Update #1 - February 6, 2003
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Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Thank you for your prayers and thoughts over the past several days. The outpouring of love you've extended towards us has been very comforting, and we feel very blessed to have so many caring brothers and sisters praying on our behalf and offering their support.
Miracles happen every day, and I look forward to introducing you to two recent ones: Alexander and Zachary. They will be in the hospital for a long time, but they are doing well. Coming home without them was one of the most painful things Nicole and I have ever done.
The boys turned 25 weeks "post-conception" today (I've learned a lot of medical lingo lately) ... full-term is 40 weeks. While only 1 1/2 pounds each, we're told that they're big for their age and have an excellent chance for full and complete development. The best explanation I've had is that all babies need nine months in the womb to completely develop. Since our boys are no longer in their mother's womb, they need to finish their nine months in an artificial womb. This means that they'll be in the hospital until their due date in May.
You may know that the doctors operated on Alexander and Zachary on Monday to close an artery between their heart and lungs. This is very routine for babies of this age, and the surgery was successful. We are hopeful that the boys will be removed from the ventilator in the next few days and that we'll be able to hold them for the first time.
One of the most important events will be this Monday, February 10, when an ultrasound will be made of their brains to check for hemorrhage. We are so anxious over this and ask for your prayers.
The boys are in the NICU at Texas Women's Hospital. Texas Women's has one of the best NICU's in the world and we wouldn't want our boys to be anywhere else. That being said, the hospital's superior expertise and care can go only so far, and there is much they can't do and even more they don't understand. We've been reminded over the past few days that life is truly a miracle and that it's God who gives and nurtures life, not our "advanced" technology. Alexander and Zachary are his children and are in his care.
Nicole and I are anxious, of course, but we're also upbeat and know that everything will be okay.
We believe in the power of prayer. Please continue to pray for God's blessings on Alexander and Zachary. Pray that he will give them health; pray that he will give them life.
Tom, Nicole, Alexander, and Zachary