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I have a favor to ask each and every one of you. My daughter-in-law Ashleigh will be having surgery, a c-section to deliver our second grandchild, Emma. Philip and Ashleigh are already wonderful parents to our fun-loving, climb anything and everything, red-headed granddaughter, Bella.
They are living overseas and the surgery will take place in Hong Kong. In the last few weeks they have experienced many different and scary challenges, including a temporary move due to Ashleigh collapsing at almost 35 weeks due to a racing heart of 220 bpm. Ashleigh has a heart condition called SVT (Supra Ventricular Tachycardia) which typically is relatively benign during pregnancy. After a several-days hospital stay along with regularly increased dosages of a beta blocker, her heart rate has stayed elevated around 115-120 at rest. Her OB and cardiologist are both hoping it will decrease and level off to below 100 before surgery.
On Thursday, June 20th, 3:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern time, she will deliver Emma via c-section.
So a few specific requests:
* The beta blocker will work and bring her heart rate down and stabilize it.
* Emma will continue to tolerate the medicine in utero well and it will have no adverse effects on her health.
* Ashleigh will not go into labor before the scheduled c-section. The doctors feel this could be too strenuous on her.
* Prayers for Ashleigh’s mother, Susan, who is in transit right now heading to help out the sweet family in Hong Kong. She arrives late their Wednesday night, our Wednesday morning.
* Strength, health, energy and peace for our son Philip, Ashleigh’s husband and Bella and Emma’s father.
* All the Irwin family’s friends and family (yes, I do include MYSELF in that group), who love them so dearly, that we will have peace and comfort through this time, and we will have the words and actions to know how to support and encourage them from such a far distance.
* Prayers for all involved in the surgery and the care and health of Ashleigh and Emma before, during and after.
* If the delivery of Emma does not eradicate and relieve Ashleigh’s heart issue, the medical professionals in Hong Kong will be able to swiftly and accurately diagnose and effectively treat her problem.
I know that I have laid many requests before you to take to the throne of our Great God, but I do so because I believe His Word.
Philippians 4:6-8
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Thank you in advance for your faithful prayers. And I pray now for all of you shift workers, restless sleepers and Mommas and Daddies up in the night that you will be burdened to pray specifically during her surgery time.
I would love to pray for you and welcome your private requests through my contact email or please feel free to post directly on this blog post so others can pray for you as well.
Ashleigh carrying sweet Emma at 37 1/2 weeks
Emma crying in utero when they were stimulating her with the ultrasound machine
Emma’s big sister Bella hitching a ride from a new friend
The Irwin family
Praying everyday.
We know you do and love them and us very much! Love you!!
Praying for you all! Stay strong!
Thanks Kelly! We appreciated your prayers!
Praising and thanking God in advance for a delivery fully encapsulated in the tender care of the Father. Prayers are answered- I am confident! Thanks for sharing, Jamie!
Thank you Renee for the bold, true, encouraging words! Your prayers are felt and appreciated!
Prayers abound! God bless!
Thank you!
Jamie & family,
We are praying for each request, peace & comfort from Him alone who provides this. Love you guys.
Thanks Arlene, we appreciate your prayers so much! Love you all!
I will pray! God is already there, and He knows every single detail. I’m going to pray specifically for the medical staff, for their health, their attentiveness, their wisdom, and for their hearts to turn to Jesus as they see your daughter in law and son be filled with His peace. Emma is His, and He will protect her!
HeatherJ
Thank you Heather for those encouraging, true words! I appreciate your prayers!
I can only imagine how difficult this situation is for your family, complicated further by the long distance involved. I will keep you in my thoughts and look forward to a post announcing the safe delivery of Ashleigh and the good health of both her and Emma.
It definitely has its difficult moments. Thank you so much! Who knew you could love someone so much you haven’t even met? 🙂
I have seen several of your posts. I have been praying for her and will keep on doing so!
A is, greatly appreciated friend!
I pray all goes smoothly! I think I met Bella in the fall…was that before they moved or were they visiting? I ♥ her red hair.
Thanks Martha! Yes you did meet my sweet redhead before they moved 🙂
Praying… will continue to hold your family up to God. Let me know if I can do anything to help you through the next days…
Thanks friend! I appreciate your prayers and you!
saying my prayers for God to wrap his arms around you all and protect you all. <3
Deeply appreciated, thanks!
Praying and agreeing with you for your family.
~Lisa
Thank you!
My heart is burdened for you as I lift this sweet family to our Lord. The time and distance of separation make this an especially hard time. I will pray for all thaws specifics along with you. I am Pat Duerr’s niece and have a precious granddaughter of my own so I know how loved she must be already.
Thank you Laurie! It is such a strange thing to love someone so much that you haven’t even met yet or their sweet eyes haven’t even blinked from the sunshine but I am crazy in love with that baby already. I am so encouraged by the prayers of God’s people! Give Ms Pat a hug for me next time you see her, love her!
Thanks for sharing. You know that you count on my prayers too. Distance is far, I would love to be there helping you there family or doing more anyway, but I see that God says: my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. I love you a lot Irwin Family.
We love you Lucas and appreciate your prayers!
My prayers that everything will be fine and mom and baby completely healthy. I have had 9 children all by c-section (!!) including a very scary delivery with #7 and was blessed with two more after. Hang in there. All will be well. The Garden Goat
That us encouraging to hear! Thanks for sharing. Wow, nine c-sections. There is a mom on FB on the group ” I Love My Large Family, Yes They Are All Mine” that could use your encouragement, she has a post about c-sections. I will try and get her in touch through your blog!