Another Change Has Come...

Well my last post was about all the great things that were coming up in our life right now and life being as crazy as it is has taken another turn. Everything is still in line with Jonathan's job and things with us are still looking up but our family has a new crisis at hand. This past Saturday afternoon Jonathan's mom, Cindy- or Gigi as we call her, started throwing up blood out of nowhere. She was taken to the ER expecting to find a stomach ulcer or something. The doctors had a hard time figuring out what was wrong with her but thought she was going to be fine. They wanted to keep her overnight to keep her hydrated and monitor that she was ok. Late that night things got bad. Her blood pressure dropped super low and they discovered that her liver was in really bad shape. They decided to do a surgery Sunday morning, which was also Easter Sunday, that would help ease the functioning of the liver. At that time they told us that if that surgery didn't work they were going to be out of options. Jonathan, Kate, & I had gone to church in Lubbock as planned but then got a call during the service saying that the surgery didn't work and we needed to get to El Paso as soon as possible to possibly say our goodbyes. Needless to say, we left in a frenzy and had an emotional 9+ hour drive.
When we got to El Paso we were able to visit with Gigi and meet up with the rest of the family. At that point the doctors were saying her best option was to get a liver transplant. Livers are apparently very difficult to come by & find an exact match. Later in the evening we were told that Gigi would be moved to Dallas or Houston to get a surgery that would buy her some time to find a liver. Everything was still in limbo & emotions were running high. Fortunately, all of the family was able to get to El Paso to be together with few complications. We were all spread out across Arkansas, Lubbock, & San Antonio on Sunday morning and by that night we were all together in El Paso.
The next morning (Monday) we were told Gigi was going to be moved to Dallas for sure to get the procedure. The family loaded up and drove in caravan style towards Dallas. By the time we were about an hour and a half outside of El Paso we were told that plans were changed and she wouldn't be moved to Dallas that day because the hospital was full. We made our way to Odessa where we have lots of family and we spent the night and waited to get the next move. Later that night, insurance complications arose with the flight that was supposed to take Gigi to Dallas. Everything was given the go-ahead and we made plans to leave in the morning to make the rest of the trip to Dallas.
Now we're at Tuesday morning. We get ready & just as we pull out of Odessa we get a call that the plans changed again. We turn around and wait for what ends up being about 4 hours until we finally learn that Gigi is going to be moved to Houston. In that 4 hours it was pure chaos. We had plans set in Dallas for where we were going to stay and people to keep the babies for us and everything. Wes, Jonathan's dad, was getting the run around from the insurance company, hospitals, and doctors. It was instanity trying to figure out where Gigi would go and what was going to happen and everything. We are now on the road to Houston but we have no plans once we get there. We have no idea where we are staying or for how long. No one can really afford to pay for hotel rooms for the large group and we are unsure how long we'll need to stay. Its chaos but God is bigger than all of our chaos. Everything will work out. God has us in Houston for a reason, we just don't know it yet.
When I have some more time I'll write a little more details of the personal things that have been going on and the lessons I've learned and the things I want to keep in my heart. However for now I just ask for prayer. Here's the immediate needs: (I'll update in this post or in newer ones as things progress.)
*Health & strength for Gigi to make it through the long flight & the surgery that will immediatley follow her arrival
*A liver for the transplant
*Safety for all the family who is currently on the move to Houston
*A place for about 20 people to stay
*Peace & calmness over our spirits
*Wisdom to make the right decisions in the days to come
*Our finances- the expense of getting to El Paso & all around & eventually to Houston is quickly adding up
*That we can keep faith and trust in God's plan for us and for Gigi
*Praise God for who Gigi is and that even in the midst of the scariest time of her life she is still resting in Him & knowing that He is taking care of her.

Thank you for your love and prayers. Feel free to pass on my blog to others who are wanting to know the details of what is going on in this situation. I will try to update as much as possible but realize that everything is very busy and ever-changing so it is difficult to check in with everything that happens.


***Update as of 9:00 central time:
1. Gigi is in the air on her way to Houston. We need prayers for safe travels & that her body will stay strong.
2. We have found a place to stay. God truly sends angels here on Earth!
3. The only need we have as of now is for meals once we are at the hospital. Many have asked how they can help & this is something that is small but will make a big difference for us.
4. We are currently in San Antonio and about to make the rest of the trip to Houston. Pray for safe travels the rest of the way.