Our good friend, Bob Drummond, approached me this week with a proposal that we highly welcome.  As the doctors are finding it difficult to explain Rudy’s lack of progress and are trying new things, this would be a great time for some focused prayer.  So, please read below and join as you feel led–

Rolf and Trish have allowed me to be a “guest poster” on Rudy’s Beat to encourage the multitude of friends who have so faithfully supported the Geyling family during this season of challenge and uncertainty for a time of prayer and fasting for Baby Rudy.  Acknowledging the wonderful grace God has administered through the dedicated and talented doctors and nurses who have so expertly cared for Rudy, we also recognize the need to rely on the power of our personal and powerful God to bring healing or change when we get to the limits of our human abilities and wisdom.   As you are aware, there are two areas that are crucial to Rudy’s healing and development right now: the stoppage of the unexplained fluid leaking into his chest cavity and his ability to take and maintain nourishment so he can develop the strength he needs to progress.  As you know, the progress in these important milestones has been inconsistent, even confounding, yet essential for his growth and health.  So, as Rudy is slowly beginning to take nourishment through a feeding tube and Rolf and Trish have to make some important decisions regarding the next treatment options, I think it is appropriate that we join together (as we can) for a time of prayer and possibly. fasting, on Thursday or Friday this week, as is best for you.  This exhortation is given with the full respect of the different faith traditions of Rudy’s supporters and that prayer and fasting can take many forms, from full fasts to fasting to and praying for one meal a day.  In our freedom in Christ this is not about doing “it right” or like others do.  God does not need our formulas or prescriptions, just our humble faith and acknowledgment of His Lordship and sovereignty over all things, including Rudy’s little body.  So, as you are led, I invite you to join the literally hundreds of people from all around the world who are following Rudy through this blog in a dedicated time of fasting and prayer for Rudy on Thursday or Friday this week. Let’s ask our gracious Lord to bring an end to the fluid leakage as He sees fit and that Rudy be able to take and tolerate the nutrition he so desperately needs.  Over the years I have observed that one of redemptive miracles in times of great challenge and crisis is how the invisible Body of Christ can become so visible to others through acts of love and sacrifice. The outpouring of love and support for the Geylings and Baby Rudy is evidence of this, as people all over the world, many of whom have never met the Geylings, have been united in their love, support and prayers.  This is a powerful witness to a watching world of the reality of the living God we love.  On behalf of the family and friends, we express our thanks and great appreciation for you faithful prayers and support! It has been literally miraculous.  Again, I ask you to join us for this time of dedicated prayer and fasting.

Standing with you for Rudy and the Geylings.

 Pastor Bob

This holding Rudy thing hasn’t become old hat yet, so forgive me if I gush.  Today was the BEST.  Nurse Barbara proved to be a pro and in a matter of seconds (instead of the previous fussing with wires and tubes) had me and Rudy set up in the recliner.  While previously his heart rate would elevate during the move and it would take several minutes for things to calm down and get in range, today it was very clear that he knew where he was and liked it—never moved much from 160 bpm.  So, we didn’t get just one of those token “hold the baby long enough to take a picture” moments but about 2 ½ hours (or more importantly, almost the entire Giants-Eagles game).  The result of the game wasn’t what we wanted, but it was a proud day of introducing him to the classic discipline close friends and family refer to as “rolfing” (dozing off in the recliner and missing most of the key moments of the game).  Pure bliss.

 

I got up from our session to find that Rudy had leaked a good bit of chest fluid onto my shirt.  The site where the chest tube was continues to put forth fluid regularly—on the one hand this is good as it doesn’t allow it to collect on his chest and impede his breathing, but it still means that there’s a source from which the fluid is originating.  The team was content to let things trickle for a bit to see if it would subside, but there are concerns about sterility so they’ve called for a surgeon to put in a stitch.  For those who have been praying for this little issue, these next couple of days will be crucial to see if the pleural effusions come back.  We want to be done with chest tubes.

 

During the switch back from my lap to the bed, Barbara thought to bring in a scale to check Rudy’s weight in a few seconds unplugged from most of the gear.  After a couple of adjustments, she worked it out to 3.89 kilos (8 ½ lbs–2lbs more than at birth).  That means I haven’t been the only one in our family sitting around getting fatter over the last nine weeks.

 

I hate to tear myself away from Rudy now, but it’s 1pm and we are planning to have a Sunday evening together with Wilson, Max and Olivia before Trish comes back to assume duty here on Monday morning.  I’m leaving here with a great amount of peace, though.  It was so good to see Rudy and to be reminded anew of the masses of people who are with him in this journey.  There are those dedicated souls who have eyes on him around the clock, but also legions supporting him in prayer from far and wide (Rudysbeat went over 50,000 hits this weekend.)  Thanks for being a part of this.

Is holding him twice!!  This is so new that Trish and I are likely going to keep score on this for awhile, but today Nurses Gladys and Rosella got things set up so I could sit with him by myself without anyone needing to be nearby holding a hose.  We had a precious hour together where I found myself praying that the impact of each minute in my arms would be multiplied beyond what it actually was.  After nine weeks of lying only on an unmoving bed, it must be a very new sensation to lie against another breathing person.  Thanks for celebrating with us in this new development and please continue to pray that no tubes need to be inserted–as much as everyone here believes that babies should be held, his safety and medical needs come first.

It’s been a quiet day here today and the plan set forth was followed–get fluid off of Rudy and let him rest.  So far, the chest looks clear but we still could use prayer.  Rudy’s gone a few days with a clear chest when the tube came out previously, only to have the fluid return.  We’re being guarded and realistic–he doesn’t need to turn any corners quickly, he just needs to continue making progress along his current trajectory and we’ll be very happy.  The next steps will come.

As I have come to expect, the staff here has been almost as concerned for my comfort as for Rudy’s.  I get regular inquiries on my back which seems to be holding up well with meds, heat and the rest of my regimen.  Only when one is a bit hobbled does one realize how significant distances can be around here.  It’s a big building and an even longer trek to the parking lot, places to eat, etc.  So even as I’ve been pacing myself, I was very grateful to come across a crutch leaning up in a remote corner at about 11pm last night.   Let him who is without sin cast the first stone, but the prospect of having something to lean on felt pretty good to me.  Maybe someday I’ll research what the policy on loaning medical equipment is ahere at the hospital, but for the time being I just assumed and availed myself of its use.  For the record, I owe UCLA one crutch.  It will be returned to exactly where I found it unless someone contacts me sooner with a suitable description and the location in which it was found.  My conscience is relatively clean on the matter, though at about 3am I suddenly wondered if someone who really needed the crutch left it there, returned to find it gone and had to crawl back to their room.  I was concerned enough that I ran my thinking by a doctor I feel is of sufficient rank (I won’t name names) this morning and he did not find it problematic, but for some reason also wanted to make sure I knew that the hospital also has a very good psychiatric facility.

So good to be here with Rudy today and a fun visit from our friends Scott and Jamie.  From the phone calls home, it sounds like the kids are eating up every minute with Mom.  That’s it for now.  I’ll spend a few more hours here before I leave Rudy in Nurse Dawn’s cheerful and competent care.