Jerri Phillips

The abbreviated version:

Gabe is going home with Jennifer today.

Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for them if/when the Lord brings them to mind.

First, I'm not sure how I gave the impression Gabe is my grandson. Where did I type that? I read through and didn't see it, but I could have missed it. Since I've gotten a few posts and emails congratulating me on my grandson, I'm wondering. I have done such things before.

In any case, he is my NEPHEW, as in the son of my husband's brother and his wife.

Second, I talked to my husband's brother, Ben, today, and there is good news and confusing news.

Good news--the culture came back negative.

Confusing news--Gabe vomitted last night and turned blue, which isn't unusual if you are choking on vomit because there is no nurse watching you in the NICU. As soon as the alarms went insane and a nurse checked on him, they cleared his throat. His oxygen went back to 100%, and he was fine. After that, my sister-in-law has fed him and stayed with him almost constantly. There has been no problem while she is there. If there continues to be no problem, Gabe and Jennifer will be going home together Tuesday.

Why is that confusing? You just had to be part of the four phone conversations that have gone on between here and Louisiana today to understand. In short though, things look like all will be fine.

Thank you for all your prayers. Please keep praying.

Ben called last night, later than I cared to pull out my computer and post, and things are looking really good. The doctor expects to send Jennifer home Monday or Tuesday. He said in 2 days, so I'm not sure which one that is. She did get to see Gabe yesterday. They rushed him out quickly when his oxygen dropped, and since she was recovering from a c-section, she had not been able to visit. Seeing him did wonders for her.

As for Gabe, they were taking him out of the oxygen tent last night, and they were waiting for one more culture to come back. If it came back negative, they were going to send Gabe home when Jen goes home. If it is positive, they'll keep Gabe in the hospital for 7-14 days and give him a targeted antibiotic. As we understand it, since they are taking Gabe out of the tent, there is reason to believe he is already better. That indicates the broad spectrum antibiotics they have been giving him are already are doing their job.

We will know more later today, and I will update then.

Gabriel Phillips was born Friday by c-section. His oxygen level dropped, and they took him to NICU. They’ve determined he has a bacterial infection. They are working to determine the type of bacteria now. After the cultures come back, they plan to treat him in the hospital for 7 days. Some of you know how my sister-in-law Jennifer is handling this, not well.

We would like to ask you to pray for:
Gabe—that they identify the bacteria and successfully treat it
Jennifer—for physical healing and calming of her nerves
Ben—for his nerves and for him to have wisdom for Gabe’s treatment and understanding in dealing with Jen

I will update you as soon as I know more.