But Maxwell did make it through the night. And now it is Wednesday. On Wednesday, Maxwell started to stir. Which means, there was one point when he actually (lightly) clasped onto his dad's finger.
This small movement was the same as a mountain being moved. It gave us our first sliver of light. It was the first ray of sunshine after a terrible storm.
On Thursday, a movement had been started, "Ice Cream for Breakfast!" Children and parents and people all over the world had dedicated Thursday morning to eating ice cream for breakfast with their children in honor of Max--but the GREATEST part of all of it was that they spent that time with their children praying for a miracle in Maxwell's life.
Thursday wasn't much different than Wednesday. His respirator was still doing all of his breathing for him. And then Friday happened.
We walked into the ICU Friday morning, and Maxwell's eyes were open. He was crying and crying and crying. He was doing some of the breathing on his own with the respirator making up for the rest.
The doctors extubated Maxwell and by the next day he was breathing on his own. The NEXT day.
This week marks the one year anniversary of Max's journey and of Ice Cream for Breakfast. Friday morning our family will partake once again but this time it will be in deep gratitude to our God for His everlasting mercy and love. We will celebrate as a family because I want my boys to know that there is a God in heaven who knows about a small baby who could not breathe and his missionary parents who had no other help to turn to. I want them to know that there is a Heavenly Father who heard the prayers of those parents in their darkest, most desperate hour and rallied the saints, young and old, to petition the throne of heaven on their behalf. I want them to know THE NEXT DAY that little baby could breathe again. I want them to know it is God alone that performed this miracle, for them to marvel at the works of His hand and know that He is LORD.
We know that God could have taken Max at any point in the last year. On Friday morning we will fill our bowl and praise God that, in His sovereignty, he didn't, but we will also pray for those, who, just like Max's parents, need our intercession this year. The names of Katie, Ben, Sarah, and David will be lifted up at our table.
Perhaps you don't know someone struggling through illness. What miracles have you seen God do in your own life this year? Month? Week? Big or small it doesn't matter. Take the time to tell your kids what our God has done and celebrate together.
For great is the LORD,
And greatly to be praised...
- 2 Chronicles 16:25a
Thank you, Brooke and Richard, for allowing us to walk along side you. You are examples of faithfulness for all of us and we are proud to call you friends!
