this not just so wonderful to be talking about her homecoming instead of ventilators and medications and temperatures. It is amazing!! We thank you Father for that!

"To Him Whose power now at work in us can do immeasurably more
than we ask or imagine — to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
through all generations, world without end. Amen." —Eph 3:20-21

More news from Mom!

All is GREAT here. Gigi is wonderful and is now at Fairfax Hospital!!!! Although I am sad to leave the many special people behind at Children's hospital, this is definitely a step closer to her coming home! She was welcomed by a kind and familiar face - one of the nurses from her previous visit. We both remarked on how special it felt that Gigi was back in her care. I had prayed for God to orchestrate every aspect of Gigi's care... so for her to receive this nurse (Barbara) on her first day back was just one more way we see His works! We truly feel Hand upon us!

Gigi has progressed leaps and bounds this weekend. She is just over 4lbs and is taking full feeds from the bottle, so her NG feeding tube is history! Her breathing has greatly improved, and she requires only a small amount of oxygen.And she passed her hearing test today! It's amazing to look back and realize how I took these "little things" for granted with Kelly and Conor. Now each one is a checkpoint we must pass, and we praise God each time we hear good news. Next will be an eye test, where she will be tested for Retinopathy of Prematurity. Please pray for good results!

She is now 37 weeks (8 weeks old) and reminds me so much of Kelly... very alert and active with the same exact mannerisms and facial expressions, but her eyes are very different from Kelly's. She is doing everything Kelly did when she was a newborn, so I'm hopeful she is on-track neurologically for her age (or close to it).

Her new Neonatologist had not yet examined her before I had to leave, but I was happy to have a chance to meet her. So... all is well!!

My mother returned home today, and Drew's parents will visit Thursday. I'm praying she'll be home very soon!! I think she's almost ready. Kelly and Conor will be happy to finally have her home (as I'm sure you can sympathize with having been on bedrest with Emily). It's been a few weeks since they saw her. Our neighbors had a little "big sister" party for Kelly, where the girls all decorated beautiful burpcloths for Gigi. Each one is so cute, and it was so special for Kelly.

Praises from Mommy!!

Jen's words:

SATURDAY:Our hearts have been so deeply touched through the encouragement, prayers, and outreach from our family, friends, neighbors, school community and church family. If you only knew how your love has supported us!! We see God working in so many ways and it blesses us tremendously! Our pastors and church elders have continually reached out to us and are committed to praying over Gigi. We thank you all and wish we could do it in a way more personal than an email right now! Please know how much you have touched our lives... some day Gigi will hear all about it!
Through the love, healing and strength of Christ
Jen

FRIDAY:I have so much I want to share! But I'm so very tired that I need to make this brief and head to bed....
Thank you, thank you for your prayers!!! God's works are so good!! Little Miss Gabrielle is having a grand day! Held her again today, and she is drinking from a bottle! It was priceless to see her checking out the nipple with her tongue, tasting some drops of milk, checking out the nipple again, wrinkling her eyebrows, then charging after the nipple and gulping down her whole bottle in 10 minutes!!! Praise You Lord Jesus for your healing power!! What a beautiful miracle... and my mom was there right beside me for it! The nurses are now giving her a bottle when Drew & I aren't there.... hope she can have the NG feeding tube removed soon.
Her physician said they plan to transfer her to Fairfax Hospital Monday for continued care in feeding and weaning from the air support. She doesn't require much oxygen, but she is needing about 2L of air via nasal canula to keep her lungs aerated. Her neurosurgeon is pleased with the shunt drainage and Gigi's head size. She looks like a different baby now that the excess fluid has drained... so much more happy and alert and comfortable!
Please pray for restoration of her brain (I believe Jesus has healed her), as well as His continued presence as she transfers to Fairfax.

Praise His Name

GIGI IS OFF THE VENT!!! She is breathing well on her own and additionally she has a suck reflex so she appears ready for those bottles again!!! Jen had the oppurtunity to kangaroo style hold her yesterday! This all ahead off schedule and very good news. Thanks for pounding on the door in prayer!

The following is daily email I receive and I thought worthy of today!!!


Ephesians 1:11-14, Psalm 33, Luke 12:1-7 Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/102006.shtml

BORN TO PRAISE
"We were predestined to praise His glory by being the first to hope in Christ." —Ephesians 1:12
We are tailor-made for praising God. Our voices are for singing. Our hands, eyes, and hearts are made just right to be lifted up to the Lord.
With our feet we can dance before the Lord. Our entire bodies can be offered "as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God, your spiritual worship" (Rm 12:1). Our minds and emotions can be trained and inspired to make music unto the Lord and to articulate our love for Him in words.
We are born to praise the Lord, or more precisely, re-born to praise Him.
Almost all our other activities will pass away. Soon we will not be preaching, teaching, healing, working, and suffering. However, we will always be praising. Praise is the eternal activity.
So don't be afraid to praise Him. "There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nothing hidden that will not be made known. Everything you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight; what you have whispered in locked rooms will be proclaimed from the rooftops" (Lk 12:2-3). Even the quiet, hidden workings of God will be proclaimed. You will be the one to proclaim them.
In the end, every knee will bend and every tongue proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil 2:10-11). So why wait? Praise Him now. Make praise your priority. Isn't that what life, and eternal life, are all about? The Lord is worthy to be praised (Rv 5:12). The old spiritual says: "I don't know what you came to do, but I came to praise the Lord."

Prayer: By the power of the Spirit, may I bless the Lord at all times; may His praise be ever in my mouth (Ps 34:2).
Promise: "The hairs of your head are counted! Fear nothing, then. You are worth more than a flock of sparrows." —Lk 12:7
Praise: St. Paul praised the Lord with his life by being a "good and faithful servant" as a missionary for fifty years.

Praise Him for healing her lungs!!!

A Marathon Healing

Little Gigi will have to be on the vent another week. She was due to come off on Sunday, was down to her lowest setting on Saturday but some complications prevented that. She is also starting some medications, a steroid regimen. She is in a full fledged Marathon.

Lord, We lift Little GiGi up to you. We ask that you heal her lungs and help her to stay strong. We ask that you protect her while this unexpected course of action rides out. Father will you bless her and Jen and Drew with a sense of your presence near to them, carrying them. Let us remember that they are going THROUGH the valley and you ARE THERE with them. We praise you for how you have provided for all of them thus far and we ask to continue to provide, Father. Amen.

Streams In the Desert October 16th: "let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perserverance the race marked for us. Hebrews 12:1

The feeeling of despair or hopelessness and the heavy heart it brings upon us will drag us down in our usefulness and holiness. We should never give ourselves the freedom to doubt God or His eternal love and fatihfulness toward us in everything. The Holy Spirit will cometo us in victory when we refuse to: doubt, worry and wonder if God has forsaken us and thinking after all we have been through that our hopes will end in failure. Let us consider it pure joy, even when we do not feel any happiness (James 1:2) The devil has two great tricks 1. tempting us to be discouraged and 2. and tempting us to doubt. Do not be tricked either way. If we cultivate a spirit of happiness, it retunes our souls and keeps them perfectly in tune so that Satan is afraid to touch them. Sadness discolors us and produces a mental paralysis. Nothing has any appeal. Sadness clips the wings of happiness, it causes us to become useless.

Jen and Drew, may sadness not envelope you but may you be cheerful, rooting GiGi on in her marathon of healing. In her biggest tounament yet. MAy she feel you rooting for her and to hear you singing the praises of God who has a plan for even the smallest amongst us. THough we did not plan for GiGIi's recovery to take so long, it has, but do not doubt that He is there. Chase away any doubt with the happiness of the miracle of the little life before you.

Knock on the Door

Sometimes, when we are at a loss for the circumstances around us and how they are unfolding, we may hear things like "well, that is just life, that is the way it is, deal with it" That sounds like hopelessness. Doesn't it? We know where our hope is, in our Father and we can find it and be reassured by it in His written word.

Gigi, our little fighter, is still on the ventilator. Could you please knock, knock and knock on the door with your prayers, asking God to open it, ask Him to get her off this ventilator. He will do whatever we ask. He wants to ask. Join with me, in praying "Dear Heavenly Father, We love you and we love this little life that you have sent to us. We ask to breathe your breath of LIFE into Gigi's lungs and into her soul, continuously. Give her back the strong lungs she had before the sergery, give us the healthy little girl we had before the bleeds and the swelling. We ask Father because you have told us in your written word to ask You. We petition and implore you to send your healing hand down on this sweet little baby and make her whole again. The God who raised Lazarus, the God who cured the sick and forgotten, the God who is there whenever we call on Him. Come to Gigi now, Father. Come and Heal her and make her well. We want to see her home with her waiting, loving family. We want to see her cooing and suckling. Father, we love you and we believe in your gift of healing. Thank you for your healing hand. Amen"

The book of Saint James tells us specifically to have the elders pray over you when you are sick and in need. All of us are elders in this little baby's life. We all have the power to pray over her. I think she needs a visit from the church elders, to pray over her and the hospital and the staff. I hope they will go.

God bless Little Gigi

Happy Birthday Jen

Three Things :)

First, Happy Birthday, Jen!! I know the greatest gift you recieved yesterday, on your birthday was the answer to prayer: That the operation to place the shunt was successful and that GiGi was responding well. The older we get, the more we appreciate the "little" presents :)

Second, GiGi had her operation on Monday. As mentioned above, she is doing well and all praise to God, she had no complications during the procedure. Jen was able to notice a difference in the swelling as soon as that same day. GiGI was placed on a ventilator to help her as she came out of the anesthia, it made the breathing process easier and was less work for her in recovering from the procedure. They were to give her some packed RBC's Monday night to help give her a boost, too. But all in all, Jen said it went well.

Third, I am sorry the updates have been slower than usual and more sparse. Life has been moving along and that is a fortunate and good thing, however my family has kept me a little busier thatn usual this last week. Never the less, I do intend to keep blogging away about this littlest angel in our midst. God Bless GiGi!!

If I could give you one birthday gift, Jen, It would be the gift of Peace. Although as I hear it you are doing a wonderful job of trustiing in God with all your heart, leaning on Him fully. Let me leave you with this verse, to keep with you as you fall asleep or wake in the night, to reassure you that God is with you at all times: Do not be anxious about anything Philippians 4:6

Update from Tuesday

4 pounds!!! Gigi achieved a whopping 4 pounds Monday, and was sporting her double chin quite proudly today! Praise God for her weight gain, growth and health!!!
We are finally settled in to Children's Hospital. It's a longer drive each day than previously(1hour 15 mins), but we are fortunate that I can go during off-peak traffic times while the kids are in school. I get to drive by the many beautiful sights in Washinton DC... the monuments, museums and our Capitol Building and am in awe of their powerful presence.
Gigi is doing fine! She underwent a ventricular tap this morning where the neurosurgery staff drew fluid from her head(approx 15cc). This will hopefully relieve some of the pressure she has encountered as a result of the hydrocephalus. She may need another one later this week as she awaits her surgery... we'll take it one day at a time. She is scheduled Monday for surgery... a VP shunt placement. The shunt is a small tube that runs from her head(ventricle) down to her abdomen where it will drain any excess fluid from her head. It runs beneath her skin and will be barely noticable. The physicians will be able to control it's rate of flow through a valve. This will greatly reduce the pressure inside her head. She will be treated with antibiotics to manage the risk of infections. For as much as I hoped she wouldn't need this procedure, I know it is the best thing for Gigi's long-term health. This surgery is the first step in her road to discharge! She is really thriving on her tube feedings, and will attempt to progress to bottle feedings again soon. She also still requires oxygen , but only a small amount and should be weaned fairly easily. We're hoping she'll be home very soon!
We've been so happy with her neurosurgeon, Dr. Yaun. She has a gift of communiating gently yet is direct and thorough. Gigi is in great hands (in addition to the Lord's, that is)!! God has shown us in so many ways His faithfulness. His love is so strong and overwhelming at times! There are days when we have emotional lows, and God shows us the other infants in her wing who are VERY ill and are just beginning their NICU journey. We realize how far He has brought Gigi and praise Him for his powerful works in her.
Please pray for Gigi to remain healthy as she awaits surgery! Also, please consider praying for the other babies sharing the NICU with her. Sometimes I feel like we are at Children's Hospital partly because God wants us to pray over the other sick babies!
Thank you for your prayers!
Jen

GiGi has been moved to Children's Hospital

Friday was supposed to be an "easy" day. Gigi was doing great on Thursday... perky and responsive, so we "expected" to coast through Friday with an early morning visit to see her, then back to Leesburg for a luncheon and baby shower for Gigi hosted by some dear friends at Kelly & Conor's school. Then Drew's parents were coming to spend the night and watch the kids... offering for Drew and I to have a date night. Well, what was I thinking!?!

All week we had been praying for God to show us very clearly what action should be taken to help Gigi deal with the hydrocephalus. Her head size had slowly continued to increase, yet she remained stable with no significant signs that it bothered her. Her primary neurosurgeon at Fairfax Hospital is away on vacation until Oct 3, and we (including Drew's dad, a peditrician) were concerned with the possibility of Gigi needing a procedure done emergently if she started having problems... who would help her??? We needed direction.

Well, our "easy" Friday morning soon became the busiest of all days! We casually arrived at the hospital for her 9:00am feeding and were soon discussing with her doctors plans to transfer Gigi to Children's Hospital within a few hours! Drew and I weren't really prepared mentally for this decision.... no solid info to base it. But God faithfully answered our prayers LOUD and CLEAR(both through the loud and unwavering advice of a consulting neurologist, and through that clear still small voice he speaks through our heart). We soon knew she needed to be in the hands of an experienced pediatric neurosurgeon and felt peace about approving her transfer to Children's hospital. The neurosurgery team there would be capable of managing her if she needed a procedure done.

So, running a few hours late, we rushed home and made arrangements for the kids after school... and our friends didn't hesitate to help! Then I arrived at Gigi's shower an hour late... but loved every moment! It was wonderful and we are so blessed by these friendships!! Then the journey began to NE Washington DC during rush hour to find Children's Hospital! We praised God for our friends who fed us directions through the intricate network of one-way streets as we weaved our way through the city. I always say God sends me angels every time I am in need! Providing someone great directions when they are stressed and in unknown territory qualifies as honorary angel status!

Drew's parents met us at Children's Hospital. It was a wonderful experience... we immediately met her neurosurgery team & neonatologists who made us feel very comfortable with with her care. Gigi looked great after her whirlwind day. That's twice she's gotten to ride in an ambulance (Kelly and Conor are a bit envious)!

She had a CT scan of her head last night which gave answers to some of our questions (Praise the Lord!!). It confirmed she has communicating hydrocephalus.. good news because she does have some flow of fluid between her brain and spinal cord (as opposed to complete blockage). They plan to do a spinal tap today to relieve some of the fluid pressure in her head. They still anticipate her needing a shunt in a week or two... when she is at least 4.5 lbs (She is 3lbs 13 oz now). The spinal tap will help her be more comfortable and safe while she is "fattening-up" and waiting for the shunt.

She seems very content and happy..... God gave us great peace today when we held her!
Please pray for God's protection and healing following the tap....also in regard to the e-coli bacteria that is colonized on her. We are thankful she is not infected with it. The tap will highten her risk of an infection entering her blood& CSF fluid, so she'll receive prophylactic antibiotics. She also has a small sore on her face (from tape?) and I ask for your prayers for healing of this area, as it also poses as a site for infection.

Please also pray for continued wisdom for her physicians... especially for decisions regarding any upcoming procedures. We know she is in great hands. As difficult as it is to switch hospitals each time (Gigi's nurses have been so very loving and caring each time!), we know God has a plan in ALL of this!

The blessings we have received are tremendous, and overwhelming emotionally. Many heartfelt thanks go out to our friends who have supported us by:
caring for Kelly and Conor and Skipper on a moments notice.
bringing us meals and treats.... a huge relief after draining days!
delivering clean laudry... what would I do without you my friends!
beautifying our lawn and flower pots... they look extra-loved!
helping with grocery shopping and keeping our fridge stocked.
driving or accompanying Jen to the hospital.
calling or emailing with encouragement.
communicating prayer needs or organizing help.
praying for our family and for Gigi's growth and health!!!!!!!! Thank you!!!!