Sunday took us backward a few steps. Due to Baby Todd being on so much support for so long, his kidneys and liver shut down and his lungs were not getting better. Today we reached the point of no recovery, so we had to make the decision to stop the support. This was a decision we hoped we never had to face, but had to be made. At 4:00 pm on Dec. 29 we told the doctors to stop support and a few minutes later Baby Brother finished the race and made it home. He is now in the hands of Jesus with complete healing and a brand new heart. There is no more machines, no more tubes, no more wires, and no more noise just PEACE! The kind of peace that can only come from God. The doctors and nurse said he was the toughest baby they have ever had and he was made of something special.
Thank You for all of your support and prayers. We will continue to update this blog.
26 comments:
Thank you for letting us walk with you on this journey...our hearts go out to you and your family. "My prayer is that God is holding you on His lap and wrapping His loving arms around you" May you continue to feel His love and peace around you!!
In our thoughts and prayers!
Baby Todd was so blessed to have you as his great Christian parents. He was so blessed to have felt your love as you carried him, Jerri and both of you bodily touching his hand, soothing him with your voice. I am so glad you both had time on this earth to love him and he love you. Thanks for sharing the journey...I am sad but happy we know we will see him again and as you say...PEACE! I can see him being rocked by Jesus, and song to by the angels...can you see it! What a beautiful site.
I love you all- Aunt Julia
Dears,
I could tell from your faith journey that you realized Todd would be healed completely in heaven since it wasn't happening here on earth.
Allow yourselves TO GRIEVE his loss, the trauma you've been through the past 24 days, and the loss of what could have been had his heart been normal. Grieving is healthy in these circumstances and does not diminish your faith.
Love, Aunt Hannah
I send our sympathy also to you and your girls and your extended families.
Aunt Hannah and Uncle Ted
Thank you so much for keeping us all updated so we could experience this adventure with you. We really appreciate you guys and are so glad you allowed us to help. We will continue to pray for you, but I must say that your Faith through all of this has definitely challenged me in my spiritual walk as well. Iknow of several people who followed your blog who do not know Jesus and I can only imagine what an awesome impact it must have on them to see you stick so close to God through all of this. You talked about Todd's Legacy on an earlier update and even though he is now with Jesus...His life has impacted many!
Love Ya Guys!
Mike & Stacy
Thank you for allowing us to walk this journey with you. Just remember we are still walking with you, grieving the loss, rejoicing in baby Todd's complete healing, and receiving the peace that only comes from Jesus. Our prayers continue, our love remains, and we share in your loss.
Aunt Jeannie and Uncle Galen
Thank you for keeping us updated and allowing us to share in your journey with Todd. Our hearts ache with you but what a comfort to have the peace of God that surpasses all understanding to help us through these times. What a joy to know that we'll see our loved ones again some day. Picture yourselves as little children sitting on "Daddy's" lap and let your Heavenly Father wrap his everlasting arms of love around you. Remember Jeremiah 29:11 - God is in control even when it doesn't always feel like it to us. We love you are will continue to pray for you.
Daryl & Rhonda & family
Dustin & Jerri,
You walked with little Todd on his journey home. You cared for him as any parent would, but you held tightly to the hand of the of the One who now is holding Todd's hand. May He uphold you with peace and comfort. Know that He is with you and walking through this valley with you. We are, too. I pray for strength and comfort for you today.
Love,
Rosanne
We are grieving with you and praying for your family.
Our hearts are breaking for you guys and are praying for your family. Your faith has been an encouragement to us as you have been walking this incredibly hard journey.
May you continue to feel HIS constant peace, We love you guys!!!
Matt and Jenny
What a life, legacy, and challenge to our faith. Baby Todd and the impact of his little life will forever be etched in our hearts. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. What a blessed little guy he was to have you for his parents. We are praying for you guys and for your hearts as well.
Dear Dustin and Jerri,
Your faith through this walk has only strengthened the faith of those of us who love you and your family. May He give you His continued strength to carry you throught the dark hours.
Thanks for letting us be with you in Spirit during these toughest times. We will hold you all in our thoughts and prayers forever. Thank you Jesus for carrying Todd home to You and for giving him to our community to be a witness our faith support for the family.
All our love to you,
Jean Squires and family
Dear Dusty and Jerri,
We are truly blessed by your faith, yet we deeply grieve the death of Todd. The song was very touching. We live in the assurance of his new heart and beautiful circumstances. We are praying for you all.
Pastor Al
Others have already said much of what I have been thinking to write to you and so I simply say "amen" to all of the above comments. Since reading about you talking to Todd about his legacy I've thought alot about what that legacy is...he has touched so many of us so deeply. I know that God has a purpose for everything and I know that you will use this experience as fuel for something else (as we all will) and that is Todd's legacy, it's your legacy, and it's all of ours.
Love you!
Dori
Hi Dustin & Jerri,
The both of you are awesome parents. What you and baby Todd endured for the last several weeks would probably not be able to be expressed in words. Our hearts are sad for you both to have faced such a hurdle, but we remain encouraged to know that your faith in the Lord is strong. Our sincere condolences to you and your family. We pray that you find comfort and peace in the Lord during this time. Love, Selena & Vish
So sorry,we hurt and grieve with you dear friends. Lloyd & Rachel
Dustin & Jerri,
There is no words for me to say right now. I will just say look to God and lean on Him. He knows what He is doing, although we may not. My heart is breaking for you both as I know this is a huge hurdle to overcome. And you have such a loving church family who is going to walk side by side with you both. I will continue to pray for you all and thanking God that Baby Todd has touched thousands of people over these last weeks.
Love you guys!
april and steve french
Dear Jerri and Dustin,
My heart goes out to you and your family. I cannot express the heartfelt sympathy that I feel for you right now; I can only let you know that you have been and will continue to be in my prayers. I am glad that you had the opportunity to spend the past few weeks with baby Todd. Thank you sharing your journey with me. I pray that you may continue to feel God's everlasting presence and peace as you continue on.
Amanda B.
Dustin, Jerri, Kylei and Kadenn,
We are mourning with you the physical death of your precious baby boy and cannot imagine the depth of your emotions right now, but praise be to God for the testimony you have been and continue to be for the glory of Jesus and to bring about His kingdom! May He continue to give you the strength that you need each day to continue to lean on Him and bring Him glory.
Baby Todd will be there waiting for you all when you join him in Heaven...
We love you all in the name of Jesus and are praying for you each day.
Brent and Mary, Faith, Wade and Hope
God has taken his tiny Angel home. You and the rest of the family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Uncle Marc and Aunt Loretta
You two are such an inspiration to me - the grace & faith that you walked in through all this is so amazing! The story that you shared with us through the blog has been heartbreaking, yet at the same time beautiful. I can't imagine the loss that you feel right now & I pray for continued strength & faith in the tough days ahead & that you feel God wrapping His healing arms around you every second of those days. Love, Lisa & Talon
Although we never physically met Todd, we see his strength through his parents. Your testimony is a inspiration to all who know you. You will hold Todd again some day! Todd has reached the goal, he is in total peace! May you feel God's love everyday, as you continue on. We will pray for continual strength for the family.
We Care,
Brian and Charlene Gingrich
Jerri & Dustin & Girls -
Aunt Linda has been keeping me updated and I just wanted to let you know that you all are in my thoughts and prayers. I am SO THANKFUL that our Lord is in your life, because what a JOY having faith that your little angel is now perfect in His arms! I can't imagine going through what you have, but especially without that promise!
Take care and God Bless!
Jess (Gaal) Knouse
Jerri & Dustin,
As I laid in bed early this morning after getting back from DE, I couldn't get the two of you and the girls off my mind. I just kept replaying the events of the past few weeks. Although I've been pretty distant from the situation; through talking with you guys, reading the blog and being there with you last night, I have witnessed an example of true faith, and as others have said, I have been truly inspired. How blessed Baby Todd was to have known your love. My heart aches for you, and tears come to my eyes every time I think of your loss, but they also come when I see what a beautiful picture it is for Baby Todd to be in the arms of Jesus, flawless and with a strong, healthy heart. What a blessing it is for we as believers to have that kind of peace. Through Baby Todd's time with us, which was all too short, many lives have been touched, including my own.
I know that I already told you guys to listen to this song, but God put it on my heart today to share it with you again. Look it up on YouTube...it's called Still by Hillsong. May your souls find rest.
Lots of Love,
Rach
Baby Todd is blessed in so many ways.
Have faith in the lord and that your baby is pain free and rejoicing with the lord, and you will see him again!
I know I just started reading your blog recently but you have touched me so deeply. Stay strong.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Kathy
Dear Jerri and Dustin
Your testimony throughout this experience has been amazing. It has brought us closer to God and showed us God can bring amazing peace throughtout any situation. We are praying for you and girls all the time. You are never far from our thoughts and prayers.
Love Royce and Christa Eby
Post a Comment