Just when you don't think your days can get tougher...they do. I have never had the feelings I have had today. Honestly, without my faith in Christ I would be a basketcase. However, I serve a God that healed the blind and raised men from the dead. That God is still the same today as He was yesterday, and He will be the same even tomorrow. Luke's life rest in His will and His ultimate plan...through that we find comfort.
Seeing Luke's little arms and legs today has been devastating. The color is hard to explain, but a purple-ish is the closest I can come up with. The doctors still say tonight that even though it appears he has made some small steps today, this is a very serious issue. I mentioned earlier today that it was the Heparin...well, it wasn't. Several tests have been run today and now the only explanation is that his body is not allowing good blood flow to his extremities for some reason. Kristin and I talked to Dr. Austin tonight and he said that he wants to give Luke every chance possible. We will probably wait another 48 hours starting tomorrow morning to see if blood begins to circulate through his arms and legs...if it doesn't, it is potentially fatal as it will indicate that the heart will not be able to pump blood every where it needs to. Up until this point we have seen God answer a lot of our prayers. We prayed for pee...we got it! We prayed for veins...they are showing blood flow on the echocardiograms! Now we need to pray for BLOOD FLOW TO LUKE'S ARMS AND LEGS! Come on prayer warriors, it's time to go to battle!
To end tonight I have to say that once again I am overwhelmed by the amount of traffic on this blog. The Word of God is spreading throughout the entire world. Today alone, as of this minute, there have been 14,834 page loads by 8,835 different people! These hits are coming from all over the US as well as Canada, Mexico, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, and a few more countries. It is amazing to see what God is doing through our little boy. Our prayer is that God is using Luke's will to fight this sickness to bring people to their knees and find a personal relationship with Him.
Parents, make sure you pray with your children tonight before you put them to bed...I know I will!
-- Benson
Matthew 21:22 "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer!" Praying for blood flow to Luke's arms and legs!
ReplyDeletePraying for your family. May God keep baby Luke in his arms. Praying for blood to flow!!! May God Bless.
ReplyDeletePraying for God to work His miracle in your sweet Luke. Be Strong in HIM!! May you have a restful night.
ReplyDeleteFather God I join in prayer with this family and ask that you be glorified through all of this. Lord I pray that there would be blood flow to this little guys arms and legs and I pray that you would give these parents strength and courage to endure such as this. Father I pray that you would increase my faith as I watch you answer these prayers. May you be exalted and honored with Luke's life and may Luke serve and honor you as he grows into a man. May people who read this be encouraged and given hope that you do still preform miracles in 2010. May you Lord be honored in all of this. Amen
ReplyDeleteRegina
Still praying!!!
ReplyDeleteMy girls and I pray for you all and especially little Luke every night, and many times throughout every day! Will pray specifically for blood to get to all those fingers and toes and back! Love to you all,
ReplyDeleteSherry, Randy, Mallory, and Lindsey Simpson
I am so sorry to hear about your precious boy. I too have a HLHS Son. His name is Malachi. Although his story is different, I am reminded of the feelings and emotions we went through when Malachi was first born. My heart breaks for you and your precious Luke. Malachi is 2 years and 9 months old. He is about to enter his (hopefully) last heart surgery in a couple of months. Please know that we will be praying for you! If we don't ever meet on this Earth, I know we will see each other in Heaven. Hugs and prayers, April
ReplyDeletePraying for your family and sharing your story with everyone I can through my blog, twitter and facebook. God is working, no matter the outcome!
ReplyDeletePraying for your sweet boy. My little guy was born with HLHS and will be 9 months old on the 26th. He is such a miracle and a blessing from God! Was Luke born with an intact septum? I hate to read about how he's struggling. I will continue to pray and lift him up to the Lord for healing, specifically for the blood flow to his extremities. Hang in there and know that God is in control and has a perfect plan for Luke -- trust in Him!
ReplyDeleteHeart hugs and prayers from a fellow heart mom ~
Kathy
Thinking of you all tonight and always....
ReplyDeleteJohn 14:13
And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
2 Kings 20:5B
I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you.
I believe those words. I believe in the power of prayer. and I believe in Luke. He's a fighter.
Benson I am praying for you and your family. God please continue to bless Benson, Kristin, and especially little baby Luke. As you can tell they have been extremely faithful to you through all of this and you have blessed them this far. I pray that you continue to bless them. I pray for the blood to flow through Luke's body to his legs and his arms. I pray that his veins will open up and begin to allow the blood to flow. Please be with the doctors and show them what they need to do every step of the way. Please continue to give Benson and Kristin the strength they need. AMEN
ReplyDeleteI'm praying for your precious boy. He is absolutely adorable. I've been in that same room at Kosairs... they are wonderful people. I will keep ur family in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeletethe Lord healed our little boy's heart, and we are praying the same for yours. Lord, we ask for life, blood flow, and more life!
ReplyDeleteBenson, Kristen & Luke,
ReplyDeleteWe have been following Luke's progress on your blog. It is good to know specifically what to pray for. Indeed, our thoughts and prayers are with all three of you.
In Christian love,
Danny & Pat Oliver
Our father, I pray for blood flow in this darling baby Luke. He needs your guiding hand dear lord. In Jesus name I pray! Amen
ReplyDeletePsalm 62:1 "Truly my soul silently waits for God." I pray that God would strengthen you all as you wait upon your miracle!
ReplyDeleteI am praying for blood to flow to Luke's arms and legs. Please God hear our prayers.
ReplyDeleteWe have never met, but I found out about your family through a friend. Our little boy, Bodie, was born in January 2009 with a heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot and Pulmonary atresia. He was rushed to Kosair when he was a week old. They performed surgery when he was two weeks old, and he had open-heart surgery when he was 11 months old. There are really no words to describe how a parent feels when faced with a situation such as yours and ours. The love and prayers we received not only from family and friends but complete strangers was an outpouring that will dwell in my heart until the day I join our Lord in Heaven. With that being said, our family now passes some of that love and praying onto your family! God will take care of you, never lose sight of that, and everything else will fall into place. Luke couldn't be in better hands, and Dr. Austin is amazing. He was Bodie's surgeon for both operations. Take care and be strong!
ReplyDeleteCasting Crowns - "I'll praise You in this storm; and I will lift my hands; for You are who You are; no matter where I am; every tear I've cried; You hold in Your hand; You never left my side; and though my heart is torn; I will praise You in this storm" Praying that these words will give your comfort. It is amazing the way that both of you have been able to praise God through your storm! What a loving God we serve that He holds every tear we cry! I pray that you all will continue to feel Him near you every moment of the day. Much love and prayers!
ReplyDeletePsalm 7:17 "I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness. And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High."
ReplyDeleteMy heart just breaks as I read these updates. My heart breaks however I know that God is in control and his big wonderful arms are around your baby boy. We are praying for you guys and baby Luke. My little girls are telling everyone that baby Luke is going home! They are praying for him too. Hang in there God is on your side.
ReplyDeleteI'm praying for your family and for specifically for little Luke. The faith and strength that you both have shown throughout this ordeal is awe inspiring. I know that God can move mountains and He is using your son as a beacon of hope and faith in world full of lost souls. My thoughts and prayers are with you. May God bless you all and shower Luke with miracles.
ReplyDeletePraying for you all.
ReplyDeleteI am praying for your precious little fighter. I am amazed at how God is using your son to touch hearts and lives. Thank you for sharing your story. May He give you the peace that surpasses all understanding.
ReplyDeleteAshlee Tomes
~ Mommy to London (HLHS)
Praying in agreement with you and claiming healing for Luke's little heart and body. He is so beautiful! Also praying for continued strength for both of you and your families. You are in my thoughts and prayers many times each day!!
ReplyDeleteBenson, my heart has been blessed so many times by your singing, and now my heart is both blessed and broken for you and your wife as I read your posts. I pray that you both feel God's arms around you, giving you strength and the peace that passes understanding, every minute of the day.
May our Heavenly Father watch over and protect you all, and pour out healing and blessings on little Luke!!
I am just checking in on your blog tonight. Prayers are being said all over the place. Facebook is full of prayers for baby Luke. Please keep your spirits up because God is right there with you and Baby Luke. I know you are feeling over whelmed right now but know that you have thousands of hearts beating with baby Lukes. Praying that the blood flow will go to his little legs and arms. We are all here for you. There is going to be such a celebration the day he is put in all clear and when he is allowed to come home. Thank You for sharing your story with us all. I feel like you are part of my family and I have never even met you. I think about you all and check your blog several times a day hoping for good news. God Bless you all.
ReplyDeleteOn my knees praying for the blood to flow.
ReplyDeleteHeavenly Father, we pray for blood flow to EVERY cell in Luke's little body. You are the great physician and NOTHING is impossible through you. Just let these sweet parents feel your presence and Luke feel your healing power. On your precious name, Amen
ReplyDeletePraying for your sweet baby Luke. May He give you peace and may He help his little heart pump blood to his arms and legs!
ReplyDeleteI found your blog through your cousin on facebook. I am reposting your blog on my facebook page too. Praying for you and your sweet lil boy.
ReplyDeleteStephanie S.
married to Wayne S.
mom to 3 here on earth and one in heaven
so i havent commented on many of these blogs because i am blowing you up on everything else... but that last line made me cry a little.. i have fervently prayed for luke.. he has strengthened my day to day prayer life.. i guess having you guys as parents he is gonna force me to grow too.. ;) not that im surprised.. he makes me smile a lot.. and did i mention he is gorgeous? i love you guys
ReplyDeleteKristin, Benson, and Baby Luke: My heart goes out to the three of you, as I read these blogs. I can't imagine the hurt that you feel in your heart for your beautiful little baby. I am praying for the three of you tonight, for strength, and peace, also for the complete healing of Little Luke. I pray that God will touch him and heal him. Especially, for the flow of blood to his tiny arms and legs. God is so good..all of the time..My heart just breaks for the three of you..Seeing the pictures of Luke. People have asked me if I thought that I had ever seen God's face..I know that I have...The clearest was when each of my four children were born...and still, every time that I look at them..He is with us in our walk..and I know that he is with the three of you..PRAYING...BLESSINGS
ReplyDeleteI find this to be the first place I come in the morning and at night before I lie down. It gives me the perspective I need to keep focused on what is TRULY important and what is not.
ReplyDeleteI pray for healing in your son. Only God knows what lies ahead for your precious son. I pray for those little legs and arms to have blood flow through them like never before. Your baby is already a miracle because he IS here.
LOrd let today be a miracle day in the life of little Luke. AMEN!
Precious Lord Jesus praying for baby Luke to have healing. Please touch his heart and make it strong. Let it become so strong that the blood flow reaches his little arms, finger, legs & toes. Send that life giving blood all over his little body. Asking this Lord knowing that you have sent your life giving blood to all the world that believes upon you and calls you Master. Touch this little body and heal it.
ReplyDeleteMake this little family strong. God bless this family and all who pray. Praise God for his love and mercy.
God bless all of you thru these times....
ReplyDeleteThis is world wide prayer going on here. Faithfully with you in prayer, from Japan!
ReplyDeleteBenson, Kristin & especially Baby Luke,
ReplyDeletePrayers are being lifted for you all in the Name of Jesus for strength, healing, blood flow throughout his body! God bless you all for your faithfulness. Susan L, Lexington, KY
I check your blog every morning. It just does something inside me that I cannot explain. Of course it pains me to hear the recent news....but at the same time, I'm given some sort of push towards God. I start out everyday with prayer...I didn't before reading your blog. I am amazed at your attitude. You truely are blessed by the Lord. He is working through your family right now, and through so many of us who are joining in this. This is the ultimate test of Faith and so many are staying strong, and becoming stronger. May God Bless you!
ReplyDeleteI now check into the blog about 10 times a day. I check from my computer, phone....however I can. He hasn't left my mind since the first day I read this blog. I am waiting for the post where you say ITS A MIRACLE, Luke is being released! I know that this will happen. God has told me so. I don't even consider myself a religious person but I pray for your little man and for you all throughout the day. Luke has reminded me of the power of prayer and the power of God. Today, I will pray for bloodflow. Common thought and prayer is powerful and, as you said, you have prayers coming from all over the world.
ReplyDeleteI hope you guys don't mind, but I (as well as many, many others I am sure) have adopted precious little Luke as one of my own. Though I will never meet him I will never forget him.
This one brought tears to my eyes once again. Just the fact that Luke is reaching and touching so many lives across the world is amazing!! What a testimony he WILL be able to share one day. We are praying for blood to flow to his extremities and everywhere else it needs to go!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, parents, pray with your children. From the mouths of little children, foes can be vanquished!!
I hope the bloodflow corrects itself!
ReplyDeletepraying for you all!
Thanks for the blessing that your blog has given me today! I'm praying and will continue to pray for you all! The Lord is our shield, His love is perfect!
ReplyDeleteI've been following your blog and praying for Luke for a few days now. I can't imagine what you all are going through. I pray for strength and peace over you all. I spent some time listening to this song this morning and praying for Luke....I hope it encourages you as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_MQtokXCb4
ReplyDeleteHealer by Hillsong:
You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease
I trust in You
I trust in You
I believe You're my healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe Lord
I believe You're my portion
I believe You're more than enough for me
Jesus You're all I need
My healer
For nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible
Nothing is impossible for You
You hold my world in Your hand
And I believe You're my healer
I believe You are all I need
You're more than enough for me
Jesus you're all I need
Continuing to lift up Luke and your family in prayer. Believing for "supernatural progress" for Luke.
-Mary
I lost a dear friend in October of 2008 and the issue of theodicy haunted me for two years, driving a wedge between the Lord and me. How beautiful that your faith in the face of your own suffering is what has brought me back to a trust in His sovereignty and to prayers I had abandoned long ago. How blessed you are to be used by Him; He wouldn't trust you with such pain if He didn't have plans to bring you through it. May He continue His work in all three of your hearts!
ReplyDeleteBenson,Kristin and sweet baby Luke,
ReplyDeleteI pray and believe that our God is an awesome God and will provide you with the strength that you need as He works His miracle through your family. I pray and know that God will provide Luke with the blood flow to his tiny little arms and legs. I pray and know that He will comfort you as He works through the doctors and nurses caring for the precious bundle that He has provided for you. I pray and know that God gives you peace and understanding of His good work being done through Luke.
Dear Lord in Heaven please touch little Luke and heal his precious body. You hear all the voices that are praying for little Luke, so show all of them the miracle that you can do. Make the blood flow through Luke's extremities, and give him the wonderful life that he deserves. In Jesus' precious name I pray AMEN!
ReplyDeleteYou are ALL in my prayer! Last year at this time, I was in the ICU at Lexington with my brother, Will Marcum. He had a terrible motorcycle accident and the outcome of his wreck was not looking good. I remember the night when the nurse came and got us from the cafeteria, she said it was urgent! That night, the Dr. told us that Will WOULD DIE! "Maybe not tonight or tomorrow, but soon." My heart sunk! I have never cried so hard in my life, I thought my heart would break. But I am proud to say, the DR. was wrong.....that night a miracle started! A huge pray chain began, churches, friends, family, strangers: all began to pray for Will. From that night until today, I am so happy to say that Will has out-performed any expectations or lack of expectations that the Doctors had for him! Will Marcum, my brother is a walking miracle and I pray that God performs the same for this family! God is great and wonderful and all knowing! Rely on him for EVERYTHING, he will supply your needs! God will never bring you to something that he will not carry you out of. Keep the faith and know that you are loved!
ReplyDeleteMay God be with you in your time of need. He is an AWESOME God and can perform the utmost miracles. I pray that he will touch little Lukes body and that the blood flow will start throughout, I also pray that He will wrap his everloving arms around you all in this time of need and give you the comfort you need... Just continue to have Faith in knowing that he is an Awesome God and He can perform the almighty healing!! May God be with you and richly bless you. Keep The Faith!!
ReplyDelete