peace in our madness
This Is Our God
A refuge for the poor
A shelter from the storm
This is our God
And He will wipe away your tears
And return your wasted years
This is our God
Oh, this is our God
Oh, this is our God
A Father to the orphan
A healer to the broken
This is our God
And He brings peace to our madness
And comfort in our sadness
This is our God
Oh, this is our God
Oh, this is our God
We are so thankful that God brings peace to our madness because that is what today felt like. We have been playing music for Cora in her room and this is one song that has meant a lot to me through this journey. Just when we think we have gotten through our worst day there is a new challenge to face. We woke up and went to check on Cora. She had a good night and we were so thankful she was stable. I was back in her room talking to her and the doctor came by to tell me that she needed to have surgery. The fluid had increased around her heart since last night. The doctor told me that they needed to do the surgery sometime this morning.
Down the hall from Cora was a fourteen year old boy named Tony. He had also recently been diagnosed with cancer and was here receiving chemo treatments. We had gotten to know his family a little and checked in on each other to see how things were going. Tony went in for the exact same surgery as Cora this morning and didn't make it through. My emotions were so confused. I felt so sad for this family. I knew exactly what they had been going through and what I would feel like if that had been Cora. I was also scared to death. We were about to send Cora to the operating room for the same surgery. How was I supposed to trust God through this? We had to trust that Cora was in God's hands. Praise God that Cora made it through her surgery. Please keep Tony's family in your prayers. We are so sad for them.
Cora is back in her PICU room and doing good. The surgery seemed to really help. Cora's heart rate has gone down and her oxygen level has gone up since them. She has been pretty stable this evening. Her blood gas levels did go crazy a little while ago, but she seems to be doing ok now. We are excited for getting through this "baby step", but the doctor told us that there probably will be more bumps ahead. Please keep praying!
Praises:-Cora made it through her surgery!
-Improved oxygen levels
-Lower heart rate
-Getting through another day
-The support of our family and friends (and strangers!)
-Prayer warriors
Prayer Requests:
-Cora's lungs would start functioning on their own
-The fluid in Cora's body would decrease
-Cora's blood gas levels would remain normal
-The chemo would be working
-Strength and rest for us
-Tony's family
posted by the mcclenahans @ 10:12 PM
68 Comments:
God bless you guys!
Prayers said for Tony's family.
We love you!
Continuing to lift you in prayer. Fasting in prayer tonight.
Praying in PA for that little angel.
Praying for you and your precious baby girl!
Praying....God bless baby Cora !
Even with all those tubes and machines she looks so peaceful. Just think, someday you will be through this and she won't even remember it ever happened...
Sweet Cora is on our minds and in our prayers!
Sarah Friesen is my sister-in-law and she has been keeping me updated on your precious little girl. I am praying, praying, praying for you all. So is everyone at the Rose Hill United Methodist Church. Your faith is inspiring. Stay strong. Stay positive. God has a plan and purpose for everything. I'm reminded of the Footprints in the Sand story. You are never alone. God bless you all.
~Amber Koehn
Praying for sweet lil Cora and you as her parents! Keep up the faith!!! Love, Jenni (in Central IL)
You both are exhibiting such faith and I know all you are right now is because of His strength. Praise the Lord for His mercies today, tomorrow you will wake and there will be new mercies for that day.I see so much of what your going through as like unto our Joel and his battle with neuroblastoma and it touches so deeply. He has a perfect plan for your sweet Cora and glory will be unto your Heavenly Father. What wonderful parents she is blessed with!!
Praying...
Cindy
www.weloveyoujoel.blogspot.com
Yes, This is Our God!
Hebrews 6:17-20
Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
Praying that you, and those you come into contact with, will be "greatly encouraged!"
Praying for you in Washington,
Maureen
Oh, Cora looks so sweet sleeping in those pictures and I feel so bad for all that she is going through! I have a 16 month old baby and all I know is that babies should not have to go through that! But, I do know that our Heavenly Father knows what he is doing. Too bad we don't always know why He is doing it. Still praying...Kerri
hi guys it's your cousin Kristy!! i just wanted to let you know what a light you are in this incredibly dark time. Your strenth and faith have been a testimony to sooooo many. Your baby girl is such a fighter and there are so many angels around her i just know it. My faith in God and even my choices daily have been positively changed by this event. I love you so much and andi, renee, danny, and all the kiddos are constantly thinking and praying for you!!!
Peace in our madness----I like your title. I truly don't know how people who don't know God can get through these things. God truly is the only way. We are praying for you and for Tony's family.
Abundant peace,
Paula
What wonderful perspective you have during this time. We are praying for you and Tony's family also.
Love from CA,
The Reeves
beautiful, strong, brave Cora, we love you and keep you in our harts and thoughts.
My prayers and thoughts are with your family. I know God is with you and watching over Cora.
still with you.
Praise God for the "baby steps"! Your whole family is in our prayers everyday, especially little Cora. God bless!
~Joe and Charisa Thiessen
Praying hard and endlessly that Cora heals quickly and that Joel and Jess only hear good news today. xo
Continuing to lift Cora and your family before our amazing God! May He give you peace and comfort today!
I just found you from another block and i will be praying for you and for Tony's family. He is our strenght. Even in these difficult times even when we don't understand and want to scream He is still God. I will be praying for His Peace. God bless!
I just came over from the Sticklers blog and sit here with tears pouring down my face as I pray for little Cora! I will definitely be praying for her and you all as you go through this journey.
so heartbreaking for the other family...I pray you all can be a light for them in some way.
Praying for Cora this weekend!
I found you through another blogger and want you guys to know that we are lifting Cora and your family up in prayer. Your story is very touching. It also has hit Facebook and there is a group praying for Cora!!!!! I joined the group and it is spreading. I just wanted to let you guys know that.
God bless and encourage you!
Praying today is a good day. :)
Courtney
Praying for you...for Cora...for the Tony's ...and so blessed by the beauty of your faith and God's sufficient grace as you hold on to Him...
We are praying for baby Cora, you, your husband, your family and for Tony's Family...
Cora looks so peaceful. We are so glad to hear the surgery seems to have given her relief. We rejoice in "baby steps" and pray Cora will take more today!
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the Peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7
You are never far from our minds-
Reid & Lori Raile
Praise the Lord that she made it through her surgery, I can't even begin to imagine what you guys are going through. My heart truly goes out to you. I pray for Cora's healing and for strength for you through all of this. Such a sweet little girl.
Hugs and prayers,
Heather~ On the Homefront
I read your story on oldbeachbungalow.blogspot.com and wanted to let you know that I am praying for Cora to heal and for you to have strength and peace.
praying for mommy and daddy, cora and tony's family here in wichita. be blessed on this beautiful day!!
I'm so thankful that Cora's surgery went well...praise God!
I read this morning something that Oswald Chambers wrote. "The purpose of prayer is that we get ahold of God, not of the answer." I'm so glad that your family has such a strong faith and relationship with our Savior and that you have "ahold of God" and can cling to Him, until in His time, your prayers are answered.
I continue to lift Cora up, asking for complete healing. My prayers are also with Tony's famliy...for the strength and comfort that ony God can give to their hurting hearts.
Susie
Continuing to pray for Cora and your family, but also praying specifically that God will use you to speak peace, comfort, love, and hope over Tony's family.
Just wanted you to know that Cora and your family are also in my prayers! May God give you all the strength and inner peace that you need to continue the fight and trust in God's Plan. Best Wishes & Blessings!
Chasity
(friend of angela hudson leaverton)
beautiful song - thank you for posting it. continuing to pray for you and tony's family.
Praying continiously,for Gods healing and touch in Cora body today, and everyday. So thankful that Cora came through the surgery yesterday, so well. Ps 37:39-40 "The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The LORD helps them and delivers them...because they take refuge in him." Take refuge Joel and Jessica in the Lord each moment this day...
Praying... for Cora, Joel and Jessica and your entire family...Roger and Patty
Praise God for carrying Cora through this surgery! Prayers will continue to be lifted from UT for Cora and Tony's family in this time of need.
I'm praying, still praying. Checking daily and praying. Thank you for giving us the specific prayer requests. This comforted us when my mother went through cancer . . .
Cancer is so limited.
It cannot cripple Love . . .
It cannot shatter Hope . . .
It cannot corrode Faith . . .
It cannot eat away Peace . . .
It cannot destroy Confidence . . .
It cannot kill Friendship . . .
It cannot shut out Memories . . .
It cannot silence Courage . . .
It cannot invade the Soul . . .
It cannot reduce Eternal Life . . .
It cannot quench the Spirit . . .
It cannot lessen the power of the Resurrection!!!
In His Love! Amanda
We are so glad to hear she is doing better and her O2 levels are up! I can't imagine the emotions you are feeling! We continue to pray for your peace and a quick recovery for little Cora! Every step she makes it through is a closer one to beating this cancer! Our hearts go out to you and we miss seeing you and getting to check on you in person! Jaylee is sending her love to her new little buddy! Take care and know we are thinking of you daily!
AMIE
today is another opportunity I get to come to God on behalf of your sweet little one. I pray for her body to be stronger, more healthy than the day before, that she is comfortable, that she knows she is loved. I pray for all who love her, especially her mom and dad, that they feel stronger, healthy, and more loved on this day as well.
I can imagine there must be such a huge range of emotions... feeling sadly for Tony's family, and yet feeling relieved that Cora did so well. Hard to reconcile sometimes all of the things we're feeling. Keep putting one foot in front of the other, knowing that so many are lifting you all, and Cora, up in prayer. God bless you.
Continually praying for Cora.
Prayers to the family who lost their son...
Continuing to pray for Cora.
I have been looking for an email for ya'll. If you would email me at specialksmommy@yahoo.com please.
I have made a prayer button for Cora that is located on my sidebar of my blog (this was in request by a fellow blog friend) http://thissoutherngirlsnest.blogspot.com/
I'd love to give you the coding for it so that you can add it to your blog with the scroll box below it so that others may add it to their own blog or web page, so more people can read of your story and pray for Cora as well.
I don't mean to bother y'all with this of course I know your very busy. I just wanted to allow everyone to pray that would be willing.
God Bless.
Joanna
Our family,like so many others are praying for you! You are such an amazing example of God's power and grace! I am so touched by your faith and your abilities to trust in God! He will see you through! We appreciate the updates! I check numerous times each day!
Angela Thompson
Just want you to know we're all still praying and watching your blog and praying and waiting for news and praying and hoping and praying and praying and praying, and we'll be here doing all of the above until we know Cora is healed, healthy and back and home. Can I come to her first birtday party?? Her birthday's a day before mine =) (You don't know me...but my family and I feel very much like we know all of you!)
Love you all!
I found this blog from another one recently and have been praying hard for Cora ever since. She is such a beautiful little angel. Her picture reminds me so much of my two year old daughter at that age. It breaks my heart knowing what you are all going through right now. I believe that God will hear all of our prayers and will heal your little girl. Your faith is such an inspiration to me and my family. God bless!
We are saying our prayers for beautiful baby Cora!
I am praying for Cora , I live in Ohio and heard about your little one through a friend. I will pray for Tony's family too!
I am praying for Cora , I live in Ohio and heard about your little one through a friend. I will pray for Tony's family too!
We are praying for Cora, you and Tony's Family~The Naquins.
God bless your Cora and God Bless Tony's family. My prayers continue.
Please Lord, have mercy on this precious child and shine your light upon this family.
Praying for your continued strength, and for Tony's family. God bless.
...praying for you this night...that you may truly rest...that tomorrow will be a better day...know that you are loved and prayed for during the night in georgia...
Praying for precious Cora!! It breaks my heart that she has to go through this.
Still with you. I say a prayer every time I think of your precious little girl!
You and Tony's family are on my heart tonight.
Oh how I long for the day when the tears are wiped away and the years are restored, when all is restored to newness and life and beauty and peace. May God continue to watch over you, keeping you strong and may he heal your baby girl, that she might live a life of honoring him.
God bless you guys. I know it has got to be so hard seeing little Cora like that. I am praying that her sweet smile will return soon and that you will be able to hold her. I can't wait to see pictures of that!
Huge hugs, prayers and love....
Cristy
Praying for you in Alabama. God is Good! He is with all of you and will help you though...
Praying for baby Cora and the entire family. May the NEVER CEASING love and peace of our Lord and Savior surround you in these times. We will also keep Tony's family in our prayers.
Your christian friends in Arkansas
Oh Lord God, please bring comfort and peace to Tony's family. Please help them to be able to cling to You in the midst of this! Please heal Cora! I thank You and praise You for bringing her through surgery! Amen.
Tony and his siblings go to our school..in southwest KS. Speaking on behalf of a grieving community..I thank all of you for your prayers. I know his family and friends appreciate it too.
I was visiting w/a youth pastor who was at the hospital when Tony had his surgery. He mentioned talking w/a family w/a baby having the same situation. I thought of Cora and wondered if it was her.
So thankful for her successful surgery, and we shall continue to pray for her recovery, and your stamina.
I love how the family of God is that..a family that loves...even when we don't really "know" each other.
I don't know you but my heart goes out to you. I pray that the Lord will send the Holy Spirit to comfort you.
I am a Respiratory Therapist, and I know what all that must have been like for you.
God Bless you are in my prayers!
May god be with your daughter and in your hearts during your loss.
Ashley
I found out about you through Lisa.
My prayers are with you all. Be comforted that your little Angel is peaceful and warm in Heaven.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home