Levinsky

Many of you have been praying with us for our friends, the Noels, but some of you are reading about this family for the first time.  Either way, we would be so grateful for your prayers for Levinsky (the adorable, almost 2 year old shown here), his Mom ("Betta"), his Dad ("Yehn Yehn") and his siblings (Bernise and Livensome).  They are like family to us and they need our prayers desperately.

Levinsky was hospitalized on the 21st of April due to a really high fever and severe swelling and pain in his right arm.  He had chicken pox so he went to the doctor a couple of days before.  He received an injection at the Dr visit and we've since learned that there was trauma to his arm from the injection which caused an infection leading to the swelling and pain.  Over the course of the last few weeks they've been given very few answers about his condition.  John and I heard from one of the doctors when we visited one day that they thought he had a kidney infection and she also said that there was a problem with his heart in that it wasn't beating properly.  Since then, he has had at least one test done on his heart that we know of but we never did hear the results.  Surgery was done at the end of last week to reduce the swelling in his arm and to rid some of the infection and pain (as best we could understand).  The swelling was down as of yesterday but they are not anticipating that he will get to come home anytime soon we don't think.  His fever was back up today (I'm not sure about the degree, we just heard that it was really high).   

The conditions here in the hospital are disturbing even in the least severe cases.  The patients in the pediatric area are pretty much on top of each other.  Visiting with them the one time we were able to go was heartbreaking.  Being a mom it was hard to process what I saw.  I tried to hide my "how-do-you-look-so-calm-in-these-conditions?" face as we prayed over them.  Betta had one plastic chair that sat in front of a row of metal crib-like beds where she sat holding Levinsky and trying to get him to eat.  (He hasn't been able to do much for himself the last few weeks which is totally uncharacteristic of this little firecracker that we know and love!)  The one large room with sick children opened up to a connecting smaller room with other sick children, in approximately 15-18 oversized crib-type beds in all.  With different children crying at once, silence is pretty much non-existent at any hour I would presume.  I cannot fathom what it has been like for them these past 18 days, not to mention not getting many answers or an estimated time for going home.  

My heart hurts for them over the obvious... a little boy who isn't well that we want to see come home, but also for the brother and sister (ages 8 and 5) left at home with tons of questions and the parents who have to be worn out and stressed with their current situation.  The hospital is over an hour and a half away.  Betta has only been home 3 times since they were admitted I think and both Yehn Yehn and Betta have been gone the last 2 nights.  

Many days I feel so helpless.. we send what we have that might make the day go by a little easier, knowing that it probably doesn't come close while praying and praying that the Doctors and nurses will have wisdom and be full of compassion while tending to them.  The only other thing I know to do is to ask you to join us in this very serious matter and ask our Father to bring relief and healing where this family is concerned.  

I am confident that God has this precious family in His hands.  I know that He is all they need.  Please pray as the Spirit leads you for each of them and as always we thank you for taking time to meet us where we are and for storming the doors of heaven for these things that are so near to our hearts!

~2 Peter 1: 3-8