What He Said

So a new song has emerged on K-LOVE called "What He Said".  That old familiar saying that God will never give you more than you can handle, the one that I hate to hear but know rings so true, has been simplified into an absolutely beautiful chorus, "I won't give you more than you can take. I might let you bend, but I won't let you break."  Wow. This could be the poster-song of my life over the past month.

On March 5th, my baby girl, Lexi finally received the surgery that we knew she had needed for so long now.  The procedure performed was a fundoplication and the gastrostomy.  The fundoplication essentially wrapped the top part of Lexi's stomach around her esophagus and stitched into place. This was done in hopes that she would quit aspirating, giving her lungs a chance to heal. The g-tube was placed because Lexi has essentially quit eating and drinking and this gives us the means of feeding her via her stomach by iv feed.

Before Surgery

The surgery was an absolute stress-nightmare.  We turned Lexi over at 7A.M. and did not get her back until 2P.M.  I was pacing the floors like a mad woman, freaking out over each hour that passed. We had an angel of a nurse that day. She constantly called and reassured me that everything was great. They gave trusty pup dog a g-button, too!  Recovery has been quite rough...the hospital stay was the easiest part of the whole ordeal. Coming home has been quite the test.

We have had several scares with the tube placement including puss-like discharge and bleeding. We have had three ER visits and four doctor office visits in just two weeks. Every time we have been reassured that this is normal (although it certainly doesn't seem that way).  Lexi, however, has been such the trooper and is taking the tube with stride other than the awful constipation that has followed.  That has actually been the worst part of the whole thing.  On April 11th, we go back to have the mic-key button placed so I will be super excited when that happens.

I am still very sad that Lexi is not eating.  She is still losing weight and it scares me to think that she could still be so malnourished even though we did the operation and are feeding her. It is like her body just does not care what we do; it is making all of the calls.  So I pray so hard that God heal whatever it is within this precious child and give her a normal childhood.

Saturday, Make a Wish visited with the girls about a possible trip to Disney which has everyone super excited!!!  I just want to tell you all how much we love and appreciate all of you and your prayers for our girl. It means more than you could ever imagine. We owe each of you a Ferrari after this is over!   God bless each of you. xoxoxo

The Cantrells

Scared

We have known for a while that Lexi was going to need surgery. However, knowing that it is close to time to do this operation, I get more and more scared of what may happen.  Everyone has said that getting a button would not be a big ordeal....however, the fundoplication seems from what I have read to be a major surgery.  I am panicked. I am fearful.  I know that God is much bigger than these doctors and this surgery. I know that He is control of this.  However, I am human, and the human part of my is cringing inside with fear of the uncertainty.  I pray that God grant me the peace to know in my heart what I already know in my head; that He has this thing under control and there is nothing to worry about.  I pray that this fear flee my soul and in it's place, peace embrace me.

Please continue to lift my family up in prayer for this big day.  God bless you all.

Praising Him in the good; Praising Him in the bad.

You know, the devil should know by now....he isn't going to win this. He insists on throwing speed bumps in front of us, trying to trip our faith.  What he does not understand is my God is so big, so mighty. There is nothing He cannot do, including a complete healing of my sweet Lexi's body.  Many doctors say that her conditions are permanent.  She will never overcome what ails her.  I don't just think differently, I know differently.

These past three years, especially these past three weeks have been a roller coaster for sure. There have been many more downs than ups.  What started out a simple fever has snowballed into very life-threatening issues that were severe enough to call the family in. Over the past three weeks, my dear friends Jenny and Roland suggested creating a prayer page on Facebook for Lexi.  Little did I know the day I created that page that people from all over the United States and Canada joined together, as strangers, in prayer for my miracle.  They lifted our family, touched our family and proved that Satan is powerless when we as Christians join together in prayer.  I posted on Lexi's prayer page a song by the Christian band, Kutless. The song is called, "That's What Faith Can Do."  This song has captivated my heart.  The words ring true for Lexi.

"It doesn't matter what you've heard, impossible is not a word. It's just a reason for someone not to try."  Lexi has shown time and time again that she trusts Him in the bad and the good. She knows He is there with her at all times.  She exhibits strength of an army even when she is on the edge of death.  She has done this time and time again.  To be innocent again. She is my hero.

I would like to thank each of you who have joined in prayer for my girl.  To each of you online who have never met Lexi, you are very special to us and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything you have done.  To each of you who have come up to the hospital and prayed over my baby, thank you.  To our family at Family Life Church, you have been our rock and thank you cannot even begin to describe what we feel towards each of you.  You have shown the true spirit of family, and most of all Christ.  You will forever be held close in our hearts as our true family. We love you endlessly and cannot wait to spend many more years of praising and worshiping Him with you.  I thank my friends at work for being so supportive and understanding, visiting, contributing to our journey.  I have never been a part of such a beautiful group of Christians.  I love you dearly.  To our immediately family, without your help through this, we would never have made it.

Most importantly, Father God, I must give you all of the praise, glory and honor for holding my child in Your hands, guiding the doctors and nurses, holding my husband, daughter and I steady and helping us understand that You are the Great Physician. Nothing is impossible when your faith is planted on the Rock.  Thank you for introducing all of these beautiful strangers, now friends into our lives. Even though the storms persist, You have promised a rainbow and I see that rainbow in the eyes of my miracle.