Oftentimes in our lives, we feel forsaken, helpless, or abandoned by God. Rather, those are the lies that Satan wants us to believe.
This spiritual battle really put our family to the test in one major ordeal of our life.
Thirteen (13) years ago when our firstborn Spencer was diagnosed with Biliary atresia. His bile ducts were underdeveloped. During that time, we were faced with a decision whether to proceed with a Kasai procedure (connecting the liver to the intestines) that would get him by until he is of age to get a liver transplant; this route would give him low quality of life with multiple hospitalizations. However, if we choose to forego this procedure, his condition would quickly deteriorate, leading to his death. It was during this time where I felt helpless, overwhelmed, abandoned. We cried out and pleaded with the Lord to take this decision from our hands and for Him to choose what is best for us. Down the line, we did not want to bear the burden of the guilt for the consequences and hardships of the choice we would make. God alone knows the best, so we surrendered.
In the end, the surgeon proceeded with the procedure when he was 19 days old without asking us because the state of Spencer’s liver had deteriorated.
He is in God’s hands. God promised healing last Aug 2, 2010 – less than a month after his birth on (Jeremiah 30:12 “This is what the Lord says: “‘Your wound is incurable, your injury beyond healing. 13 There is no one to plead your cause, no remedy for your sore, no healing for you. 17 But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’declares the Lord’).
Numbers 23:19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he promise, and not fulfill it?
Heb 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
God taught us total surrender, obedience & perseverance for where human strength ends is where God’s hand will work out the impossible to show His glory.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God could not keep you.
Last Monday 2/5/24, we were called by Phoenix Children’s Hospital for a possible liver+bile duct organ transplant for Spencer. According to the doctor, the organ – which came from California – was beautiful, clean & a perfect match for Spencer 💕 We were admitted at 3:45pm, and the transplant procedure started at around 11pm till 7am. According to the surgeon, it took them longer than expected as Spencer’s body was in pretty bad shape. The fluids/ascites were murky, and they were able to successfully drain out the peritonitis/infection in a timely manner. Consequently, he needed more antibiotics and a draining tube that will have to stay in longer. That being said, they conducted the transplant just before the peritonitis led to a full-blown infection (I.e. sepsis). Truly, everything happened according to God‘s perfect timing!!! 🙌 All glory to God!!! 🙌
Back story: The transplant surgeon flew to North California to extract the liver organ with bile ducts from the donor. The donor is a boy who is a couple of years younger than Spencer. Doctor said it is such a beautiful and clean organ and such a great opportunity. He also said that the picture I sent of Spencer’s abdomen helped him assess whether Spencer’s size would match the donor. They were supposed to request escalation/exception to have a higher MELD number, but the opportunity came Monday. Praise God for His provision 🙌 I hugged and cried to Dr. Van Der Werf & thanked him for the blessing! 💕
”I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.“
Isaiah 46:10-11 NIV
Spencer was listed for both UCLA and Phoenix Children’s to have more options, but I was praying for AZ to be closer from home. Imagine, the organ came from California, so God moved the organ to AZ 🙌 How amazing was that!!! 🥳
”I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.“
Psalms 121:1-8 NIV
We were in the PICU for 3 days and now in a regular room. Medical standpoint, all numbers and tests are going in the right direction. Everybody is impressed how well he has been progressing. He has PT and OT regularly, IV drugs are now shifting orally as he starts clear liquids today.
We appreciate and thankful for the outpouring of love, prayers and support. 💕 God has blessed us tremendously and may God bless you all!!! 🙌
The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support. COTA is the nation’s only fundraising organization solely dedicated to raising life-saving dollars in honor of transplant-needy children and young adults. 100% of each contribution made to COTA in honor of our patients helps meet transplant-related expenses. COTA’s services are free to our families, and gifts to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.