Prayer Wall

Update on 2-22-09:  Flyin' High on her 2 week birthday by Darius Sitzman

CARE CALENDAR SET UP FOR THE SITZMANS. CLICK HERE TO HELP THEM.

CALENDAR ID : 12745
SECURITY CODE : 8890 

Ella ate today! That's a huge statement when you were born with no connection to your stomach... She had 2-3 tablespoons of Pedialyte, googled at us for 45 minutes and is now taking a nap. She is the most peaceful and comfortable I have ever seen her, and everyone who sees her is shocked by how chubby and pink she is! She's not sickly looking at all; a completely different baby from the skinny, ashy skin, sunken eye little girl we were praying for on Monday and Tuesday! We are so happy it's hard to describe!

I asked the nurse practitioner yesterday to help me control my expectations... "How long should we be plan to be here in the hospital?" ~ "At least several weeks." I can deal with that; I'd like it to be sooner, but I can deal with waiting a few weeks to take home a healthy, happy baby.

People have been asking Ali and I how we're doing through all this & that's a great question. I feel like we've had so much grace on us to deal with all the ups and downs and craziness of the last 2 weeks! I really have to say that our relationship is thriving, even through the stress and everything. We've got great family and friends who are carrying much of the load for us so we're able to stay healthy and balanced. Tonight while our big kids are with their grandparents we're going to have a little date time and watch a movie!

That said, we believe we're entering into a little different phase of this process. Until now it's been very volatile, and adrenaline has been our friend. The last day or two (and hopefully the next "several weeks") will see steady improvement in Ella's condition. That takes more loving persistence and less adrenaline, more patience and less emotion. The good thing is that even 2-3 weeks is really not that long!

Thank you for praying for us, bringing us food, encouraging us, helping with our kids and everything else you have done. It's because of this support that we're not run ragged! Thank you!

Darius

(there is a CARE CALENDAR that has been set up for the Sitzman family to help them in practical ways while their attention is fully on the health and care of their family.  Click the link at the top of this email to access the calendar.)  

 

(Update at 4:00 p.m. on 2-19-09):  Enjoying Stability

HAPPY DAY! FROM DARIUS SITZMAN

We are thrilled to report that Ella is doing very well today! Thanks so much for all the prayers; they're really helping! Ella's breathing is better, and her heart is functioning as it should. We're also happy that her lymph fluid output is down a bit, although it can fluctuate dramatically day to day. We have to temper our excitement here a bit because she had very high output two days after her surgery which then stopped entirely for two days before starting back up, but in this case, less is always better.

darius, allison and ella MORE GOOD NEWS! Yesterday Ella passed her Esophagram test!! This means that her stitches in her esophagus have healed, and she can have milk as soon as the lymph fluid stops draining.

Things are looking up, and that's a great feeling. Ella is no longer in 'critical condition'. We're past the recent hard days and she's stable, so even though she has lots of tubes and beeping machines, we're feeling good.

The other girls are doing well at home with Gabby (Grandma Alice) and are eager to have their little sis back home... they've all drawn pictures which adorn Ella's hospital door, and have made a little get-well-soon video which I'll put in the official "Ella's Esophagus" movie... this one will likely go straight to DVD, skipping the movie theaters entirely, so add it to your Netflix list!

Ali and I are doing well. It's so great to have wonderful family who take care of our big girls, and lots of people bringing food. So many people are pitching in that we're able to take reasonable care of ourselves!

Our nurses are INCREDIBLE!! Kathy, our nurse the previous several hard days was hustling non-stop all day every day. Most babies here are sharing one nurse for two babies, but Ella has had so much going on that she had a dedicated nurse and often a helper or two! We are joking that we want our nurse to be kicking back clipping coupons one day! We're not quite there, but moving that direction, and it feels great!

Ella and Ali are googling at each other now, Ella is sticking out her tongue and really focusing on Mommy... welcome to Cloud 9!

Again, thanks for your prayers, Ellas doing well and although she's not quite ready to go home yet, we're moving in the right direction.

Darius

 

 

 

(Update at 8:00 a.m. on 2-19-09)

Report from the Sitzmans 8 AM Thursday

 

 

(Update at 4:00 p.m. on 2-18-09)

Ron just spent some time with Darius and there are a few news items to update everyone on... 

 

love, The HITC Staff

 

 

(Update at 11:30 a.m. on 2-18-09)

The rest of the one step back and starting to move forward
Posted from Darius at 11:30 a.m. to go along with the last update:

Yesterday was another rough day, but now she's stable and i'm hoping we'll be able to keep her there... she is just producing that lymph fluid and it causes troubles! Ella was having more breathing and heart distress, so the staff here added several "accessories" to her ensemble...

now she's got 2 tubes draining her left chest cavity, 1 draining her right chest cavity, one draining her heart cavity (didn't know it had it's own cavity but it does), a bladder catheter, a tube that goes to a vein next to her heart to deliver food and drugs, a tube into a artery to facilitate her very frequent blood tests, an extra IV in her head as well as a bunch of other electrical sensors for various purposes. all that and she weighs 7 pounds! Sometimes its hard to look at her with all those accessories...

The hope is that all that equipment will keep her stable until her body stops creating the excess lymph fluid... oh and they're giving her a medicine that may help stop the lymph fluid... they tried to avoid using this medicine, but they felt now was the time to give it a try.

This morning she will get her Esophagram to see if her esophagus is waterproof.

so, all that said, we know she's in the right place and being cared for by the best... she'll be fine, but it is a very hard road sometimes!

 

 

 

(Update on 2-18-09 at 10:00 a.m.)

I just spoke with Alison at 8 AM and she reports Ella had a 'stable' night. Today will be one of continued monitoring of the fluid in her chest and around her heart. She has x-rays and sonograms every few hours and they measure the fluid leaving from the tubes. They believe the drug is helping some, but she still has too much fluid in her chest.

Dell Children's and the care givers there are absolutely amazing - so grateful we have such a place in Austin.  Let's keep praying for that fluid to LEAVE and for Ella's complete healing - today can be a day of healing for this little body.

thanks, love, Trudy  

 

 

(Update on 2-17-09 at 2:00 p.m.)

Hope in the City family of prayer warriors - a call to warfare prayer for Ella Faith Sitzman today.

Ella is in critical condition due to "chylothorax" - lymphatic fluid filling her chest cavity. This makes it very difficult for the heart to beat and for her lungs to expand. She currently has 4 tubes in her chest and around her heart draining fluid. The doctor says that today is critical and that Ella's very life is in jeopardy.

Pray:
for the complete healing of Ella Faith
the buildup of fluid would stop
the heart and lungs would be able to function at full strength
all the people making decisions for Ella's care would have the wisdom of the Lord
the Comforter would surround Darius and Alison and their family

Come Lord, finish what you have begun. We trust you for Ella's life and the fulfillment of her destiny.

Thank you, church.
Trudy for the Sitzmans
(Update on 2/14/09)- Valentine's Day - Ella's one-week birthday  

 

Ella Faith Sitzman at one week

We are now celebrating a few days of smooth sailing! Ella's chest fluid & air pocket have dramatically reduced. She is off her breathing machine, and is so much more comfortable. Now she's HUNGRY! She's getting all the nutrition she needs, but the nurses say it doesn't quite satisfy the hungry feeling.

Monday is testing day to see if her esophagus is water-tight and all healed. If so, she can start having milk from a bottle, and remove the tube in her nose. I think she'll be pretty happy about that! We are anxious to hold Ella, but have to wait until her chest tube is out. So we just snuggle up to her as close as we can to love on her.

Please join us in prayer that Monday's test would go well, her esophagus would be all healed, and that feeding goes well. Pray for no more complications, and no more surprises.

Thanks & love   ~ Alison Sitzman

 

 

(Update 4:30 p.m. on 2/10/09) :

Thank you, praying friends. Daddy Darius reports that both Allison and Ella Faith had a good night and are doing well.  Please keep praying for peace and quick healing for Ella, rest and healing for Allison. 

Ella Faith Sitzman

 

 

(Update 3:30 p.m. on 2/9/09) Letter to the Church at 3:30 p.m.

We have an update on baby Ella Faith Sitzman - born Saturday, February 7th...7 lb, 20"!  

On Sunday we got the chance to pray for newborn Ella Sitzman who was scheduled for surgery this morning to correct the joining of her esophagus and trachea.  The surgery went well! Ella's surgeon was very pleased and said that the arthroscopic surgery could not have gone any better.

The next 24 hours are critical.  Please continue to pray for complete healing and no complications.

Also, Ella will remain in the NICU for the next 7 days.  This period of time will also be crucial to her healing.  Pray that her little body will continue to heal and that all her esophagus will function correctly.

The doctors and hospital require that there be NO VISITORS for Ella's immune system to remain strong.  Friends can call the house to get an update from one of the grandmas.  There are no immediate needs at this time but please continue to check our Prayer Wall at www.hopeinthecity.org/what-we-do/prayer/prayer-wall.  We will keep everyone informed there.

Thank you, church family, you are wonderful --- PRAY!

 

 

(Update 9:00 a.m. on 2/9/09) Pray with Darius and Allison Sitzman for their newbord, Ella Sitzman

Please pray for Ella Faith - born Saturday, February 7th...7 lb, 20" of beautiful little Sitzman girl!  Ella is having surgery to correct the joining of her esophagus and trachea on Monday, February 9th between 10:30 and 11:00 AM.  Please pray for healing, pray for successful surgery, peace and comfort for all the Sitzmans. Darius and Allison are peaceful and full of faith, feeling the presence of the Lord and the prayers of family and friends.  Right now there are no practical needs - there are plenty of grandparents with the older girls at home.  The expectation is that Ella will be in the hospital for about 2 weeks...there will be ways we can all help when she comes home.  For the next few nights Darius and Allison can stay at the hospital or (most likely) the Ronald McDonald house to be near Ella.  With grateful hearts for all the prayers and good wishes the Sitzmans ask for no visitors for the next couple of days so that Allison can get  rested.
Regular updates will be posted here.  Thank you, church family, you are wonderful --- PRAY!

love, Trudy for the Sitzmans

PS Ella can't have 'stuff' in her room... so just wait until she comes home and we can shower her with flowers and balloons then.