taffthetooth Loc: U.K

Please pray for this little boy. This is a copy of a prayer request.

On Saturday Matt's best man and his wife had their first baby at 28 weeks. He is called Ethan. Ethan is tiny, even for his age, at 1.1kg (2lb 7oz) and since his birth they have found that his digestive tract is not connected properly through his body and his wind pipe and oesophagus are connected as well. If all is well, he will have surgery today to separate his wind pipe and join up some of the digestive tract. How much they are able to do depends on how much pipe there is. He, and his parents, are facing weeks in a hospital 2 hours from their home, and then months and years of hospital visits and surgery and the Drs are saying Ethan may always be incontinent. Please pray!

Hi all, thanks for your responses and your prayers. Today they have also found that Ethan has heart problems too and a hole in his stomach but that was not enough to prevent surgery. He has been in surgery 8 hours now and still going, having swapped surgeons. After 6 hours though they had completed the top section, managing to separate the windpipe and connect the oesophagus to the tummy which is really wonderful. It was a stretch for the existing pipe so please pray for no tearing. They are now part way through looking at the stomach hole and connecting the lower end which will be a temporary fix at this stage. Praise the Lord that things have gone this well and that the tiny fighter seems to be a pretty mighty boy. The Lord is with him.

mrova Loc: Chesterfield, VA

Oh my. Sure thing, will join you in praying for this!

taffthetooth Loc: U.K

Thank you, please pass on.

Jimjay Loc: Weeki Wachee, Fl.

Ethan is one tough little boy. You can be sure he's in my thoughts and my prayers.

taffthetooth Loc: U.K

A sad update.
Dear church,

Here is an update from Ethan's dad, sent yesterday:

"Ethan was born with a few too many problems than his tiny body could handle. He died peacefully in our arms yesterday afternoon."

Thank you for standing with us in prayer for Ethan and his family.

Love,
Matt

Prayers for the family please.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

I just saw this, Taff. This is indeed very sad. We almost lost our son when he was 12, so I know some what the parents have gone through, although we were spared.

James Shaw

Poor chap. Hope all comes out well for him, and that he gets a chance to live a full life as we all should. I am thankful for science, wisdom, and all the medical expertise that is available to that young man.

However, I am afraid prayer, alone, will not do the job. If it did then there would be no need for surgery. I would NOT doubt that prayer works for those doing the praying; a catharsis if you will.

A J-Witness once told my mom that my brother, diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at an early age, should not be taken to a doctor, but should be prayed for instead. My mom gave her a few chosen words, that I had not heard before, and ran her away from our residence.

That kind of approach to resolving life's issues in the 21st Century drives others away from prayer and religion, as is reflected in the attachment, please download, below, and read, and NO you did not say that prayer alone was the answer. My thoughts and hopes remain for that young man:

Attached file:
(Download)

James Shaw

So sorry for the young chap and for the parents that will have to endure their loss.

taffthetooth Loc: U.K

Thanks for your replies, as I understand it the surgical teams did a fantastic job, but the poor boy had too many issues.

Bkh42 Loc: N.I. UK

Ethan is in the arms of our Lord

God Bless as I pray for you and family

Brenda

taffthetooth Loc: U.K

Yes he is, thank you.