Burn Update

​Today has been a great day of relaxing, laughing and hanging out with Noah. We have been waiting all day for the call to come from Dr. Wellons' office about the pathology. We did not get the call. The office of Dr. Wellons closes at 3:00 today so it is our guess we will have to wait until Monday. That means more time to PRAY!!

Thermoflect Blanket

I did receive a call today from Vickie Atkins, Patient Safety/Risk Management Officer at Children’s Hospital. They still think it was the space blanket (Thermoflect is the product name, thermoflect.com, pictured above) which was placed on Noah metal side down. It was not the warming blanket. She assured me the hospital would take care of everything and even said she was mailing a letter to confirm it. She said they would contact the EPA and tell them about the incident and make sure these blankets never get near an MRI again. The blankets have been removed from the MRI unit at UAB and they are taking every step they know to insure this never happens again.

I would like to thank Athens News Courier for their story on Noah's burn and for also contacting the hospital to get their comments.

God assures us in His word that if we allow Him, He will take care of us. It seems very unnatural to not step in and follow what the world does in similar situations. We know that God has a plan in all of this and that He is taking care of it.

It was today two weeks ago that Noah and our lives were changed forever.   I will never forget that moment when doctors walked in, sat down and told us about his tumor. Through all of this I have learned the value of something that has been in my life all along but I took for granted. That thing is - Family.

First of all our immediate family. They have been such a source of support and strength. It is in the moments of tragedy when you really realize that family is so very important. They sat with us all night in the waiting room of the PICU, stayed with us for days just to be there to help and pray. They were there to cry with, laugh with and sit with. For those who don’t have the blessing of family like we do, I don’t know how they make it.

I say this to encourage you - reader, that if you are at odds with your family - do whatever it takes to settle it. You need them and they need you. God gives us family because He knows we are designed to help each other and lean upon each other in times of trouble.

Secondly I realize the importance of friends (second family).  When you go through trouble you really see who your friends are. For everyone who has called us, visited us, reconnected after long years apart, sent us encouragement - we love you so much. I couldn’t imagine walking through these last two weeks without my second family holding up our arms through so many encouraging messages and your prayers.

Our church family - Friendship Church in Athens:  You hear all the time, "You don’t have to go to a church to be a Christian;" I agree with that. It is only the blood of Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection that insures us of salvation when we give our lives to Him, not going to a church.  You don’t have to go to a church - but I can tell you this, God designed the church to be like family. He designed it to be a body, and when one part of the body hurts, the other parts jump in to help.  What a blessing to have such an awesome family!!!!  If you are not a part of a Bible believing church - you are really missing out.

Friendship Church - You have helped us so much with prayer and encouragement and support.  God has and will continue to use you to be His hands and feet.  So to you - reader - if you’re not a part of a good Christian family, don’t stop searching until you find the place God wants you to be because believe me, when tough times come - you will need them!

To our community on Facebook and those who have contacted us through this site. We may not live near each other, we may not really know each other but know this - we love you. So many people we have never met have sent us messages of hope and encouragement at just the right time. I own a Blackberry. You have no idea how many times I would feel a moment of weakness or frustration and see that red light on the phone blip and look at the new message or email God would use to strengthen our legs one more time.

I talked to a few people today who commented how "great a faith" Jessica and I have. I don’t really understand that comment. We believe that God is the one who gives us faith when we need it. There is nothing special about us; we just serve a very special God who has chosen to lead us down a path that is difficult. He has never left us, and has not forsaken us. His peace has guarded our hearts and minds and His Holy Spirit has given us comfort in our most desperate hours. He has used our family, friends and church to encourage and speak to us and to provide many of our needs.  If you trust in Him, He will lead you and provide and protect you and give you wisdom and self control, you can walk through situations like ours and even ones that are worse. 

So to sum up today’s thoughts -

1) If you haven’t given your life to Christ and trusted Jesus as your Savior, you need to do that. He is the way, truth and the life. No one comes to the Father (God) except through Him. He is the only thing in life you need. 
 
2) Get your family junk sorted out because very soon either you will need them or they are going to need you.

3) Get into a church family, one where you can bless others and that can be a blessing to you. One day you are going to need them, and they are going to need you.  

4) Don’t be afraid to use social network sites like Facebook to witness your faith or be an encouragement. I tell you the truth, I have heard from God so much because of that website! Let your light shine on the web.
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I didn’t mean to get preachy, but sometimes you just got to say what's on your heart.
We hope to hear on Monday what the pathology lab finds out. Until then please keep praying.

Love,
John David