Fergus came out of surgery yesterday with a feeding tube put into his belly, with a button on top. They put him back on the ventilator for just a few hours but he was able to breathe on his own again, very soon. He seemed very uncomfortable throughout the night, with a couple of hours of sleeping (with the help of some morphine). Right now, he is upset.
Please pray for the following:
- he still has an infection in his throat
- his breathing is usually congested or a dry wheezing sound
- he seems very anxious about almost anything
- his heart rate was very high today and he had a bit of a fever
- his joints are still really stiff and tight
I'm on my way to see him now and I'll tell him about you and all that you are doing for him. Thank you! - esther
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Esther's Update and New Prayer Requests
I just came out from being with Fergus...he's doing so much better and yet...
He is currently off of the ventilator tube and doing well. He grunts and coughs, but with much effort. I was able to hold him for the first time today and he seemed to relax a little bit more when against my shoulder. Currently, though, he is having problems with his joints being stiff. They won't bend very well. I tried working with his elbows just now and I could barely get them to bend. Everything that the physical therapists have done so far has worked well - his hands and feet are looking good but they haven't worked as much with his joints.
I know that we need to work with his joints and muscles a lot but I also know that more than anything we do, God must heal them. Please pray for his muscles and joints.
Our heads would not be kept above water without your prayers. Please ask the God of the universe, the source of life, to grant that life abundantly to our son.
He could also use prayer for resting. He is agitated and won't rest easily. He also has quite a bit of congestion in the lungs.
Thank you for praying for our son.
-esther
He is currently off of the ventilator tube and doing well. He grunts and coughs, but with much effort. I was able to hold him for the first time today and he seemed to relax a little bit more when against my shoulder. Currently, though, he is having problems with his joints being stiff. They won't bend very well. I tried working with his elbows just now and I could barely get them to bend. Everything that the physical therapists have done so far has worked well - his hands and feet are looking good but they haven't worked as much with his joints.
I know that we need to work with his joints and muscles a lot but I also know that more than anything we do, God must heal them. Please pray for his muscles and joints.
Our heads would not be kept above water without your prayers. Please ask the God of the universe, the source of life, to grant that life abundantly to our son.
He could also use prayer for resting. He is agitated and won't rest easily. He also has quite a bit of congestion in the lungs.
Thank you for praying for our son.
-esther
Critical Prayer Needs For Fergus And His Family
Fergus is in the fight of his life RIGHT NOW. His body has to be able to function again in so many ways that have been disrupted by the near drowning. It HAS to! So that he can recover.
Don't be discouraged by the long list of prayer needs. You need not tackle the whole thing yourself if you don't have the time or desire to. Just glance through list and as your heart is pulled toward a certain area of need, let that be the area you take to the Lord. Maybe do it once a day or once a week. Or every hour. There will be some who will pray through the whole list every day. There is no right or wrong way. The important thing is that we interceed to our Heavenly Father for these needs as the Holy Spirit leads. The list will be updated often with new needs, so check back often.
Some of the things we know they need prayer about is:
Don't be discouraged by the long list of prayer needs. You need not tackle the whole thing yourself if you don't have the time or desire to. Just glance through list and as your heart is pulled toward a certain area of need, let that be the area you take to the Lord. Maybe do it once a day or once a week. Or every hour. There will be some who will pray through the whole list every day. There is no right or wrong way. The important thing is that we interceed to our Heavenly Father for these needs as the Holy Spirit leads. The list will be updated often with new needs, so check back often.
Some of the things we know they need prayer about is:
- for health and life be restored to 1 yr. old Fergus Lockerby
- for Fergus to swallow independently of medications. If Fergus can't swallow he will be given a tracheotomy
- for Fergus to have normal lung function allowing him to breathe on his own without a ventilator
- for Fergus' joints to become pliable and free of movement with no pain
- for peaceful rest inspite of his medications and congestion
- for his mama to be able to hold him more and more and for her touch and presence to bring him comfort and healing
- that the doctors will have wisdom, good common sense, rest and good health so they can work at their optimum, compassion for Fergus and the family, proper training and networking so as to give Fergus the best care possible
- for decisions that will be made about Fergus' continued care
- for every tech, nurse, specialist, staff member (and anyone who provides care for Fergus) to be alert, aware, wise, prudent, healthy and willing to do their job without cutting corners or putting Fergus in any jeopardy whatsoever
- for the needs of the family for stamina, rest, encouragement, and for them to be a witness to everyone who comes in contact with them of the Power of God in the face of affliction
- for George, Ian and Rose who wait in an Aunts' home that is not theirs; in a state a long way from home that is not theirs; thankfully they are surrounded by concerned and wonderful caretakers who love them, but evenso, who are not their parents; as is oft times common in children, pray that they will not have misunderstandings regarding all that is happening to their baby brother, that could lead to fears and unanswered questions; ask God to give them His peace and to help these children learn to trust their earthly parents and our Heavenly Father in bigger ways than ever before; that they will settle in to a necessary routine and thrive right where they are
- for Matt, Esthers' and other family members' need for travel, housing, food during Fergus' hospitalization and for all other physical, emotional and spiritual needs to be met. And that the Body of Christ will be motivated to show up where ever the Lockerby's go to say "You are not alone. We are here to prove it!"
Thank you and may God bless you as you spend time in prayer for baby Fergus' life.
~debbie reagan
Friday, March 27, 2009
no more ventilator
At about 9:00 this morning the doctors wanted to see if Fergus could breathe on his own without a tube and ventilator. He had been breathing well and it seemed like he was swallowing his saliva but the only way to know for sure was to pull out the tube and see how he did on his own. So at 9:45 they pulled it out and he is breathing on his own!!! Praise God. There is still much need for prayer about this. He has a significant chance for relapse in the next 24 hours. In 6 hours the medication that they have given him to keep his saliva in check will wear off and we will see if he can swallow it on his own. If he is able to do all this and things go well he will not need a trach tube put in and he will be moved out of the ICU. Thank you all so much for your prayers and concern we appreciate it greatly. Dad
Urgent Prayer Request
The family wants you to know:
Within the half hour (9:45 Central) the breathing tube will be removed that has been helping Fergus breathe.
He seems to be breathing well and he seems to be swallowing!! Once the tube, is pulled if he is able to breathe and swallow he will NOT need the tracheotomy.
Fergus needs concerted prayer RIGHT NOW.
This little baby wants to live! He is such a fighter. Let's be as consistent and persistant as Fergus has been, when we approach God in prayer on Fergus' behalf!
~debbie
Within the half hour (9:45 Central) the breathing tube will be removed that has been helping Fergus breathe.
He seems to be breathing well and he seems to be swallowing!! Once the tube, is pulled if he is able to breathe and swallow he will NOT need the tracheotomy.
Fergus needs concerted prayer RIGHT NOW.
This little baby wants to live! He is such a fighter. Let's be as consistent and persistant as Fergus has been, when we approach God in prayer on Fergus' behalf!
~debbie
Using Fergus' Blog
To get automatic updates in your email sign up to FOLLOW this blog on the home page. It is encouraging for the family to see how many people are actually coming to the blog and/or to see who is following it.
Feel free to leave messages for the family and friends of Fergus Lockerby.
Whether you know this family or Fergus personally does not matter.
Whether you write a line or a page, leave a verse of scripture or a meaningful quote or words of your own that you write from the heart doesn't matter either.
What does matter is for Matt, Esther, Fergus, George, Ian and Rose (and their extended families and friends) to know without doubt that they are not alone through this most difficult time in their lives. For them to know that their specific, individual needs are being lifted up to our Heavenly Father and that He hears us and shows us mercy and grace
Lets not miss an opportunity to help each other live lives filled with HOPE for healing for Fergus and his family.
Join us! We are glad you are here and we want to hear from you, too!
~debbie reagan
Feel free to leave messages for the family and friends of Fergus Lockerby.
Whether you know this family or Fergus personally does not matter.
Whether you write a line or a page, leave a verse of scripture or a meaningful quote or words of your own that you write from the heart doesn't matter either.
What does matter is for Matt, Esther, Fergus, George, Ian and Rose (and their extended families and friends) to know without doubt that they are not alone through this most difficult time in their lives. For them to know that their specific, individual needs are being lifted up to our Heavenly Father and that He hears us and shows us mercy and grace
Lets not miss an opportunity to help each other live lives filled with HOPE for healing for Fergus and his family.
Join us! We are glad you are here and we want to hear from you, too!
~debbie reagan
Thursday, March 26, 2009
HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY FERGUS!!!
Happy First Birthday Fergus!!!!You have restored faith in many who have dared not have hope. You have shown us how to fight to live. Your life has such meaning and purpose! May God use each of our lives in such a powerful way! We love you Fergus!!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
March 25, 2009 Dancing for Joy!!!!!
March 25, 2009
Fergus is tracking family member voices with his eyes today!!! Everyone is dancing for joy! Esther read him Winnie the Pooh!! His eyes responded! God hears our prayers. Thank you Father!!!
Fergus is tracking family member voices with his eyes today!!! Everyone is dancing for joy! Esther read him Winnie the Pooh!! His eyes responded! God hears our prayers. Thank you Father!!!
Monday, March 23, 2009
SUMMARYof the FIRST WEEK's EVENTS
Tuesday, March 17
Fergus was put on multiple medications - mostly to make sure his lungs and heart were kept going. He was not responsive to any stimulation. The doctor was concerned about the lack of response and ordered an EEG to track brain activity. She suggested strongly to us that he was brain dead and that we needed to seriously think about the quality of life he would have, if we kept him alive. Thinking that hope was gone, she and the nurses kindly let us hold him (with all of the tubes intact) for several hours while she consulted the pediatric neurologist. While Matthew held Fergus (I was falling apart and couldn't keep holding him so I watched from the by the door) the neurologist checked Fergus out and explained to us that the EEG wasn't telling us much. It only measured the upper brain activity and said it was slow. He said to give Fergus another 24 hours and see what happens then. We were so grateful to be given some more time.
Wednesday, March 18
We met the next doctor on rotation who had already been briefed by the previous doctor. He suggested that what we see is what we get in the final outcome. He tested Fergus' breathing that morning by gradually decreasing the ventilator until it was off. Fergus continued breathing on his own for several minutes. The ventilator support was continued to help Fergus heal up in the other areas of his body, without struggling too hard.
Later that day, while the brain continued to swell, Fergus had seizures almost continually. They put him on medications to calm them, which didn't stop them entirely but reduced them greatly.
Thursday, March 19
1:59am Fergus is moving his toes. Not in response to anything but moving them none the less. Also he has been fluttering his eye lids. The doctors have started feeding him through a feeding tube.
Fergus began to swell significantly. His head, arms, and legs were extremely swollen.
Friday, March 20
6:42pm · Matt and Esther are holding up but not so well so pray for them. They need God's peace. They NEED to know that God will take care of them and their son.
He is still in critical condition! He is sedated and has movements still. Don't tire of praying! God is hearing us!!! He is still in critical condition! He is sedated and has movements still. So they haven't been able to know exactly is condition. The doctors don't want the family to have much hope. But our God is a God of HOPE! Please, Don't tire of praying! God is hearing us and answering our prayers!
I (debbie, friend of family) just spoke to James and he is driving to Springfield to be with family at the hospital. He will give a detailed update tomorrow afternoon. I was thinking that be just in time to get the updated message to churches who will gather on Sunday. We need concerted, strong, effective prayer and I am excited because I know God is working that way in the body right now. He is uniting many hearts and minds around this babies' need and the families' need. I think that is a beautiful thing!
Sat March 21
10:34pm · The poor little guy has to learn to swallow. If he can't he will have to have a trach put in. He needs to be able to swallow before he can go home. He is sedated and on anti-seizure meds. He makes no sounds and the only movements seem to be involuntary. His heart is very strong and the breathing machines are being lowered little by little as he can handle breathing on his own. So you can see, he is still in very serious condition.Every day is hopeful, but the doctors caution against hope.
Sunday, March 22
Matt and Esther are exhausted, keeping 4 hour shifts around the clock at his bedside. Fergus' 2 brothers and 1 sister (between the ages of 8 and 5) are in a hotel near the hospital with Esther's sisters. You can imagine the strain on these small children as well as on their parents.
Matt and Esther got their first break today from Fergus's side as friends drove to Springfield to be with them. Some relieved them by Fergus' crib in the hospital, which allowed them to go and be ministered to by the others. They are anticipating at least a month more in the hospital.
Think about if that were you? Think of the prayers you would need: prayers for: physical stamina, emotional stamina, ability to handle the stress of not being with your other children; willingness to allow doctors you don't know to call the shots for your little baby; not letting guilt and fear eat at you; PEACE of mind and heart; for God to take away the fear that you would lose another baby so soon after losing a precious 3 month old daughter to SIDS just 2 years ago; for the chaos to stop and for the Promises of God to show up in your life; friends who will NOT STOP PRAYING for our family! Our God Is Able! He Hears Our Prayers!Let's stand in the GAP for this family! ~debbie
Monday, March 23
5:00pm · FERGUS stretched his arms and legs this afternoon!!!! This is the first involuntary movements - and this comes after the many prayers of many congregations today!!
Tuesday, March 24
2:54pm · Fergus OPENED HIS EYES!!!! He has developed an infection on the trachea because of having the ventilator tube in for a week. The doctors think it might take about a week to clear up the infection. If he hasn't started swallowing by then, a trachea tube will be inserted as well as a feeding tube in the stomach. Then the doctors want to transfer him to a children's rehab center in St. Louis, even further from the families' home. About 250 miles from home total. Let's don't stop praying for God's healing touch on Fergus' body and for His mercy on Matt and Esther and their entire family. The three older siblings went to Virginia with an Aunt. Please pray that God will soon reunite this dear family!Please pray for Aunts and Uncles, Cousins, Grandparents and all those affected by this terrible accident. Thank you for bearing this family's burdens!
Fergus was put on multiple medications - mostly to make sure his lungs and heart were kept going. He was not responsive to any stimulation. The doctor was concerned about the lack of response and ordered an EEG to track brain activity. She suggested strongly to us that he was brain dead and that we needed to seriously think about the quality of life he would have, if we kept him alive. Thinking that hope was gone, she and the nurses kindly let us hold him (with all of the tubes intact) for several hours while she consulted the pediatric neurologist. While Matthew held Fergus (I was falling apart and couldn't keep holding him so I watched from the by the door) the neurologist checked Fergus out and explained to us that the EEG wasn't telling us much. It only measured the upper brain activity and said it was slow. He said to give Fergus another 24 hours and see what happens then. We were so grateful to be given some more time.
Wednesday, March 18
We met the next doctor on rotation who had already been briefed by the previous doctor. He suggested that what we see is what we get in the final outcome. He tested Fergus' breathing that morning by gradually decreasing the ventilator until it was off. Fergus continued breathing on his own for several minutes. The ventilator support was continued to help Fergus heal up in the other areas of his body, without struggling too hard.
Later that day, while the brain continued to swell, Fergus had seizures almost continually. They put him on medications to calm them, which didn't stop them entirely but reduced them greatly.
Thursday, March 19
1:59am Fergus is moving his toes. Not in response to anything but moving them none the less. Also he has been fluttering his eye lids. The doctors have started feeding him through a feeding tube.
Fergus began to swell significantly. His head, arms, and legs were extremely swollen.
Friday, March 20
6:42pm · Matt and Esther are holding up but not so well so pray for them. They need God's peace. They NEED to know that God will take care of them and their son.
He is still in critical condition! He is sedated and has movements still. Don't tire of praying! God is hearing us!!! He is still in critical condition! He is sedated and has movements still. So they haven't been able to know exactly is condition. The doctors don't want the family to have much hope. But our God is a God of HOPE! Please, Don't tire of praying! God is hearing us and answering our prayers!
I (debbie, friend of family) just spoke to James and he is driving to Springfield to be with family at the hospital. He will give a detailed update tomorrow afternoon. I was thinking that be just in time to get the updated message to churches who will gather on Sunday. We need concerted, strong, effective prayer and I am excited because I know God is working that way in the body right now. He is uniting many hearts and minds around this babies' need and the families' need. I think that is a beautiful thing!
Sat March 21
10:34pm · The poor little guy has to learn to swallow. If he can't he will have to have a trach put in. He needs to be able to swallow before he can go home. He is sedated and on anti-seizure meds. He makes no sounds and the only movements seem to be involuntary. His heart is very strong and the breathing machines are being lowered little by little as he can handle breathing on his own. So you can see, he is still in very serious condition.Every day is hopeful, but the doctors caution against hope.
Sunday, March 22
Matt and Esther are exhausted, keeping 4 hour shifts around the clock at his bedside. Fergus' 2 brothers and 1 sister (between the ages of 8 and 5) are in a hotel near the hospital with Esther's sisters. You can imagine the strain on these small children as well as on their parents.
Matt and Esther got their first break today from Fergus's side as friends drove to Springfield to be with them. Some relieved them by Fergus' crib in the hospital, which allowed them to go and be ministered to by the others. They are anticipating at least a month more in the hospital.
Think about if that were you? Think of the prayers you would need: prayers for: physical stamina, emotional stamina, ability to handle the stress of not being with your other children; willingness to allow doctors you don't know to call the shots for your little baby; not letting guilt and fear eat at you; PEACE of mind and heart; for God to take away the fear that you would lose another baby so soon after losing a precious 3 month old daughter to SIDS just 2 years ago; for the chaos to stop and for the Promises of God to show up in your life; friends who will NOT STOP PRAYING for our family! Our God Is Able! He Hears Our Prayers!Let's stand in the GAP for this family! ~debbie
Monday, March 23
5:00pm · FERGUS stretched his arms and legs this afternoon!!!! This is the first involuntary movements - and this comes after the many prayers of many congregations today!!
Tuesday, March 24
2:54pm · Fergus OPENED HIS EYES!!!! He has developed an infection on the trachea because of having the ventilator tube in for a week. The doctors think it might take about a week to clear up the infection. If he hasn't started swallowing by then, a trachea tube will be inserted as well as a feeding tube in the stomach. Then the doctors want to transfer him to a children's rehab center in St. Louis, even further from the families' home. About 250 miles from home total. Let's don't stop praying for God's healing touch on Fergus' body and for His mercy on Matt and Esther and their entire family. The three older siblings went to Virginia with an Aunt. Please pray that God will soon reunite this dear family!Please pray for Aunts and Uncles, Cousins, Grandparents and all those affected by this terrible accident. Thank you for bearing this family's burdens!
March 16, 2009 - The day baby Fergus fell into the bucket of water!
It was an accident - a parent's worst nightmare.
The kind of thing we all fear will happen to our own kids. But for Matt and Esther it actually happened.
On March 16, 2009: their youngest child, Fergus who is about to turn one-year-old, almost drowned when he fell head first into a 5-gallon bucket that had some water in it. Esther and Matt did CPR on Fergus immediately, taking turns. Esther's sister, Rebecca, called 911. First responders arrived shortly after and continued CPR, not knowing that it had already been done. Finally the ambulance arrived and further attempts were made to revive Fergus. Fergus was lifted by helicopter while EMTs urgently applied CPR to his lifeless body and as they did all they could do to help him live.
Matt and Esther had not seen Fergus take a breath since they had rescued him from the bucket.
Now, in the car on the way to the hospital they dared to hope that he was still alive, but were struck with shock, fear and dread as reality threatened to show otherwise. They knew that too many minutes had passed without oxygen.It had been less than 3 years since their hearts had been utterly broken when they lost a 3 month old little daughter to SIDS. Was baby Fergus going to die too?
He was revived by this air-evac rescue crew. When they arrived at the local hospital Matt and Esther were told he needed to be moved to another hospital in Springfield, Missouri to stabilize him - more than a 2 hour drive from their home.
In Springfield, Fergus was again put on life support, but tests soon confirmed what everyone had dreaded to hear: there was little brain activity. Even though he was not breathing on his own, there was reason to dare hold on to hope: Fergus' heart was still beating. His life story was not over yet!
The kind of thing we all fear will happen to our own kids. But for Matt and Esther it actually happened.
On March 16, 2009: their youngest child, Fergus who is about to turn one-year-old, almost drowned when he fell head first into a 5-gallon bucket that had some water in it. Esther and Matt did CPR on Fergus immediately, taking turns. Esther's sister, Rebecca, called 911. First responders arrived shortly after and continued CPR, not knowing that it had already been done. Finally the ambulance arrived and further attempts were made to revive Fergus. Fergus was lifted by helicopter while EMTs urgently applied CPR to his lifeless body and as they did all they could do to help him live.
Matt and Esther had not seen Fergus take a breath since they had rescued him from the bucket.
Now, in the car on the way to the hospital they dared to hope that he was still alive, but were struck with shock, fear and dread as reality threatened to show otherwise. They knew that too many minutes had passed without oxygen.It had been less than 3 years since their hearts had been utterly broken when they lost a 3 month old little daughter to SIDS. Was baby Fergus going to die too?
He was revived by this air-evac rescue crew. When they arrived at the local hospital Matt and Esther were told he needed to be moved to another hospital in Springfield, Missouri to stabilize him - more than a 2 hour drive from their home.
In Springfield, Fergus was again put on life support, but tests soon confirmed what everyone had dreaded to hear: there was little brain activity. Even though he was not breathing on his own, there was reason to dare hold on to hope: Fergus' heart was still beating. His life story was not over yet!
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