Weslie Sky Update

Weslie Sky has been keeping us on our toes since day one. Tori and Weslie missed the baby shower because Tori got the stomach flu on the day of the baby shower. From that point on our house-hold was fighting some kind of sickness. Ultimately, Tori developed cholestasis (bile in the blood) and the Dr. called us on March 14th and said, “you need to come in and have a baby today!” We waited to find out the gender until birth, so we were so pleasantly surprised to find out we had a healthy little 7 pound 8 ounce baby girl.  In the hospital, Tori and I both had colds. When we got home everyone got sick again. Maya is in pre-school so that comes with the territory. Everyone was sick except Weslie. We were praying over her at night and asking God to protect her little newborn body.

But about 9 days ago Weslie got sick. She was doing good at first and then we started to notice that her breathing was getting heavier. On Easter Sunday, we rushed her to the hospital in Santa Clarita and they told us she was fine after a chest x-ray and sent us home. Monday she slept all day, but on Tuesday she started to breathe quickly and then have 3-5 seconds where she seemed to be holding her breath. She was close to a fever and then became lethargic and not wanting to feed. So, Tori rushed her to the ER again. The girls were there for 9 hours. Thankfully, it only took her about an hour to get inside and get oxygen for Weslie. That is where we found out that Weslie had RSV and another virus which is basically the common cold. This was heartbreaking news and we knew from that point on this was very serious. We have Kaiser insurance and unfortunately so many kiddos were sick that night and hospitalized there were no available beds in the Los Angelus area. That’s why we were stuck in the ER for so long, we had no where to go.

A bed opened up at Providence Hospital in Tarzana. At 4:00am an ambulance team came and transported the girls to the hospital. That’s when I first broke down. Being separated from the girls and seeing Weslie hooked up to a million machines was too much for me. We arrived at the hospital in Tarzana and my first impression of the hospital and our hospital room was like a 1970’s scary movie seen. The whole hospital is currently under renovations. Our room was built in the 70’s and was easily the least nicest hospital room I have ever strayed in. To get to the room you had to go through a boarded up construction zone and enter through a back door in the hospital. My inner narrative was not very godly at 5:00am and I was very upset, but I felt God say, “Ashton I got this. It’s going to be ok.” We had 5 medical professionals meet us in the room and immediately give us the best care I have ever seen. We were considered PICU (highest priority care). We met with the Dr. and he told us Weslie condition and that he and his team were going to aggressively treat her to see if they could stop her sharp decline. Once Weslie was getting enough Oxygen and was in her own bed she fell asleep. Tori slept in a fold out chair-bed and I slept on the floor for two hours to get something. I remember holding onto this prayer in my heart that night, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God (Psalms‬ ‭42‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬).” As I was praising God in the darkness this phrase captured my heart, “Even when things look bad, God is still good.” That night, on the floor, I dedicated Weslie back to God in my heart.

The next day Weslie was not improving. Her breathing machine, heart rate and breathing rate were going off all night and day (loud alarms with nurses rushing in). She was still doing the “holding her breath thing (apnea/desats)” and that was greatly concerning to the Dr’s and to us. They started breathing treatments and gave her caffeine so that she would not forget to breathe and stay up longer. We had the charge nurse and her assistant with us for those two days (the best of the best). This was the start to two scary days of the unknown. In those two days, the nurses discovered we were Christian’s and she sent for the hospital chaplain. Mark, the hospital chaplain, came and ministered to us and prayed with me for Weslie and Tori as they were sleeping. He goes to a Foursquare church in the valley and we immediately deeply connected. He was a God send because I just needed to be Dad and cry and not be the pastor.

Our church family, church community and friends rallied behind us in this time. Hundreds if not thousands were praying for Weslie and our family. I believe that God worked miracles in Weslie’s body during this time. When things starting to look really bad Weslie suddenly threw up handfuls of mucus (That’s good). Her lungs were beginning to clear out and she was started to wake up! I believe this was the turning point and a miracle from the Lord. The Dr’s and nurses have been surprised at how fast she has been recovering to this point. We give glory to Jesus for being our healer. He is still the same and working miracles today. And not just for other people, but for my people.

God is sovereign. We walk by faith and not by sight. This is why God told me when we first entered the hospital, “Ashton I got this. It’s going to be ok.” Because our hospital is under constriction they can’t take as many patients. So we had more nurses and Dr’s taking care of Weslie. Her care has been impeccable. Her Dr’s have been amazing. We have liked Kaiser, but we now see that God was bringing us to even better hospital even though it didn’t look like it at first. Also, where the hospital is located there are about 15 restaurants that are walking distance. The hospital food is currently being made in a tent outside so it’s especially not good. But many friends have sent us money so we can have a meal or two a day here at the hospital. Tori’s Mom came down to watch our kids and our church has been feeding them. God has covered our family. It has been amazing to see God at work in it all.

In the last two days, Weslie’s condition has greatly improved. She is more aware, eating more and her oxygen has been lowered and she is starting to breath on her own. Here is today’s exciting update:

Her IV went bad so they took it out. She has had over 24 hours of doing sooo much better with smaller amount of oxygen. So, the Dr. is running an experiment with NO oxygen right now. It’s just a test but if she does no oxygen for 24 hours and there are no complications we could be going home in the next couple of days!!! Please keep praying that Weslie keeps improving and that there are no set backs. Thanks for your prayers!!