Josiah James Matlack came into the world Wednesday morning May 30th at 2:30 AM weighing 6lbs 15 oz.
Mommy, Daddy and big brother Elijah were eagerly awaiting his arrival and thrilled when we headed to St. Lukes Northland hospital to bring him home soon!
Unfortunately, as seen in the pictures, things after his birth did not go as we had hoped. Josiah's first breaths did not come without help from a very skilled team of doctors and nurses here at St. Luke's, God's hand was on him giving him just what he needed. The first few hours of his life were very scary for us. He was immediately intubated and taken by ambulance to The Children's Mercy Hospital Level 3 NICU. With the respiratory help of a ventilator and the loving care of even more doctors and nurses at Children's Mercy Josiah quickly became stable, he was opening his eyes and showing the signs of a strong, stubborn little boy.
After a very long 36 hours of numerous tests, exrays, and ultrasounds, doctors determined that he may have a weakness in the right half of his diaphragm. This weakness causes his organs to press upwards into his right chest cavity making it difficult for the right lung to expand to full capacity.
The first attempt at treatment involves slowly weaning him off of the ventilator, forcing him to use and strengthen his diaphragm naturally. Overtime it would then become stronger and force his internal organs to their proper positions. We began this process this afternoon and are praying that it goes smoothly over the next 24 hours.
Other methods are treatment may come into play, but this would be the ideal situation. Your prayers for our whole family are very necessary!
Please pray:
- Praise God for his blessing in stabilizing Josiah quickly and for providing a team of doctors equipped to diagnose and care for our unique situation
- Praise God for other believers in the hospital who have offered spiritual support and prayers
- Praise God for his blessing of our family who has supported us from the beginning by taking care of Elijah and our home while we are preoccupied, we couldn't do this without them.
- That the current diagnosis and treatment would be accurate and effective and that the doctors and nurses would have the skills needed for his reabilitation
- Strength and energy for Daddy who is balancing caring for Mommy and baby in two different hospital settings and Elijah at home
- Strength for Mommy who is recovering from a C-Section and unable to spend much time with Josiah
- That both would continue to look toward our Heavenly Father for peace and strength in all aspects of this situation
