Urgent Prayer Request...Little Ella Hodges

Please keep precious Ella in your prayers. Ella was born with Spina Bifida. I am not sure if the procedures and illness are due to her special need. She needs our prayers. Those of you who have children know the feeling as a parent when your child is ill and the helpless feelings that sometimes comes along with it, I can only imagine what Randy, Lori and the rest of the family is going through right now. I know what it was like when Adam and Jeffrey were born 8 weeks preterm and all their health challanges.

My Prayers are with you Randy, Lori and little Ella. Love to you all. Lori, and Randy my heart is acheing for you sweethearts.

Tammie

P.S. below is a letter from Lori...

Not much time here to write, but know you would appreciate an update. HORRIBLE, horrible day today. Ella was doing so well yesterday, and took a turn for the worse today. Started running a temp (103), heart rate over 200, very lethargic, having trouble breathing, etc.

Many tests done, Ella had to endure so much pain and agony. The doctors did not want to give her anesthesia due to her critical condition as it may complicate things. A shunt tap was done. Xrays showed fluid in her chest cavity...doctors performed surgery with only a small amount of lidocaine to numb the area and removed almost 300cc's of fluid. The fluid caused her lung to almost completely collapse and her little heart is working overtime to compensate. In addition, doctors found a pocket of air outside her lung after removing the VP shunt tubing.

They are waiting a few hours to see if it will come out on its own. Chances are slim and good chance she will undergo another surgery tonight to put in a drain to let the air out. The doctors do not want to go this route because it is very painful and are not sure how much anesthesia she can handle safely. It goes on and on...she looks so sad and in some ways I sense she is done fighting. She has been very sick now for over 9 weeks and has endured too many painful procedures, long hospitalizations and so forth. As a mother, you can't begin to know my anguish and deep sadness.

Thanks for your prayers, Lori