Reflections

Still in business, making phone calls and answering emails

Update on Pierce: We've had a few quiet, good days. Overall, Pierce is himself with little to no pain. Thankfully his biggest ailment is boredom and for that, we are so, so thankful. Thanks to everyone who has sent our boy mail and care packages to help pass the time. Yesterday Pierce had his PICC line placed to help with the administration of his antibiotic (before he was needing a new IV daily). Infectious Disease finally identified the bacteria that caused the infection- Micrococcus (kudos to anyone who has ever heard of that). They said the good news is that he is/has been on the right antibiotics. However, they'll need to wait 10 full days since his last positive culture before re-internalizing the shunt. That means that next Friday is the first possible surgery date. He will then need to be hospitalized for a few more days to finish out the antibiotic course. And so we wait, and pray that nothing new shows up in his cultures so that surgery can proceed as expected.

I'd be lying if I acted like this time around has been pie in the sky and fairy dust. Nothing about watching your child endure pain and suffering is easy. Nothing, not even the boredom they face because they are stuck in a hospital bed. It all stings.

This isn't easy
This isn't clear
And you don't need Jesus
Til you're here... 

("When A Heart Breaks," Ben Rector)

We find comfort in our good and loving Father and knowing that His sovereign plan is at work. These are the times where the darkness seems so thick and so pervasive that He is hidden from us. I am reminded of one of my favorite hymns which states "when darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace." Indeed it is true that His grace sustains us. It repairs us. It restores us. It is His grace that spurs us to hope. It is where we find our rest.

Almost every night as I've fallen asleep on the parent bed rock hard chair, I've thought about why God has us here. Why here, why again? And why with future surgeries almost a guarantee?

And then I hear the reminders of His grace that come rushing in: This trial, just like the others you've faced, is preparing you for something far greater, and grander- an unseen place where Christ's glory reigns and sickness is no more. This suffering is not in vain. It is demonstrating God's glory and His all sufficiency to those around you. This suffering- Pierce's suffering, your suffering- it is not wasted. It will not be wasted. It will make you, and him, and your husband more like Christ as you join in His sufferings. This suffering, it will be used this to bring those you love, those you pray for, into the Kingdom.

He is enough. He is good and he is True. He is where we find our peace and rest. And thanks be to God that we can rest in His grace and not in our own efforts or temporary feelings.

17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Thanks for walking this journey with us.

Love,

Nik, Lindsay and Pierce

PS- Shortly before I posted this, we learned that a dear friend's son is also having a shunt revision surgery tonight. Please pray for him as well. We love him and his family dearly.