Meet Jonathan

(this post was written a week ago- )

Today, Brock wants to introduce you to one of his friends. This is Jonathan. Jonathan is currently in ICU at Children's far from his home in Texarkana because he needed more care than they can give him. His aunt (legal guardian and caregiver and therefore called mom from here on out in this post) has a very tiny support group of other moms in the area whose children also have additional needs. We answer each others insurance questions, discuss what type of equipment is best, favorite doctors, and visit each other in the hospital. Jonathan's mom, Patricia, is in desperate need of support and encouragement. Taking care of Jonathan when they are home is a full time job, so she doesn't have a job outside of caring for him. On top of that, she doesn't have transportation and relies on nurses to get her to and from places. Disney world and hospitals have one serious thing in common- they are money traps! Balloons to make someone feel better are $5 in the gift shop and meals are outrageous. It's $6 to leave the parking garage to get food elsewhere unless you buy the $20 in/out parking pass for the week. Seriously people, it's nuts. ::end rant, back to Jonathan::

Visiting Jonathan and Patricia in ICU this week was the first time I've been back inside the ICU on the 11th floor since we left with Brock. I cannot put into words the emotions I felt walking past our room of c-11 270 and seeing another little baby who just had some type of cranial surgery...of hearing the ventilator pump...of smelling that hospital smell. I also cannot put into words the emotions behind hearing the fear of paying for getting back home or possibly a funeral. I am constantly being reminded how blessed we are to have had such a huge response to Brock's situation. I cannot imagine sitting in a hospital room wondering if people cared that my son was fighting for his life. She sits in his room alone, eats in the waiting room or cafeteria alone, and desperately needs connection and to know people care. We've taken lots of snack foods, but there is no fridge or additional place for her to keep anything. When they get released from the hospital, she will have to find a way back home and with Jonathan's conditions, it's an almost 7 hour drive. Please help me show Jesus to her- in a very real and tangible, he's got this way. In a - I care for the birds, don't worry kind of way. More than anything, please pray! They have been unable to get him stable enough for a CT scan for two days now and he has a very high fever sticking close.

This entire year has been so much about Brock and often times I feel consumed by his needs, but in other ways it has opened my eyes and made me passionate about helping others in situations like ours. 

Thanks, SuperBrock and family

UPDATE- Jonathan is out of ICU and will be going home (hopefully this week) but as a mom who's been there, it is never a done deal until you sign the papers. We will be having an online fundraiser (on Facebook: Disney Frozen Fundraiser Benefiting Jonathan) where we will be auctioning off items from Disney's newest movie, Frozen). Please consider checking it out and/or helping to spread the word! There are preview pictures and information available now, but the auction won't begin until Thursday.