Today was finally the second surgery day for little Lawik, the day of his big switch surgery. We were all nervous of this day as we knew how dangerous it is especially for a child with such a weak heart as he has. When we arrived this morning in the hospital we had the chance to stay one hour in his room together with his mom where we prayed for our boy, stroked his hands and told him how much we loved him.
His mother said over and over again how strong Lawik is and that God willing, he will be better after his surgery. At nine a clock they wheeled him into the OR and long waiting hours started for us. We knew that the surgery will probably take around 7 hours, a lot of time to either get worried or to remind us over and over again how big our god is as in the following lyrics:
Savior, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
Forever, author of Salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
During our waiting time we talked to a Jewish woman who also has a child in the ICU and she told us that she is praying for Lawik. It was great to see how all the moms support each other no matter if they are from Israel, Gaza or Kurdistan.
Only five and a half hours after he went into his surgery we heard the news that the doctors successfully switched Lawik’s arteries but also that his heart was so weak that they couldn’t disconnect him from the bypass machine and they will start to put him on the ECMO machine now. Even though this is hard and dangerous news, his mother was very relieved and thanked God that Lawik survived his surgery.
One and a half hours later Lawik was finally back in his room. He had some bleeding from his open chest afterwards and so it took the doctors and nurses a long time until they could stabilize him and finally nine hours, we were allowed to go to him with his mother.
She was full of joy and kept saying “My son, my love thank God!” The doctors hope that during the next days where his heart gets some rest his heart function will improve enough that they can disconnect him from the ECMO again. There is a great danger of complications because of the ECMO and knowing that only half of the kids successfully come off it again is hard. But even though the situation seems so difficult for us God still is in control and he is mighty to save Lawik. God we want to trust you that you have the perfect plan for you and that nothing is out of your control! Please heal our little boy if it is your will and don’t let him suffer! Remind us of your promises every day!
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear!
Psalms 46:1-2