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3. You must live your theology.

When someone goes through hard times we seek to comfort and encourage them with reassuring words about God.

 God hears your prayers.

God cares/loves you.

God is in control.

God has a reason for this.

When we say these things we really do mean for them to be comforting and reassuring. When we say these things we really do believe that they are true. During our time with Lizbeth we learned that these are easy words to say when you are not the one going through the hard time. These are easy things to believe when all is well. These are easy things to take comfort in when everything in our world is working as it should.

One thing we all know from life is that at some point we will be the person going through the hard time. A loved one will die. We will lose our job. The test results will come back bad. Sudden tragedy will strike our lives. During these times will we be able to blithely say these words of comfort and encouragement to ourselves? Will we be able to believe these things about our situation? Do these words that are spoken so easily when all is well in our lives still bring comfort in our lives when all is not well? For the next few minutes I want to talk about our experience with these things during our time with Lizbeth.

I've added  two new posts today and a picture! I am really doing a great job:) I would like to add another as well.  Lizzie has aspiration pneumonia which is caused from ingesting fluid into her lungs. While in Alabama for Christmas, she became ill with a terrible stomach virus. We finally took her to the ER because she cried for almost 15 hours straight on Saturday - Christmas Day. The virus ran its course and totally zapped Liz of all her strength. She was having trouble taking her bottle, so I believe that's when it happened. Lizzie does NOT aspirate on a daily basis.  She's been tested twice for that, but since she was so fatigued I don't think she could help it.  You cannot tell by looking at her that she's even sick! Except for the tight, crackly cough every now and again, she acts like her silly little self:) She has a low-grade temperature, but is eating and drinking like a big girl. Please pray that she will be well soon, and not have any complications from the aspiration.


And Happy New Year from the Guymon Rosses!

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Countless numbers of people came to see us; pray with us; pray for Lizzie.  They gave us money and gift cards to help with expenses.  Our wonderful Christian school had “Hat Day,” to raise money for LizBeth’s medical expenses.  They also had several fundraisers just for us.  Our church allowed Stacy to stay with Liz and me for the entire time, 2 full months… with pay!  He never once went back to preach in that 2 months and if we mentioned it to the deacons they would tell us not to even think about because they could handle it.

There were also different men who volunteered to go back and preach  so Stacy didn’t have to leave. The first weekend we were in Amarillo, Stacy had planned to go back and preach. Daniel Sweet from Woodward called to see about Lizbeth. During the conversation Stacy told him he was going to go back that weekend and Daniel replied, “Tell you what, why don’t you let me go preach for you this weekend and you stay and take care of your wife and baby.” The next weekend Alan Boles went to Guymon to fill in and a few weeks later Tim Eaton did.  It is so humbling to receive such gifts. 

Paul says in Philippians, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” While preparing for this presentation, we were reminded once again at how God used His people to care for us.  Because of the many who prayed and fasted, because of the many who gave, because of the many who took care of our needs, we were able to be lights for Christ.  At first, we were focusing on Lizzie – on what was wrong, on what was right, on what needed to be done.  But soon, we were focusing on what God was doing.  He is sovereign.  He is involved in every part of this.  We began to see His hand at work in our lives and our baby’s.  God’s people were spurring us on in our relationship with Jesus. 

Daddy and LizBeth acting silly:)

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2. You need The Church.

In trying to decide how to put this point together, we have decided to say “Thank you!” Thank you to all the many people who prayed for Lizzie and for us and for our entire family. Thank you for continuing to pray. Thank you for your support and your overwhelming generosity. This is also the point that is the hardest to share without tears.

While still in Guymon, awaiting the transfer to Amarillo, our church members called continuously, and those who could, came to see us. Stacy’s parents moved into our house to take care of our girls. Even though we hated being away from them, the girls were able to live in their own house, go to school, and see their friends. This was a huge blessing. Once we arrived in Amarillo, a young mom from our church whose own daughter was in the NICU met us at the elevator to comfort us. Christian brothers and sisters began to call and send e-mails. Some came to treat us to a meal. Others came to pray for Lizzie in person. This continued daily. Every day we received encouragement from The Church – the Body of Christ.

After one week, we found out we were going to be transferred to OKC. We had no idea what to do in the City. The Ronald McDonald House was full. We had no place to stay. We assumed we would probably get a motel close by to spend our nights. At the RMH in Amarillo we found access to internet and sent an e-mail letting everyone know what was going on and asking them to pray about a place for us to stay. After sending the e-mail we went to see Lizbeth one last time before the transfer on Tuesday morning.

Thirty minutes later when our visit was over we were driving through the Taco Bell drive-thru and Dr. Tim Eaton called, asked about Lizbeth and then offered us the use of the missionary apartment on the Hillsdale Campus. We could go get the key the next day, and have it for as long as we needed it. I’m not sure if we can express the enormous burden that was lifted after that phone call.

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I would surrender LizBeth to Christ each night before going to bed. (Father, I know she belongs to you, but I love her so much. I know you love her more, but I really want her to stay with me. Oh, Lord, I surrender LizBeth to you. Give me the grace and the strength to accept whatever may happen. Amen) However, every time LizBeth would stop breathing, I would pray, “I’m not ready. I can’t do this. I know what I said, but I can’t. Please, oh please, don’t take her.”

This is the roller coaster I rode in the NICU for the first month. God did not disown me. God did not rebuke me. God gave me the strength I needed for this journey. You cannot have the peace or the strength of the Holy Spirit unless you have repented and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh how sad it is to see someone going through such grief, and know they have no relationship with the Lord.

As time went on and we were allowed to decorate the area around Lizzies’ bed, a nurse approached us and said this: “You can almost feel the presence of the Lord around her bed.” She went on to say that some nurses would come to read Lizzie’s Angel Board throughout the day. This Angel Board was made by several ladies from our church. It was very pretty and pink, but the most wonderful thing was all the Scriptures that covered it. We encouraged ourselves by reading these verses aloud to Lizzie. Many nurses in the NICU would jot down the Scriptures from this board and then take them to other patients.

We volunteered to pray with other families. I have said all this, not because we’re perfect or because we became perfect in the NICU, but because of Jesus we were able to shine for Him. It is truly amazing what Christ did in our lives through what was the most difficult thing we had ever been through. He deserves all the glory. He is truly amazing.

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We did sleep well that night. Prayer number one was answered. The next day we were not allowed to see Lizzie until after her testing, so it was day of waiting and praying and making phone calls. Finally, we were able to see her.

As the nurse was filling us in on the tests and how Lizzie responded, she said to Stacy, “I got your baby to take a pacifier.” (Lizzie had refused one since birth.) When Stacy asked how she was able to do that, the nurse responded, “I dipped it in sugar water.” We chuckled that we might take a pacifier dipped in sugar water. Then the nurse used these very words: “It is proven that sucking on a pacifier comforts infants during times of stress.” God allowed her to use my word from a prayer to encourage me. From that point on I never doubted the sovereignty of my Lord.

The days turned to weeks and the weeks to months, and still we had no diagnosis. The doctors were doing all they could to find out what was wrong with LizBeth.

In the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), you meet several thousand people. Well, not really, but it sure feels that way. Doctors, nurses, therapists, therapist assistants, lab technicians, and other patients are among those you spend your time with. Eventually, Stacy and I were able to reach out to other families and share our faith with those in the medical profession. I know it was only through the power of the Holy Spirit.

I will tell you a lost person can survive the NICU. A lost person can even survive well, but a Christian is the only one who can live the life in the NICU. There is no one on this earth, not your spouse, not your mom, not one single person that can comfort you during the grief and fear you feel when your baby almost dies right in front of you. It is an absolutely overwhelming feeling of helplessness. There is nothing I can do. There’s nothing the doctors can do.