We have a very specific prayer request for Alicia and the Berkey family. As you know, Alicia’s lung transplant was successful – she handled the surgery like a champ, and now the hard part sets in. These days immediately following transplant are the most difficult on her body, even more so than the surgery itself. The pain involved is unlike anything we can imagine and while Alicia and her parents knew that going in, they made a game plan for dealing with it emotionally.

The Berkey’s sat with a social worker and full team for transplant and discussed the importance of support. The transplant team needed to KNOW that the Berkey’s would be able to be present at the hospital and have a village of people filling in the gaps and coming around them, both in prayer and in person. The original plan said that post surgery, Alicia would have two care givers in her room at any given time, her siblings would be allowed to visit,  and she could have a waiting room full of “approved” individuals there to take turns in the room with her, provide support for parents, go on food runs, pray and offer strength, a shoulder to cry on and the JOY of fellowship surrounding Alicia.

Here we are 2 full days post-op and that is not at all what her situation looks like. COVID-19 has changed significant hospital policy – and while it is for the health and protection of the patients, it is also difficult and even harmful for the families. Alicia is no longer allowed ANY extra bodies in the hospital to provide support for her from the waiting room ready to switch out and love on her. None. Not even siblings. She isn’t even allowed two people in her room. That means that she can’t have both her parents with her at this excruciatingly difficult time in her journey. Crissie and Joe have to take turns visiting Alicia – one can be in her room with her in full gown, mask and gloves, while the other has to completely leave the hospital grounds. One care giver per patient. Period. Even for minors who have just had MAJOR surgery.

Taking care of Alicia these last couple days has been very hard. She has had major pain management issues, sudden and dangerous drops in blood pressure, and such emotional trauma. Alicia’s medicines have left her mind confused and scared. And in those moments of high emotional intensity, she needs both parents. Her parents need each other. To witness your child scream out in pain or confusion and not have your spouse to lean into, to not have a room full of people ready to hold you up and pray with you… that is hard. That was NOT the plan set out from the beginning. The transplant team repeatedly emphasized the importance of emotional support, with PEOPLE in it WITH them, present WITH them and yet, hospital policy during this viral pandemic has made that impossible.

This is an issue even bigger than Alicia or the Berkey’s. These rules are effecting and harming lots of ICU families. The NEED for emotional support and connection is HUGE. Research shows how it improves healing! So please, pray with us. Pray that Crissie and Joe can love on their girl side by side. They can hold each other up in the hard moments as they’re happening in Alicia’s room. They can multiply the strength in the room when they’re both there. And they need the ability to walk into the waiting room and be embraced by safe people who can come along side them and be pillars of support.

Pray specifically for that. Pray that people do their part in staying home to flatten the curve of COVID-19 so Alicia CAN have visitors sooner rather than later. Pray that the hospital makes an exception for these ICU families, transplant families, that NEED a minimum of two care givers present in the hospital. Pray Alicia continues to get stronger, continues to fight hard, and that her parents can stand tall and fight THIS part of the battle well, too. Change happens with prayer. Let’s pray.