Susannah Joy Update

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Thank you’all for your faithful fervent prayers. I’ve been able to read all the blog comments as I can see them on my phone.

Being able to write another update is a privelege. It means we’ve had another part of a day with Susannah. Melanie and I cherish each moment we get with her. She is so precious. She hasn’t even smiled and our hearts are totally smitten.

Her blood pressure did better today. This is a huge answer to prayer. Since it would rise and fall it was hard to get excited about how it was doing. But I think there was some improvement. The drs felt like they were able to get her ivs stabilized so they weren’t having to constantly adjust what was being given and how much.

She is still totally listless and lacks even basic reflexes. Melanie and I would be so happy just to see a finger move or an eyelid flutter.

The hospital staff has been great. Melanie got to hold Susannah today. This NICU team is committed to babies being held. This is one reason we selected this hospital.  Took three nurses to get her out of the incubator and over to her mother. There have been a lot of tears shed of late and there were quite a few more shed when that precious little girl was set on Melanie.

We have fully given little Susannah to our Lord and are looking to Him for our strength and courage.

Nathan

40 thoughts on “Susannah Joy Update”

  2. It’s wonderful to hear of even the slightest improvement. We will continue to pray for God’s will to be manifested. We have such a good God, and His Love is amazing. He loves this little one more than anyone on earth could. Praise God for His eternal goodness. He is our Great Physician. God Bless you Nathan, Melanie, and baby Susannah (that is a beautiful name).

  3. Nathan and Melanie, Though we have never gone through exactly what you are going through, we have had many times when we thought we may lose one of our children. We have had to give our children to the Lord over and over again. We know that the Lord loves our children even more than we do and that he chose their every little feature before the foundation of the earth. Keep giving little Susannah to Him. As the tears flow and your hearts ache, know our ever loving Saviour is right there with you and loves you and Susannah so much. We just finished praying for you all as a family and Daniel and I will pray especially for you all again tonight.
    We’re so happy you were able to hold your little treasure today.

  4. “I know who holds the future, and I know who holds my hand,
    With God things don’t just happen, everything by Him is planned.
    So as I face tomorrow, with its problems great and small,
    I’ll trust the God of miracles, give to Him my all.”

    This song has been a great encouragement to us through some of life’s ups and downs, and we hope it will encourage you as well. Our children just got off their knees from praying for Susannah,and we will all continue to do so. We serve a mighty and tender God.Thank you for the continued updates!

  5. “We have fully given little Susannah to our Lord and are looking to Him for our strength and courage.”

    I find I have to do that over and over again with my children. I pray the Lord blesses you for your faithfulness.

    Your family is in my prayers.

    Jennifer

  6. May you find strength and peace in His word, and may the Lord heal your precious little angel completely.

    I will continue to pray fervently for all of you!

    In His Love,
    Michelle

  7. How wonderful it was to hear Melanie got to hold her sweet Susannah Joy! I am so glad to hear her BP is doing better. We are continuing in prayer here.

  8. Dear Nathan and Melanie, We are praying blessings beyond measure in Susannah Joy’s little life. We’re praying for devine healing on Susannah’s tiny body. May the Lord bring comfort to your hearts and sustanance to your souls as you walk through the coming days, weeks, and months. With lots of love and prayers, Dave and Diane Sarah, Olivia, Andrew, Laura, Avah, Susanna & David

  10. Thank you so much for keeping us updated. Miss Susannah is so much on our hearts and in our prayers. I know coming here to update is probably hard to add to your day! But, it is a blessing to us to hear this improvment and an encouragement to pray even more! What a joy that Melanie could hold her…I can only imagine what that did for momma and daughter. We will continue to pray!

  11. Our family has been reading your blog for quite sometime and following the pregnancy. We posted for the first time last night. We will continually be praying for your precious daughter. Thank you for sharing the sweet picture.

  12. I have prayed for your little one. She is so precious. I feel an urging from the Lord to remind you that there are people in that hospital that need to know “HIM”. Somehow your little, precious one is going to be the reason that they come to know The Lord.

  13. Thank you so much for taking the time to post updates and the photo. It’s so wonderful to be able to visualize the sweet girl I am praying for. I’m praying for you all throughout the day and night. May you feel God’s peace and strength.

    Claire

  14. I am praying for God to heal Susannah, and make her healthy and strong – mind, soul and body. I am praying for His mercy on Susannah and you – we cannot know the form of His mercy but we can know who He is: God is light, in him there is NO darkness at all (IJn 1:5). “For this reason I kneel before the Father praying that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge…” (Eph 3:14-19). I will continue to pray with you, cry with you and trust with you. I do not know you, but I love you both and Susannah.

  15. Just want you to know that I am praying for you and Susannah at this time. Our daughter had duodenal surgery at 72 hours. For us we didn’t know until after she was born that she would need surgery. Praying that Susannah will stabilize so that they can do surgery.

  16. Miracles are for today! God is able and willing to heal Susannah Joy. I eagerly await each update. I have prayed off and on many times per day for you all and the baby. I know the peace of God is with you, and at the same time, I know it is difficult to see your own flesh and blood endur hardship or pain.

    Glad that Melanie was able to hold Susannah. Still praying and will be checking your web site off and on for updates. Thank you for all of the details. It helps to pray accurately.
    I would love to read the birth story. I know Melanie was having preterm labor.

    Thanks for sharing and opening your hearts to your Christian brothers and sisters.

  17. Exodus 4:11

    So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing ,or the blind?Have not I, the Lord?

    Precious Susannah is in my prayers every moment of the day. Thank you for sharing her sweet picture with us. God is in control and He is allowing this to happen for good and I know, at this point, it’s so very hard to cling to that. Rest in Him and you will be so very blessed.

    Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

    Your sister in Christ, Lisa

  18. Praise the Lord for the improvement in her blood pressure. We continue to pray for more improvements. I am so thankful that our God is a God of miracles. How wonderful that Melanie was able to hold her precious child. God bless you all.

  19. He is a God of Miracles!
    I have been praying for you all throughout the day(s) and will continue to do so.
    Susannah is absolutely beautiful.

  21. Praise God for the improvement! We will continue to pray for Susannah. Last night when I was listening to a bible story with my children It was on Jesus healing the blind man in John chapter 9. The disciples asked who had sinned that he was born blind. Jesus answer It was neither this man or his parents; but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him. Immediately after that was said the spirit of God impressed upon my heart Susannah. We are praying that the power of God will be reaveal in healing your precious Susannah. Also for Gods grace and comfort to be poured out on you in a mighty way as you go through this difficult time. Lots of love my dear brother and sister in Christ.
    Kim

  22. We are total strangers to one another, yet I am thinking of you all often! I read your family blog daily. Susannah is so darling! I cannot relate to you in having a child spend time in the NICU, although I recently had a nephew there. However, I do pray for the peace & submission that only the Lord can give you in this very trying and emotionally rough time. I had a stillborn son 4 1/2 years ago (my 3rd child, but first son). Reading about Susannah & seeing her picture has brought back a flood of memories, but I wanted to share w/ you a verse that was of great comfort to me at the time Reuben was born.

    Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

    May the Lord uphold you both & your loved ones w/ His grace & love. Granting you peace & submission to whatever His will may be.

    Laura

  23. Nathan and Melanie, You both have been such a blessing to our family over the years since we have “known” you, even though we have never actually met either of you. We read your courtship story with our children, my daughter participates in daughter’s board with Sarah, and we feel like we know the “Moody’s” who I would guess closely resemble the Maxwell’s. Now, we are praying for little Susannah and once again the Lord is making your faithfulness and steadfastness in His love and mercy a testimony to many people you may never know this side of Heaven. Keeping up with your updates about your precious daughter is an honor and privilege for our family and whatever the Lord’s will is, you will remain in our prayers. We will be praying again today for Susannah’s blood pressure and for her mommy and daddy to stay strong and find that Jesus is as real in the dark as He is in the light.

  24. That is good news… and I’m so happy to hear Susannah’s mother had the opportunity to hold that sweet baby! We continue to pray for her healing and your comfort. Thank you for the updates!!

  26. My children and I have been checking each day for updates on Susannah. Thank you for taking the time! I have had 3 NICU experiences, and I can just imagine how tired, stressful, and difficult this is for you all. The Lord is certainly faithful to provide peace and strength. It is a rollercoaster ride of an ordeal. I’m so glad Melanie got to hold Susannah! It was helpful for me to do as much research on my critical care childrens conditions as well as watch the nurses and ask if I could do any of the children’s care. Even if it meant weighing their diapers or percussing their lungs, anything that would help me know that I could still provide some of their needs helped me bond w/ the babies and become *their* mother. I spent a lot of time sitting next to their isolettes and responding to their alarms. I hope you are able to make Susannah’s isolette as homey as possible. This is her first nursery :o). Melanie, welcome to motherhood! *You* are a mother, even if you aren’t able to hold your baby or bathe her (yet). Blessings, Camy

  27. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 18:10

    I don’t think we know all the ramifications of the truth expressed in that verse, but I do know that little Susannah is utterly precious to the Lord. May you be strengthened by His grace, blanketed by His comfort, enveloped in His peace, and carried by His love.

    We continue to pray for you here in Virginia.
    Grace,
    Mae

  28. Nathan and Melanie,

    Bailey and I awoke and we checked your bog first thing. I am so happy to hear Melanie got to hold her, did you ever know you would love someone so much? We are praying for you all and I hope today is filled with great things and the peace of the Lord. She’s a beautiful gift from above. We will continue to keep you all in our prayers! God bless and strengthen each you!

    jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjdc vnfci (Bailey wanted to say she’s beautiful)

    In His grace,
    Keri, Jim and Bailey

  29. The tears have been freely flowing here, too, as I’ve prayed for you. My heart aches for all that you’re having to go through. I am so grateful to the Lord for the gift Melanie was given in being able to hold your precious daughter. What a blessing that the staff was favorable to making that happen! I’m sure that was a moment to be treasured forever. We are continuing to pray for you all….may the Lord’s love and faithfulness be ever so near to you today.

    “Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness….For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; i will help thee.” Isaiah 41:10,13

  30. Thank you so much for the update, and the picture. My children have been especially touched to see baby Susannah Joy. We are continuing to pray for her, and Melanie and Nathan. I am so thankful that Melanie has been able to hold her. I know that must have been such a tender and precious moment. A new burden on my heart is that the Lord will be glorified, and that you will be able to lovingly and boldly witness of our Lord to all of those at the hospital.
    In Christ’s Love,
    Sarah, for all in our family

  31. I continue to pray for you and your family each morning, and as the Lord brings you to mind. May you have His joy as you rejoice in this little one, and His peace as you entrust her to His hands whatever the outcome. May He be a very real comfort and strength to you at this time.

    HeatherHH

  33. Praying the Lord surround Nathan, Melanie, and Susannah today with His presence. May they sense His ministering angels hovering about them. May Nathan and Melanie be able to minister the Savior’s love in a special way to precious Susannah Joy. And may the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, guard their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

  35. Hi, I you don’t know me but I have heard all about you guys from Amie. She is one of my good friends and talks about you guys every so often. My heart goes out to you guys. I think Susannah is just precious and I had to try hard to not get teary eyed while reading this and looking at your pictures. I wanted to share something with you that I hope helps you and will encourage you.

    My sister just recently had a baby girl last summer on July 8. She was 12 weeks early. She weighed only 2lbs. 14oz. My sister had a hard pregnacy and she wanted this baby SO badly. She had waited for her for 5 years. We had many weeks of worry and frustration. We had good moments and bad. It was a constant roller coaster of emotion. My little niece Autumn Willow got to come home on September 16. Since then she has done nothing but grow healthy and strong. She is pretty much a miracle and I truely believe only because God decided we needed her did her let her stay. She is now 13lbs. 13oz. and pretty tiny for her age. We love her so much and are truely blessed by her in our lives.

    I tell you this not to gloat or brag but to give you hope. I kept telling my sister that even if God takes her home He gave her to you for this short time and just that is a huge blessing!

    Hannah B

  36. Such tender and precious moments. Thank you for sharing pictures and updates. Susannah is beautiful. We continue to hold your family in prayer for God’s divine intervention, wisdom where it is needed, healing, courage,and strength.
    Diana

  37. Dear Sweet Melanie and Nathan,
    I feel just awful as I am just now seeing this news. I haven’t checked the blog in a few days. I am so very sorry you are having to go through this, but I know our Lord is good and HE is holding you and your precious daughter in the palm of His ever loving and capable hands. In our Bible lesson this morning we were reading in Exodus about how God said He carried the children of Israel on eagle’s wings. That comforted my heart so much. He is carrying you on those same wings right now. Your daughter is just beautiful and so is her name. I am leaving to get on my knees right now and plead for her at the throne of grace. Please be assured of our continued prayers. The tears we streaming down my face immediately when I first viewed the pictures.
    Much love in CHrist and big (((((((HUGS))))))))))))
    Tina O.

  38. Praising God for small improvements … trusting God with the future!! Praying for you all.

  39. We are a family in Oklahoma and we are praying for your precious little one. It is times like these that we must hold on to Jehovah and trust Him to deliver us from or through the trial. He is able.

    Bob, Cindy

  40. (((HUGS)))
    I know how precious it was to hold your sweet baby! Our son is just a month post NICU. Bless you all. I am praying. She is so pretty!

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