04/05/2026
Update on Andrew from his parents:
Easter Sunday, our son’s first Easter ✝️
Our boy made it though surgery. Praise God!!! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Exploratory surgery was required for significantly raised labs, and distended belly. Time was absolutely of the essence.
What they found was a small perforation in his large intestine, and another congenital hole in his belly- all fixed and being monitored now closely. This created an issue where his bowels were leaking out into his belly - very yucky and not good; he is very sick, and this happened pretty quickly.
Things are still touch and go. We are not out of the woods yet, and the surgeon made that very clear to us.
He is also still being treated for the PDA (hole in his heart); we are praying that heals soon or naturally over time.
Praise God for the transfer to this acute-care hospital when it happened!!! Andrew did well with the flight here, remained stable, and made it through his first ever surgery at only 1 week 3 days old!!! All things to be thankful for.
👉🏼We just got an update call this morning from the NICU doctor watching over Andrew and monitoring him post-surgery. Right now the specific concern is his labs and levels needing to go back to normal levels; they are, they are just taking their time. We pray specifically today for these numbers to improve, for Andrew’s little body to FULLY heal, and for him to not have any lasting effects from this. We pray his energy comes back an he starts showing signs of that (he is under light sedation still from surgery, to help his body remain calm for the best healing).
This is absolutely the hardest thing Adam and I have ever walked through. Watching your micro-preemie child have to fight for their life is so hard. It’s truly unexplainable.
Mentally and emotionally, we have been struggling.
Yesterday was the hardest day. Last night was the hardest night. I am well aware this journey is a rollercoaster and have been educated on what this journey can look like. I am not at all naive.
But, this is hard, y’all.
I am learning things I never thought would hit my brain the way they have. We are making literal day to day decisions for Andrew, all the while trusting that we are doing the right things.
Adam and I have not wavered in our faith. We praise God for the journey of what it even took to get Andrew HERE. How blessed we are to have this gift; that even through four years of IVF struggles, it came down to crossing paths with one person, who then guided us to the right specialist, who then created the right treatment protocol, which then led to a successful transfer and pregnancy - we know this absolutely would not have happened without God. Andrew has such a story and legacy to share with the world!!! We are literally thankful for each day we have with Andrew.
Where there is a mama somewhere getting frustrated over her kid crying incessantly, or a dad getting tired from hearing his kid talk about the same toy or tv show for an hour, or a kid refusing to get dressed in the outfit you picked out for them- there is a mama like me PRAYING her child gets to do those things!!!
I ask today that you try and keep in mind how blessed we are to have the children we have; how God has entrusted us with them. They are His after all-we are given them on borrowed time, truly. To raise up in His image and know Him. Take a minute, take 5. Ask Jesus for patience and grace.
You are humbled 1,000x over and really put in your place and then some when you walk this walk. This has made me feel so bad and upset with myself for ever being short with my girls or showing frustration (they are kids, they can’t regulate, can’t help it, are over stimulated, etc.)
I am not saying we aren’t allowed to also be exhausted from parenting or things won’t get to us - but I can guarantee you this right here will show you what really matters, period.
We love our son. We love Jesus Christ, and we KNOW he carries us and our son!!! We pray LIFE and BREATH and complete HEALING over Andrew Joshua!!!!
I feel the need to say this again: we have an absolute amazing church family. Without them and their support and generosity, we wouldn’t be where we are (literally) in this moment of need in this situation with Andrew! They have provided prayer, encouragement, stability, friendship, support in so many ways, connected us with safe and stable housing in a foreign place at the last minute- they have been a solid rock to us. They have been our Cornerstone, and we are so blessed and thankful! I implore you to take Easter Sunday to learn about Jesus, how He DIED and suffered on the cross for your sins and mine- and rose again on the 3rd day!! Connect with a local church; it will change your life!!! ✝️
