The Prayer Chain has ended for Teresa and Elias Tomlinson

(updated Friday, 5:00 pm, 07/18/08)

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Teresa & Elias Tomlinson Update – Friday, 07/18/08 5:00 pm

We are ending the prayer chain for Teresa and Elias. Your prayers have brought them through the most difficult period of their recovery!

Teresa no longer has any effects from toxemia and is coming home from the hospital today!

Baby Elias is steadily improving, but will still be at the hospital for some time. As he progresses, he will be off the ventilator for longer amounts of time each day until he can be completely removed from the machine, and the breathing tube can be taken out. Once the tube is out the medical staff can begin working on his feeding by mouth.  Until then, they'll continue to slowly increase the amount he receives through the feeding tube.

Even though we have ended the prayer chain, please remember to continue praying for Elias. Here are some important issues to pray Elias through in the next several weeks:

- That his lungs will continue to strengthen and he will not get pneumonia from being on the ventilator.

- That he will continue to grow and tolerate the feeds through the tube.

- Between about 30-33 weeks (32 weeks is peak) there is an increased risk of developing a very severe and very dangerous infection of the intestines called necrotizing enterocolitis. We should pray that Elias does not develop this infection.

- Once he is off the ventilator, that Elias will learn to eat by mouth very quickly so he can go home.

The Tomlinson family and Palmerston North Victory Christian Church expressed their gratitude and appreciation for everyone praying over the last week.

Teresa & Elias Tomlinson Update – Thursday, 07/17/08 9:00 pm

Teresa is continuing to do well and it appears that the effects of toxemia have dissipated. There are no signs of toxemia affecting her at this time.

Elias Isaac is also doing well. He is periodically taken off his respirator according to how well he breathes on his own; this is normal. The main thing at this moment is that Elias would eat more. He is currently on a drip (for food) and is given about 1 ml of breast milk every 4 hours. Overall, he is continuing to do well.

Please continue to pray for the following:

- Elias’ lungs will mature and strengthen quickly to where he will no longer need the assistance of a respirator

- Elias would be able to take in more breast milk

- Elias would be protected from infection

- Teresa’s blood pressure will remain stabilized and in the normal range

- There would be no further complications as a result of the toxemia

- Wisdom for the doctors

- Peace for the Tomlinson family

Teresa & Elias Tomlinson Update – Wednesday, 07/16/08 8:30 pm

Teresa is continuing to do well and her blood pressure is now stabilized.

Elias Isaac is progressing normally. He was off the respirator for a little while yesterday, but was put back on it today, which is common.

Please continue to pray for the following:

- Elias’ lungs will mature and strengthen quickly to where he will no longer need the assistance of a respirator

- Elias would be protected from infection

- Teresa’s blood pressure will remain stabilized and in the normal range

- There would be no further complications as a result of the toxemia

- Wisdom for the doctors

- Peace for the Tomlinson family

Teresa & Elias Tomlinson Update – Tuesday, 07/15/08 11:00 pm

Teresa’s blood pressure is getting better and normalizing. The doctors didn’t administer high blood pressure medication at her last blood pressure test. Overall, Teresa is recovering well.

Elias Isaac is still on a respirator, with a tube in his nose. He is responding normally for his condition. The doctors expect that he will be on a respirator for the next two weeks. The two main concerns for Elias are that he would strengthen to the point that he can breathe on his own and protection from any sort of infection.

Please pray for the following:

- Elias’ lungs will mature and strengthen quickly to where he will no longer need the assistance of a respirator

- Elias would be protected from infection

- Teresa’s blood pressure will quickly return to the normal range

- There would be no further complications as a result of the toxemia

- Wisdom for the doctors

- Peace for the Tomlinson family

Teresa & Elias Tomlinson Update – Monday, 07/14/08 11:30 pm

Elias Isaac is on a respirator, but is not on a lot of oxygen, which is good.

Teresa has had high blood pressure since the delivery, but it is starting to come down. 

Please pray for the following:

- Elias’ lungs will mature quickly to where he will no longer need the assistance of a respirator

- Teresa’s blood pressure will quickly return to the normal range

- There would be no further complications as a result of the toxemia

- Wisdom for the doctors

- Peace for the Tomlinson family

Teresa Tomlinson Update – Monday, 07/14/08 7:15 pm

Everything went well with the C-section.  Their baby boy's name is Elias Isaac and he weighed 3 1/2 pounds.  Teresa will continue to be closely monitored for a while.  Elias is also being closely monitored and he is doing fine.  At this point there are no complications.

We will continue the prayer chain as complications of toxemia may develop up to 24 hours after the delivery.

Please pray for the following:

- Both Teresa and Elias will recover quickly

- There would be no further complications as a result of the toxemia

- Elias will continue to do well and there would be no complications

- Wisdom for the doctors

- Peace for the Tomlinson family

Teresa has continued to respond well to the high blood pressure medicine for toxemia.   

Teresa will be staying in the hospital until she has the baby.  The doctors hope they can put off delivery of the baby for another 3 weeks.  If her blood is negatively affected by the toxemia, then she will be induced and have to give birth sooner.

We are discontinuing the prayer chain for the time being.  Our expectation is that Teresa will continue to respond positively to her medication and be able to delay the delivery of her baby as long as it is necessary.   If we get reports that her condition changes, we will re-start the prayer chain at that time.

As you feel led, please continue to pray for the following:

- Teresa would continue to respond to the medical treatment.

- Her blood pressure and other blood work remain stabilized at normal levels.

- The birth of the baby would be delayed as long as possible – at least another three weeks.   

- When Teresa gives birth, her baby’s lungs will be developed to the point where the baby can breathe effectively without the assistance of breathing machines.

- Both Teresa and the baby would be healthy and not develop any other medical issues.

- Wisdom for the doctors.

- Peace for the Tomlinson family.

Teresa Tomlinson Update - Friday, 07/11/08 8:30pm

Teresa is responding well to the high blood pressure medicine for Toxemia.  Her blood pressure is good at the moment; it is checked every 4 hours.   Her blood is tested every 8 hours for other complications of Toxemia.   

Teresa will be staying in the hospital until she has the baby, the doctors hope they can put off delivery of the baby for another 3 weeks.  If her blood is negatively affected by the Toxemia, then she will be induced and have to give birth sooner.

Please pray for the following:

- Teresa would continue to respond to the medical treatment.

- Her blood pressure and other blood work remain stabilized at normal levels.

- The birth of the baby would be delayed as long as possible – at least another three weeks.   

- When Teresa gives birth, her baby’s lungs will be developed to the point where the baby can breathe effectively without the assistance of breathing machines.

- Both Teresa and the baby would be healthy and not have any other health issues.

- Wisdom for the doctors.

- Peace for the Tomlinson family.

Teresa Tomlinson - Thursday, 07/10/08 10:00pm

Teresa Tomlinson is pregnant and has been diagnosed with Toxemia. This is a condition that occurs during pregnancy where the mother’s body does not react properly to the fetus.   The main symptom is highly elevated blood pressure in the mother that, if not alleviated, can pose serious health risks to the baby.  The ultimate treatment for Toxemia is delivery of the baby. 

Teresa is in a hospital in Palmerston North and has initially responded well to medication to bring her blood pressure down.  Her doctors thinks there is a 50% chance to delay Teresa needing to give birth for a couple of weeks.

Teresa’s is in her 30^th week of pregnancy.  Somewhere between weeks 31 to 35, the lungs develop to where they are able to deliver oxygen efficiently.   Being able to delay the baby’s birth until 34 weeks or longer would be ideal.  Every week makes a dramatic difference at this stage of the baby’s development.

Please pray that:

-Teresa would respond to the medical treatment.

-Her blood pressure would stay under control.

-Both Teresa and the baby would be healthy and not have any other health issues.

-The birth of the baby would be delayed as long as possible -- ideally to 34 weeks or more.   

-When Teresa gives birth, her baby’s lungs will be developed to the point where the baby can breathe effectively without the assistance of breathing machines.

-Wisdom for the doctors.

-Peace for the Tomlinson family.