Part 1: 13 Days

Madilene Marie Kidney was born on February 4^th and was home for just one week before she became sick. This started the longest journey I have every taken as parent with a very sick child. Two days into the heavy breathing and hard coughing, we realized that Madi was experiencing much more than a cold. Her every breath was an effort, with haste we decided to take her to the hospital. In the ER she was quickly diagnosed with RSV, a very mild disease that we all get from time to time. Adults can shrug it off because we can make strong use or mouths for air when our noses otherwise get stuffed.

However, for a one-week-year-old this can be deadly. Babies do not use their mouths to breath and are solely dependant on their noses for air, and Madi’s nose was horrible clogged and inflamed. Long story short we ended up in the PICU with every tube and wire imaginable to help sustain Madi’s life. What a nightmare.

It was at this point I called a very close friend of mine who had a very similar experience; I immediately asked for pray and support. Dan (and his wife Jessy) knew just what to do, he told me he loved me and they both began to pray for us immediately. More friends and folks began to join in and rally behind our cause. From that point on I never lost hope and actually felt as “good” as a parent could be in the situation. God is amazing!