Baby Update

God is just as good as we thought He was, and even if her surgery hadn't gone so smoothly, we would trust that all the same.

I posted a status on Facebook about little Jackie's heart success, but I can barely keep up with my own Facebook page so I couldn't expect you all to.

One week ago this morning, Jackie's heart was healed, and through the long life of this miracle child we hope that many more hearts will also come to a place of healing in Christ Jesus.

She was abandoned by her mother at birth due to her cleft lip and palate, I'm note even sure if her heart condition was known at that time. Doctor after doctor told Paul and Kristin (the couple running the baby home) that this little "unwanted" child was not worth the tests, treatments, surgeries and care that her life would require. But they disagreed. They knew her value was found in her Father's eyes, not in the world's. Thus, they fought for her, and they're winning.

Since the surgery, her newly revamped circulatory system has been carrying oxygen to all of her tissues like Santa on Christmas Eve. Her color is visibly pinker. Her energy is up. Her strength is already improving. Her appetite's impressive. And the spirit of the baby home is almost giddy in spite of the sleepless nights and busy days caused by a week of keeping Baby J in isolation.

This morning she had her one-week re-check with the cardiologist, who was so impressed with her turnaround that she called in the mother of another potential heart surgery patient to calm her nerves by showing her how well Jackie was progressing. Her lungs are improving after building up a bit of congestion from lying still all the time after the surgery. A quick echocardiogram showed everything in its proper place. And the physical therapist turns out to be a Christian so he charged only a cup of coffee in return for his services.

Now if we can just get the idea that we're gonna adopt Jaqueline out of Angie's head, everything will be perfect... Thank you so much for your prayers!

(Photos: Top - Jackie one week post-op. Middle - the newest arrival to the baby home. Bottom - another adorable recent arrival.)

"God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart."

-1 Samuel 16:7 TM (just bumped into this verse this morning)