PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR MICAH!

We want to thank all of you who have continued to pray with us for our kids Chris, Stephanie and our precious grandson, Micah. We have treasured the emails of encouragements, advice and prayers. We also want to thank all of Chris and Stephanie’s faithful friends for their love and support to their little family. You are a gift to them and to our family. We will continue to keep you updated on their prayer needs.

Micah has now been home for 2 ½ weeks. Micah was discharged from CHOC with a feeding tube for his feedings and medications for reflux. A few days after Micah got home, Grandma Cary and Stephanie began to feed him by bottle. It was slow going the first day but soon Micah was regularly taking the bottle. Micah has been being completely fed by bottle since then. The feeding tube isn’t even really being used but the doctors want to leave it in until Micah gains weight. Micah has not been gaining weight. As of yesterday, he weighs 8 lbs., 9 oz. which is only 5 oz. over his birth weight and he is 7 weeks old now. The doctors are having Stephanie add a teaspoon of formula to his breast milk every feeding to add a few extra calories to his diet. Since Micah has been taking the bottle, he is less fussy and sleeps better.

Chris and Stephanie are getting excited about the probability of attending the week long seminar and teaching at the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential in Pennsylvania the first week of December. We have overnighted their application and once the Institutes receive it, we will be registered. Registration is on a first come, first approved, first served basis and there are only 80 spots for this. People come from all over the world to attend this program. With God’s help, we will get in on the December program and not have to wait until the Spring for the next one. In the meantime, while Chris and Stephanie are finishing reading the book for the Institutes, I am reading the next one which will give us therapies to do with Micah while we wait to get to the training seminar. Stephanie’s enthusiasm for getting Micah well is spilling over into his leg/foot therapies. She has increased the time spent on doing his therapies throughout the day.

Micah had a neurology appointment yesterday. When the kids told him what the other neurologist had said about Micah only going to have the development of a 3 month old, the doctor commented to Chris and Stephanie that a baby’s brain can be re-patterned. When he said that, Stephanie got excited because the Institutes are basically the pioneers of re-patterning and they are going there!

Chris and Stephanie received a letter telling them that they can get Micah’s therapies done at the CHOC clinics (instead of the HMO clinics). The Regional Center of Orange County will pay for his therapies there. This is such a blessing since CHOC is such an amazing medical facility and his favorite therapist works there! God is so good!!!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR MICAH AND FOR CHRIS & STEPHANIE:

PRAY THAT MICAH GAINS WEIGHT

PRAY FOR MICAH TO GAIN STRENGTH IN HIS SUCKING AND THAT HE WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE IN MORE FOOD AND ALSO BEGIN TO NURSE.

PRAY THAT GOD WILL HEAL MICAH’S REFLUX AND THAT HE CAN BE TAKEN OFF HIS MEDICATION WHICH CAN HAVE TERRIBLE SIDE AFFECTS.

PRAY FOR PROTECTION OVER MICAH AGAINST ANY INFECTIONS OR ILLNESSES.

PRAY FOR A COMPLETE HEALING OF MICAH’S BLINDNESS.

PRAY FOR HEALING OF MICAH’S BODY AND MUSCLES. PRAY THAT GOD WOULD TAKE AWAY ALL SPASTICITY IN HIS HANDS, ARMS, LEGS & FEET, AND THAT GOD WOULD GIVE MICAH FULL USE OF ALL OF HIS BODY PARTS.

PRAY FOR A COMPLETE HEALING & RESTORATION OF HIS BRAIN.

PRAY THAT CHRIS & STEPHANIE GET A SPOT AT THE SEMINARS.

CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR CHRIS & STEPHANIE’S RELATIONSHIP THAT THEY WOULD GROW IN THE LORD AND THAT THEY WOULD WALK IN HIS WILL FOR THEIR LIVES TOGETHER.

PRAY THAT CHRIS WOULD COMPLETE SCHOOL SO HE CAN GET A JOB TO SUPPORT HIS FAMILY.

PRAY THAT STEPHANIE WOULD CONTINUE TO DRAW HER STRENGTH FROM THE LORD TO TAKE CARE OF MICAH & HIS NEEDS AND THE MULTITUDE OF RESPONSIBILITES THAT SHE HAS AS A MOMMY.

PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD PAVE THE WAY FOR INEXPENSIVE HOUSING SO THAT ONE DAY CHRIS & STEPHANIE CAN HAVE THEIR OWN PLACE.

PRAY THAT GOD WOULD SEND THEM GOOD, CHRISTIAN FRIENDS AND THAT ANY UNGODLY RELATIONSHIPS WOULD BE BROKEN. ASK GOD TO BLESS THE SPECIAL FRIENDS THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE.

As we look back on Micah’s birth and how far the Lord has brought him in healing, I am so aware that we are all witnesses to the power of God. I have heard of God healing people here and in many places in the world. I truly believe He does heal. Recently, I witnessed firsthand healing of someone I know who had deadly cancer. I have never seen so many people come together to pray for healing. And God did just that. An absolute divine Miracle and now she is cancer-free and a living & walking testimony of God’s love, grace and power. I believe that we are all partners and witnesses to yet another miraculous healing in progress. The Lord has blessed us with this precious baby…and He is showing us His glory every day in the life of Micah. As you pray, join our families in giving God all the glory and honor He deserves for who He is. There is no one like Him!

Thank you for continuing to pray with us. We will try to update every week to week and a half. The Lord continues to move on Chris, Stephanie and Micah’s behalf and we are expecting great things to come!

Love,

Grandma Teri

Prayers for Micah's Parents

Well, it’s time for another letter from Grandpa. As I was praying the other morning, I felt the Lord tell me that we are to open up to all of you with regards to every prayer request and to hold nothing back. Since Micah has been born God has continually answered our prayers as each circumstance has arisen and He has proven himself over and over again. There is no one who cares for and loves Micah and everyone involved more than God does.

Those of you that have had kids realize the tremendous amount of time and effort that it takes with a newborn. Then when you consider the current condition of Micah, just imagine multiplying it exponentially. Micah’s parents, Chris and Stephanie, are both very young, they are not married, and are living at Stephanie’s mom’s house (thank God for her). We are still praying for major miracles and believe God will do these things but in the meantime, taking care of Micah is more than a full time job. It takes dedication and commitment that one can’t begin to imagine. Please pray for the following, which are not necessarily in any order:

1. That Chris and Stephanie have a Godly relationship.

2. That God will draw both Stephanie and Chris to Himself and that they would experience true intimacy with God and be able to receive all of the love that God has for them.

3. Pray for God’s strength for Stephanie to take care of Micah. If she is not constantly doing his exercises and maneuvers, the cerebral palsy will kick in quickly and his legs and limbs will be frozen in place for the rest of his life. Even if God were to choose to heal him through a program or just heal his brain in the future, if his legs and limbs have not been exercised, he will never be able to move them and they will be stuck in that position for the rest of his life.

4. Pray that Chris completes cosmetology school for haircutting so that he can have a job that can support taking care of the family.

5. Pray that the Lord provides cheap housing so they can ultimately have their own place. One that they could call their own and that would be more conducive to raising Micah.

6. Pray that God will send good Christian friends for both Chris and Stephanie and that any ungodly friendships would be broken off.

Obviously, Micah continues to need prayer. However as you can see, we are putting a special request out for his parents. God loves both of them so much. As they take a step towards God, they will find Him running to them. God bless you all and thank you for praying.

Grandpa Gary

I'M AT HOME NOW!!!

Micah has been home nearly one week now.

He came home last Thursday late at night. Micah’s hearing was tested before he was discharged and he passed in both ears!!!! Yayy, God!!! Also, the nurses did trials with Micah sitting in his car seat for 30 minutes to see how his breathing held up. After Chris and Stephanie were trained to feed Micah using the feeding tube/pump, they embarked on their first family drive home. Chris called me when he arrived home and told me that it was the scariest drive he has ever taken in his entire life! I guess, not only did he have the pressure of this precious new cargo in the car, but being completely responsible for him was overwhelming. Micah slept all the way home.

The first two nights and days were very trying for Chris and Stephanie as Micah cried most of the time – even through the night. On Saturday (now home for two days), Chris figured out a way to hold Micah that would calm and comfort him. He laid Micah on his stomach over Chris’ forearm and bounced him. Micah liked that and began calming down. The next discovery came early Sunday morning when Stephanie’s mom, Grandma Cary, came in to feed Micah in the morning. Stephanie was sleeping and Cary decided to just get a bottle and put milk in it and try to feed Micah instead of doing the feeding tube. After Micah cried for a while, Cary was finally able to get Micah to latch on and he drank 30 cc’s of milk. At Micah’s noon feeding, Cary tried again to feed Micah by bottle and again, after crying and fussing for awhile, he took the bottle. I think this time he took 37 cc’s. Cary decided to stay home from work on Monday and she continued to help Stephanie to feed Micah by bottle at every feeding. Micah did well, taking in up to 50 cc’s some feedings. Also, she started feeding him on demand instead of on the schedule of every three hours as the hospital had directed. He now eats and sleeps and then wakes up feeling hungry and he latches on much more quickly and just gobbles up his milk!!! He loves to suck and it comforts him so much. He is much happier and content, he doesn’t cry as much and enjoys sitting in his vibrating chair and swing. THANK YOU GRANDMA CARY!!!!! And, thank you, Lord, for your amazing blessings!!!!!

Today, Micah has his first pediatrician appointment and on Friday, Stephanie has her first Lactation appointment at CHOC. They are going to start working with Stephanie and Micah to try to get him to nurse. That will be a wonderful day when he can do that.

Do you remember the woman that Gary referred to in his recent update whose daughter had a large part of her brain removed? Well, that lovely mother (Trina) referred me to a book written by a man by the name of Glenn Doman. Glenn Doman is the founder of the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential in Philadelphia, PA. After her daughter was finally discharged from the hospital, Trina took her daughter to this Institute where they teach parents to help their children who have been brain injured and who exhibit symptoms of things such as Cerebral-palsy, Autism, ADD, Down’s Syndrome, paralyzation, blindness, deafness, etc. Through the teaching and help of the medical professionals at this institute, and by God’s amazing grace, Trina’s daughter’s brain was made well.

I share this with you because, as Gary shared, we do not believe in coincidences at all. God has proven Himself to be the God of miracles, the Great Physician and Healer. We believe with our whole hearts that Micah will be completely healed. We believe that meeting Trina and her daughter, receiving this book from her, and now learning about the amazing successes of this Institute along with the devoted parents may very well be part of God’s healing plan for Micah. I hope to take Chris and Stephanie (and Micah) to Philadelphia the first week of December for a 5 day, 50 hour intense teaching seminar. They will show us how we can best help Micah to get better and, quite possibly, completely well. I will share more on our journey in this area as time goes. Please be praying for that situation. If you would like, I would love to encourage those of you who might be interested, to look at the Institutes website – iahp.org.

Please continue to persist in intercession for Micah’s healing.

PRAY THAT MICAH CONTINUES TO SUCK WELL AND THAT HE WILL TAKE FULL FEEDING AMOUNTS FROM A BOTTLE.

PRAY THAT HE WILL LEARN HOW TO NURSE ON FRIDAY!!!

PRAY FOR MICAH TO GAIN WEIGHT. HE IS NOT GAINING ENOUGH WEIGHT.

PRAY THAT GOD HEALS MICAH’S REFLUX (he is on medications to help control the reflux).

PRAY FOR PROTECTION OVER MICAH AGAINST ANY INFECTIONS OR ILLNESSES.

PRAY FOR COMPLETE HEALING OF MICAH’S BLINDNESS.

PRAY FOR HEALING OF MICAH’S BODY AND MUSCLES. PRAY THAT GOD WOULD TAKE AWAY ALL SPASTICITY IN HIS HANDS, ARMS, LEGS & FEET, AND THAT GOD WOULD GIVE MICAH FULL USE OF ALL OF HIS BODY PARTS (he still isn't moving his legs or feet).

PRAY FOR A COMPLETE HEALING & RESTORATION OF HIS BRAIN.

Thank you for your prayers and your love. We are so blessed to have made it this far with all of your loving support.

With much love,

Teri and Gary

Oct. 5th Update - I'M COMING HOME!

I’M COMING HOME TODAY!!!

Just a quick AND WONDERFUL update on baby Micah (nicknamed “M&M” by some – Miracle Micah).

The doctors say that Micah can go home!

On Tuesday, Micah had his therapy session and he took 10 cc’s from a bottle but seemed to want more. So, yesterday, the therapist tried more and, GUESS WHAT? He drank 50 cc’s from the bottle with no problem!!!! 70 cc’s is a full feeding for him at this point, which he has been receiving every three hours in his feeding tube. Even greater news is that he did so well yesterday that they are calling the Lactation Consultants to come in today before Chris and Stephanie take him home to see if he will breastfeed! This is all too much in one day!!! WE JUST CAN’T STOP SMILING!!!!!! God is so good – He just continues to heal Micah and to bless all of us!

PRAY THAT MICAH CONTINUES TO SUCK WELL AND DRINK FROM A BOTTLE.

PRAY THAT HE WILL LEARN HOW TO NURSE TOMORROW!!!

PRAY THAT GOD HEALS MICAH’S REFLUX AND THAT HE WON’T NEED THE FUNDU SURGERY (he is on medications to help control the reflux).

PRAY THAT MICAH’S OXYGEN SATURATION LEVELS REMAIN HIGH ENOUGH AND STABLE.

PRAY FOR PROTECTION OVER MICAH AGAINST ANY INFECTIONS OR ILLNESSES.

PRAY FOR COMPLETE HEALING OF MICAH’S BLINDNESS.

PRAY FOR HEALING OF MICAH’S BODY AND MUSCLES. PRAY THAT GOD WOULD TAKE AWAY ALL SPACTICITY IN HIS HANDS, ARMS, LEGS & FEET, AND THAT GOD WOULD GIVE MICAH FULL USE OF ALL OF HIS BODY PARTS (he still isn't moving his legs or feet).

PRAY FOR A COMPLETE HEALING & RESTORATION OF HIS BRAIN.

PRAY FOR CHRIS & STEPHANIE THAT THEY WOULD BE FILLED WITH PEACE, STRENGTH, HOPE & COURAGE AS THEY BEGIN TAKING CARE OF MICAH ON THEIR OWN.

I want to thank all of you for all you have done, for all you are continuing to do, for your amazing persistence, your powerful prayers, your loving support and encouragement.

Thank you, Lord, for your love and kindness, your mercy and grace, your precious gifts of healing in Micah, your provision, your righteousness and holiness. We stand in awe of who You are and will forever proclaim your truth, power and love! We love you, Father! We love you, Jesus! We love you, Holy Spirit!

With so much excitement!

Grandma Teri

Oct. 3rd - Update from Grandpa Gary

October 3, 2006

Usually my wife Teri writes the update; however, today I wanted to personally thank every single person that has been praying for our grandson, Micah. We knew God was up to something when he let Micah live after he came out of the womb not breathing and not having a heartbeat for 40 minutes. We haven’t talked to anyone that’s even heard of such a thing. When we were in the midst of it, I prayed and felt the Lord showed me the story in the Bible where the widow kept on asking the judge for what she wanted. I felt the Lord tell me we were to be persistent in approaching him on Micah’s behalf. We never have asked for anything but we decided to take “persistently approaching God” seriously. That’s when we started emailing our friends and ministry partners.

All of you who have been pouring your hearts out in prayer for Micah are becoming part of Micah’s testimony. We have seen God answer a number of prayers to date where the doctors have said one thing and then God proves them wrong. There are still major hurdles in front of Micah that are daunting to say the least. The doctors have said:

1. Micah will be blind.

2. He will probably never have more than the brain capacity of a three month old.

3. He will be required to take seizure medicine the rest of his life. We believe God may have healed this over the past weekend, since there have been no seizures for the past week.

4. He will probably have cerebral palsy.

I wanted to share with all those praying that we have received numerous calls and emails from people that had children that were diagnosed with very similar conditions and were even told their children were going to die and yet God answered their prayers and their children were healed. We do not believe in coincidences. The chances of three people whom we do not know approaching us within two days with these stories to encourage us was a blessing. One person has been on Christian television and given her testimony and she actually came and prayed for Micah. Another lady we happened to meet at our youngest son’s soccer game. My wife was talking to this woman on the sidelines as we watched the game and the woman said, “Oh, my daughter had a serious accident when she was four years old and they had to take out a big portion of her brain and the doctors gave me the same prognosis." Her daughter is now thirteen years old and my wife watched her running & playing on the soccer field after the game. She was so happy and healthy! There have been more testimonies than these that people have emailed us. The testimonies, flowers, prayer blankets, words of encouragement and especially the prayers have been a tremendous blessing to us and Micah.

I am writing this to encourage you to not let up and continue to pray, to be persistent and to not give up the fight for this precious little child of God. Words can not express the gratefulness and thankfulness for each and every one of you that has been praying for God’s special little boy.

We love you all.

Gary

Micah Status Site

Please Keep Praying…

It has been a few days since we last updated you on Micah’s condition.

Last Wednesday, Micah had the surgical procedure to insert the G-tube (feeding tube) into his stomach. The procedure went well; however, Micah came down with a fever within a few hours and it continued for a few days. He was put on antibiotics and is still on them. His temperature is normal now. We did not know if his fever was due to infection from the surgery or because he was just sick. Then the day after he got his fever, Stephanie woke up in the morning aching and with a temperature over 101. They must have both gotten a virus.

Micah is still having reflux. He has been given some medications to see if they will help control it. We are hoping they will work. The gastro doctor is keeping a close eye on him to see if he will need that fundu surgery to help keep him from throwing up. He continues to have de-sats with his oxygen levels which are still a concern to the doctors.

Right now, the doctors and nurses are preparing Micah to go home hopefully within the next week. At this time, Micah is finishing his term of antibiotics and they will be ordering the pump and apparatus needed to feed him at home through his feeding tube. He may need to come home with oxygen and a nose canula (finally, the name of that fork nose tube thing!) and an apnea monitor. He will continue therapy sessions hopefully through the CHOC Clinics.

Micah is now one month old! He is alive and breathing and crying and pooping & peeing and stretching and swallowing and gagging and coughing and sucking a little and hearing! So many miracles in one month! As the day is coming soon that Chris and Stephanie will bring Micah home, please remember them in your prayers. For one month now, Micah has been cared for by the best medical team in Orange County. Chris and Stephanie have been there to love and support their baby. But now it will be their responsibility to care for their hurt baby without the 24/7 support of the medical team. I can only imagine how they must feel. Probably a mix of excitement at finally having Micah at home and of fear of not knowing how they will manage without the help of the nurses and doctors.

Please pray for all three of them:

PRAY THAT GOD HEALS MICAH’S REFLUX AND THAT HE WON’T NEED THE FUNDU SURGERY.

PRAY THAT MICAH’S OXYGEN DE-SATS STOP AND THAT HE GETS ADEQUATE OXYGEN SATURATION ALL OF THE TIME.

PRAY FOR PROTECTION OVER MICAH AGAINST ANY INFECTIONS OR ILLNESSES.

PRAY FOR COMPLETE HEALING OF MICAH’S BLINDNESS.

PRAY FOR HEALING OF MICAH’S BODY AND MUSCLES. PRAY THAT GOD WOULD TAKE AWAY ALL SPACTICITY IN HIS HANDS, ARMS, LEGS & FEET, AND THAT GOD WOULD GIVE MICAH FULL USE OF ALL OF HIS BODY PARTS.

PRAY FOR A COMPLETE HEALING & RESTORATION OF HIS BRAIN.

PRAY FOR CHRIS & STEPHANIE THAT THEY WOULD BE FILLED WITH PEACE, STRENGTH, HOPE & COURAGE AS THEY BEGIN TAKING CARE OF MICAH ON THEIR OWN.

Thank you for hanging in there with us. Thank you for your caring hearts and your faithfulness to pray for Micah’s healing. The journey is not so lonely with all of you walking with us. You have truly touched our hearts with your love and support.

With much love and appreciation in my heart,

Teri