When They Stopped Breathing Archives

When They Stopped Breathing ~ Jon

February 3, 2012

This is the final post in the 3-part blog series “When They Stopped Breathing“. Click here to read all the posts in this series. I pray God will use our testimony to encourage you in your situation. Be blessed!

January 29, 2011. Our triplets were 3 year old rambunctious boys – sweethearts who played rough. It was a Saturday and we were all at home. Jon had a bad cold, but he was cheerful and played with his brothers, nevertheless.

All 3 boys were sitting on the frame of our front door. At one point, Jason and Judah got up and looked behind them to see Jon collapsed on the floor. It took my husband a few seconds to figure out what Jon was doing on the floor. When he realized Jon had collapsed, he cried out to me and rushed to pick him up.

We had no idea what had caused him to collapse. He was not moving at all, although his eyes were still open. We splashed cold water on his face, but there was no response. We called out to him and shook him vigorously, all the while desperately crying out to God.

Seconds later, Jon closed his eyes and stopped breathing. I rushed to our neighbor and frantically explained that we needed a ride to the hospital. Our good neighbor hurriedly started his scooter and my husband held Jon close and got on. With all the commotion, a couple of neighbors came home to offer me their support.

I was in tears. I feared that Jon might not come back home alive. I realized I was in a helpless situation yet again. In my desperation, I cried out to God, pleading with Him for Jon’s life. I urged Jason and Judah to pray for their brother, and they gladly agreed. The three of us prayed – although I doubt Jason and Judah understood the magnanimity of the situation. All they knew was that “Jon fell down near the door, so Dada took him to the hospital.”

After about half an hour, my husband called from the hospital and recounted what had happened. As soon as my husband got on the scooter, he resumed trying to revive Jon. As a last resort, my husband breathed into Jon’s mouth. And Jon opened his eyes and started breathing. All glory to God alone! At the hospital, the doctors suspected a febrile seizure and treated him accordingly. I can’t explain the relief I felt when my husband’s call assured me that Jon was alive and well.

I assured my neighbors that Jon had recovered and waited for them to leave. When we were alone again, I dropped onto my knees and thanked God for Jon’s life. When my husband brought Jon back home, tears were still threatening to break out. Together, we thanked God for bringing our son back home alive.

This was by far the most scariest episode of all. One minute Jon was playing, and the next, he wasn’t breathing. It took us several months to get over what happened. We were anxious every time one of the sons had a slight fever or even a cold. I must admit, it has been a year, but anxiety over their lives still gets a hold on me at times. And my husband has to remind me that “God has not given us a spirit of fear” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Through these trials and tests of our faith, our God has remained faithful. When we faltered and feared the worst, God gave us His best. When I feared that my husband would be bringing back a dead son, God gave him life and brought him back home alive. I must say I am ashamed at my lack of faith when staring death in the face. I pray that God would increase my faith and help me bear in mind that He has indeed conquered death. Thank you Jesus, for Jon’s life!

“In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.” (Psalm 120:1)

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

When They Stopped Breathing ~ Jason

February 1, 2012

This is the second post in the 3-part blog series “When They Stopped Breathing“. Click here to read the first post in this series. I pray God will use our testimony to encourage you in your situation. Be blessed!

It was January 2009 – exactly a year since our boys left the NICU. It had been a rough week. Jon had developed a fever that took 3 days to subside. Needless to say, Jason soon contracted it from him. It was late evening when we realized that Jason’s temperature wasn’t going down in spite of the medication. My husband took him to the hospital, and a doctor prescribed him a stronger syrup.

We started Jason on the new medicine and let him nap a little. My husband was awake to keep an eye on him. At 2AM, my husband shook me awake and shared his shocking observation. Jason wasn’t responding to any sound. My husband explained that until then, Jason had been awake – playing and responding to my husband’s instructions. Simple things like “clap you hands” or “say bye-bye”. And then all of a sudden, he stopped responding.

We tried talking to him, clapping our hands, making any noise we could to get his attention – but he wouldn’t respond. Our baby was looking at us but not responding to any of the sounds we were making. We prayed. It was a desperate prayer, for we did not know what else to do.

His fever was starting to rise, and although it wasn’t time for the next dose, we gave him his fever medicine. We washed his face and wet his body as well. Eventually his fever went down and he fell asleep. Urging my husband to get some sleep, I stayed awake with Jason – constantly checking his temperature and sponging him with water. I was afraid that if I fell asleep, something awful would happen to him.

Early in the morning, I did indeed fall asleep. I had set the alarm to wake me up in an hour, so I could check on Jason. But before the alarm went off, my husband shook me awake. Jason was having convulsions. We splashed water on him and when it didn’t stop, my husband rushed him to the nearest hospital.

I had to stay behind with Jon and Judah who were still sleeping. It was a dreadful morning. In my helpless state, all I could do was pray. I feared brain damage and I feared for Jason’s life. It took them almost an hour to return back home. At the hospital, the doctors had given Jason a pill to control his seizures. When my husband handed Jason over to me, his body was limp. He had absolutely no energy left in him. Within minutes, Jason brought out the tablet that the doctors had given him and he fell into a deep sleep.

We were helpless and terrified. We prayed, trusting God for Jason’s life. We prayed that his brain functions would be normal and that he would respond to us again. That’s when God spoke to our hearts – He assured us that Jason would be fine. We called a few people we knew, who could support us in prayer. While Jason was sleeping, one of the pastors from our church came home and prayed with us.

Jason woke up after a few hours, and he was perfectly fine. He responded to our voices and to other sounds around him. His fever disappeared (and didn’t return for at least a month). To us, that was a miracle – considering that he brought out the medicine he was given at the hospital.

God had saved yet another life in our family and through it, strengthened our faith. Our faith in Him may have faltered when fear gripped our hearts, but God was faithful. He preserved Jason’s life… again! Jason is now an intelligent and energetic 4 year old – a living, breathing testimony of God’s unfailing grace. Thank you Jesus, for Jason’s life!

“…He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper…” (Psalm 121:3-5)

When They Stopped Breathing ~ Judah

January 30, 2012

Today, we begin a series titled “When They Stopped Breathing“. It is the story of how each of our sons stopped breathing… And how God gave them back their life! I will be re-telling the story in parts – 3 blog posts spread over this week. I pray God will use our testimony to encourage you in your situation. Be blessed!

January 29, 2008. Our boys were 50 days old and weighed 1.7 kilograms each. Their doctor declared them healthy enough to be discharged from the hospital. It was the moment we had been waiting for… After 50 days we could finally take our babies home :)!

We had their new clothes and blankets all picked out for them to go home in. My husband got the car washed & and the interiors vacuumed. We hired a driver to drive us back home in our car. My parents were with us to lend an extra hand. We were all pumped up and ready to go.

Something we didn’t foresee was discrepancies in the hospital bill that took the entire day to settle. By the time we had settled the bill, it was late evening. Needless to say, we were exhausted from all the packing and caring for 3 babies. I had no energy left to dress the babies up in their new clothes or even wrap them up in the blankets we had chosen to take them home in. We just wanted to be back home.

It must have been around 8 in the night when my dad & my husband left the room in order to load our things in the car. My mother and I were still in the hospital room with our 3 babies. The nurse had just administered polio drops, the babies were done with their feeds and they were sleeping.

All 3 babies were sleeping side by side on the sterile white sheets of the hospital bed. All seemed well at that time, but in a few minutes the stillness in the room was shattered. Something did not seemed right with Judah. His eyes were open and they had a vacant look in them. I rushed to his side and found his chest heaving… struggling to breathe. My baby couldn’t breathe.

Involuntarily, I started praying. As I tried to revive him, my mother rushed to the nurses station that was right outside our door. A nurse ran in, took Judah from my arms and hurried out. I was in tears, pleading with God for his life. I could not follow the nurse as Jason & Jon were still asleep in the room. I was helpless… All I could do was pray.

Thankfully, just moments later, my husband and my dad returned and my mother quickly briefed them. My husband took one look at my tear-stained face and rushed out to find Judah and my dad followed him. A few moments later they returned with the assurance that the nurses were able to revive Judah and that a doctor was currently examining him.

Relief flooded my heart. With a burst of praise, we thanked God for the life He had given Judah… again… God who gave him life, made him breathe… again…

The doctor suspected that the polio drops might have triggered some allergy. But thankfully, they said Judah was stable and could go home as planned. I held my baby boy close throughout the ride home.

It was a night we will never forget. One of many that have left us helpless and scared, but totally dependent on God alone. Thank you Jesus, for Judah’s life!

“Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits.” (Psalm 103:1,2)