Tuesday, December 21, 2010

the long awaited MRI results are in

The nurse called today with the following message (all medical terms are spelled phonetically and are probably not correct):

- The white matter of James' brain is appropriate for his age.
- No cortical displacia (no inflammation)
- No hydrocephalus (no extra fluid)
- All arteries are patent (blood flow is good)
- All regions appear normal
- No abnormal intercranial enhancement

What this means is there is NO BRAIN DAMAGE!!!!

I made the nurse read through everything twice.  I asked her if it meant what I thought it meant - no brain damage.  I asked her if she was sure since his first MRI showed brain damage and he had no pulse for 61 minutes.  She verified with the doctor - everything looked normal. 

I asked her how it would happen that a damaged brain would heal and she replied, "A miracle.  But the human body is amazing, especially the brain, and especially in one so small."

I know the human body is amazing, but so is my God!  We are confident that He has answered our prayers (yours and mine!) and healed my son!  There are some residual effects of his initial trauma (for instance, he still needs thickened feeds and physical therapy for his legs) but he has met every developmental milestone of a three month old, and we are confident that he will continue to do so.

Thank you for your prayers and support!  And thank God for His goodness and generosity!  May our God be praised!

54 comments:

Kaitlin @ More Like Mary said...

Bonnie I have chills! WHAT A CHRISTMAS PRESENT!!!

Lynelle said...

I have been following your blog since James was born and I'm tearing up reading your post. What a weight off your shoulders and hope for the future!

God be praised!

LoveNeverFails said...

THANK YOU, GOD!!

I am SO happy for you guys! Thank you, God, for healing your child James.

Congratulations, Bonnie! Congratulations!!!

Lisa said...

ahhhhhhhhhh! thats all I can say right now! (which is translated to Praise God! Answered Prayers! Fulton Sheen! James!)

Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful!!!

Anonymous said...

In. AWE. Praise Him, praise Him, PRAISE Him!!!!

Engstroms! God held your beautiful, perfect little boy in His hands and HEALED HIM! So many blessings showered on you all as you approach this Christmas season!

Emily C

Cassie said...

I cannot express in words how happy this makes me! I too have goose bumps. I know James would have the best life possible had he been permanently damaged, but the fact that he has healed makes every single aspect of his life and yours that much easier. I'm so excited for you! Merry Christmas indeed!

Anonymous said...

Bonnie and family,
I have no words....OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!!!!

Molly said...

That is AMAZING, Bonnie! I am in tears. How truly wonderful!!!!

Anonymous said...

Praise God! Thank you, Lord. Thank you soon-to-be St. Fulton Sheen.
Katie in MD

Jennifer @ Conversion Diary said...

WOW!!!!!!!!! That is SO amazing!! SO happy for you!

Kayla @ Petersons On The Go said...

Oh Wow! That is so wonderful to read! Praises be!

Anna said...

Praise be to God!!! That is incredibly awesome!!

Ryan Herr said...

What amazing wonderful news! Praise God!

Tara said...

Amazing!! Praise God! Is James scheduled for another swallow study? No brain damage = No reason for thickened feeds?? :) Many babies can pass a swallow study on a slow flow bottle nipple after failing early on. And...any baby can benefit from a little physical therapy (spoken from a pediatric PT). :)
I am so happy for James!! You are the perfect parents for him!! Who else could have been more devoted and faithful to him?!?!? I admire your faith.
God bless,

Jude and Alisha said...

Thanks be to God!!!

AmandaG said...

I, too, had chills. It is certain that God gets all the glory. So many prayers for that little boy were answered!

AmandaG said...

I, too, have chills. It is certain that God gets all the glory. What a gift to all of us to have this tangible representation of our God as healer.

vercfamily said...

I have never commented before, but I have offered up the Fulton Sheen prayer from time to time for you son, and I, too, had chills reading about the good news. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit!! Merry Christmas!

Sarah Hedman said...

a whole lot of goosebumps and tears and rejoicing is going on over here!!!!!!!! Our God is so AMAZING!!!!! What an incredible Christmas gift for your family!

Clare@ BattlementsOfRubies said...

I feel very, very emotional. I stopped reading half way through and blubbed.

Goodness me that's good news.
Great news!
Deo Gratias!
Happy Christmas mummy and daddy!

Clare@ BattlementsOfRubies said...

Oh, and it's spelled hydrocephalus.
Not that any body gives a fig about the spelling but I thought I'd let you know.
Gosh I'm so happy for you.
May God continue to do this good work in James.

Anonymous said...

I never had any doubt in my boy! :) Yay for sweet baby James!
Love, Nurse Megan

Lauren said...

Praise the Lord!

Wow! What an AMAZING miracle! Thank you for sharing all of this along the way Bonnie....wow...PRAISE BE TO GOD!!!

Unknown said...

HURRAH!!! I'm doing the happy dance for you! Praise God!

MrsMuchTall said...

You can add me to the list of people crying with joy over this news - read the results to my husband with tears streaming down my face! God is SO GOOD and AWESOME. May God always bless and favor sweet baby James! God Bless your family this Christmas, Bonnie. I will continue praying for all of you.

Kelli said...

Way to GO James...you are a miracle baby!

Heather said...

Oh my goodness! What a day to celebrate! Give the little one kisses for me. Love you all. - Hedda

Jordan said...

this news gave me chills and brought tears to my eyes! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!! Amen and amen.

Jennifer said...

Do we get to submit this as evidence of an intercessory miracle for Fulton Sheen?! Wow! Amazing, absolutely amazing. You need to add Lazarus to that boy's name - what a wonderful Christmas miracle.

Paul Forgette said...

I am sitting at work with tears in my eyes reading about God's work. Bless you and your family.
Merry Christmas from Richmond, Virginia.

Anonymous said...

Tears in my eyes and goosebumps on my arms. God love you all!

Katherine said...

How Wonderful!!! Praise God!

karyn said...

We have been praying too - thank you Lord for such a blessing! Merry Christmas!

Katherine said...

Wow! God is good.

Glenna said...

Bonnie, I have to jump in here & say that i was sitting in 5:30pm Mass last night & telling Bp Sheen: "Listen, that baby is named after you & you HAVE to help him & his folks!" Guess I should've been thanking the Archbishop instead.
Blessed be God!

Suzanne Tietjen said...

I'm with you, Bonnie. God has done this thing. "Is anything too hard for the Lord? (Genesis 18:14)

I'll still be praying. So thankful.

Leila@LittleCatholicBubble said...

Came here from Jen's blog.... WOW!!! Praise God for a Christmas miracle!!!

Barb said...

I just came here for the first from Jennifer's site.
What wonderful news for all of you! This story brought tears to my eyes.
May our dear Lord continue to bless you all!

Leineriza said...

God is a great God indeed. I praise our Father for this Christmas miracle. God's alive!!

Anonymous said...

Bonnie, from Aunt Nita-- I couldn't hardly talk when your Mom called me at work to tell me. It's just so awesome and truly a miracle. You have always said that God wanted James to be born and he has spared James any damage due to our prayers and just the grace of God. Of course, the amazing work of all from the beginning and the NICU at Childrens Hospital but there were so many praying for little James and God answered our prayers. Thank you Lord. I still get teary eyed just thinking of it. Praise be baby James! Merry Christmas to us all!

Karen said...

Merry Christmas!!
Thank you God.

nicole said...

Praise God!

Lori said...

Wow. I too got chills and tears in my eyes. God is Amazing. Wow what a Christmas blessing for you. Praise the Lord. Wishing you Continued blessings in 2011.

Angela said...

Oh what a miracle!!! Praise God and congratulations!!! :) This is the best news! :)

Anne said...

Tears of happiness here too! :) praise God :) and thank you Archbishop Sheen :) I was so moved by your story and the way you so strongly and clearly felt that this experience put you in the middle of God's will. Thank you for sharing this miracle so that we can all feel His presence in a special way this Christmas.

Anonymous said...

I have chills reading this. God is so good, isn't He? Praise God you received a miracle, too!

Anonymous said...

Clare told me about this wonderful update. I'm so, so happy for you. Praise God!

Elizabeth in London

Jennifer said...

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Amy said...

What a blessing! Both of my kids were in NICU (preemies), so I relate in some small way to the worry and stress of "what if" with a newborn. So happy for all of you! Our God is so good!

Anonymous said...

Reading this during a blizzard here in New York City. Happy for you and your little one. May God bless you always.

Ashley Anderson said...

What a testament to God's grace. Merry Christmas, Bonnie!

Mrs. Krejci said...

Amazing news!!!! Praise God!!!

Anonymous said...

I have tears of joy reading this, Bonnie. Praise God!

WheelbarrowRider said...

Goosebumps! Our God is an awesome God!