Archive for May 2008
Titus is discharged!
Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 10:58 PM by Paul Kovach
Thank you all for your constant prayers for our family and especially Titus. God has answered above and beyond. This afternoon we received the call that Titus was to be discharged this evening instead of Monday. They still do not know what caused the entire ordeal and all of the tests came back negative. The only thing that we can think of is that the cold which swept though our family also infected Titus. Whereas everyone else's bodies were able to fight it, Titus' was not and sequentially succumbed to it. It is similar as to how most people are able to come down with the flu and be alright whereas to others (such as elderly and young children) the flu is a life-threatening illness. The doctor said that Titus has exceeded their expectations for recovery and was ready to be back home with his mom and dad. He is doing very well, as you will be able to see from the photos. He is a able to breathe well, hold his own body temperature, and is eating 2-3 times what the doctors expected him to be able to hold down after such an ordeal. Having Titus come home is the best birthday gift I could have gotten.
I cannot thank you all enough for your prayers, support, and letters that you have sent to us. It is through you and your prayers that we were able to bear up under this trial.
Edited on: Sunday, November 16, 2008 9:40 AMPosted in News (RSS), Prayer N Praise (RSS)
May 9th - Kovach Ministries Baby Update
Posted on Friday, May 09, 2008 at 1:09 AM by Paul Kovach
Day 3
Thank you all so very much for your prayers for our family and especially for Titus. Today, Titus crossed three more milestones. At 11:30am the doctors felt Titus had made enough progress in order to remove his ventilator tube. During the night he did not have any periods of respiratory cessation. There were times where his respiratory rate dropped, but this was due to the excessive amount of secretions in his lungs. When this happens, the doctors have been able to successfully suction his lungs clean and Titus' breathing returns to normal. The second milestone is in regards to his body temperature. He is now able to once again maintain his own body temperature without the assistance of a heat lamp and is regaining his normal pinkish color. He is now able to simply be swaddled as a baby normally would be. Finally, Titus is off of the IV's and is able to eat normally again. Tonight Ashley was able to nurse Titus for a full feeding. He was able to eat about 2 ounces. His appetite is back and in full swing!
The doctors still are not sure as to what initially brought about this incident. All of the lab tests for bacterial infections came back negative as did the viral tests which they ran. The possibility of any form of cancer was also ruled out. With that being said, the doctors are very pleased with the rate of his recovery. He will continue to remain in isolation in the Natal Intensive Care Unit until he is released, but it would appear that the worst is behind us and now we can look forward toward recovery.
Please continue to pray for him as he strives to regain weight he lost through this ordeal. Being a preemie, he did not have much weight to lose to begin with.
From the Photos, you will be able to see how much better he looks. We praise the Lord for his recovery and again thank you all for how you have been upholding and how you will continue to uphold both Titus and the rest of our family before the throne of our Mighty God!
If you have missed any of the updates, we have also been posting them on our blog so people are able to catch up.
Edited on: Sunday, November 16, 2008 9:41 AMPosted in News (RSS), Prayer N Praise (RSS)
May 8th - Kovach Ministries Baby Update
Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 at 5:46 PM by Paul Kovach
Day 2
Titus made it past the 24 hour mark which is considered a milestone by the doctors. During the night he continued to stop breathing for periods of time. So far this morning and early afternoon, he has not had any such episodes. The lab cultures for the meningitis have not grown anything indicating that he most likely does not have bacteria in his spinal fluid. So, now the doctors are back to trying to find what is ailing Titus. The next probable cause is a respiratory viral agent. Last night they gave him, in addition to the multiple different antibiotics, a broad spectrum anti-viral medication. This morning he began to expel a yellow fluid and mucus-like substance from his lungs. When he does this, his respiratory rate drops very low, but does not stop. So far, the doctors have been able to suction his lungs clear during each episode. Their hope is that this indicates the medications are beginning to take effect. The doctors have him set to stay hospitalized for no less than 5 days, maybe more.
Through all of this, God's grace has been overshadowing. The hospital was gracious enough to provide housing for the first two nights at one of the hotels across the street. The hospital would like for us to stay close for Caleb's sake.
I want to say a special thank you to all of you who have been in earnest prayer and to all the churches that have been holding our family before the throne of grace. Thank you for all of the encouraging e-mail and letters. They have been a real sense of encouragement.
We have a couple of photos of the twins on the way and at the hospital. Click here to view them.
or go to http://www.kovachministries.com/photogallery/album/2008/Family/Titus%20at%20Cincinnati%20Childrens%20hospital/index.html
We will do our best to keep you updated as we are able.
Edited on: Sunday, November 16, 2008 9:42 AMPosted in Prayer N Praise (RSS)
!!Urgent Prayer!! Kovach Ministries Baby Update
Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2008 at 5:44 PM by Paul Kovach
Dear Friends and Supporting Churches,
We are requesting urgent prayer for one of the twins, Titus Luke. I am writing to you from the Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati. This morning, when Titus awoke he was bluish grey and very cold. We tried to wrap him even warmer and keep him next to our bodies. It was then that we noticed that he was taking 3 or 4 shallow breaths and then not breathing for 10-30 seconds at a time. I took him to the local hospital. Saturday, we had to take both Caleb and Titus to the hospital because of illness and a thick yellow substance which was covering their eyes. The diagnosis of that trip was a rare form of bacteria. The doctors believe that the bacteria had gone into Titus’ blood and is now systemic. The main concern, which may be causing the natal apnea, is meningitis. While we were at our local hospital, they called a Natal Intensive Care Unit from Cincinnati to pick him up. We followed it to the Children’s Hospital where Titus has been admitted. They believe that he will have to remain here for about a week or more. He currently has to be on a ventilator due to his inability to breathe on his own. We may be taking Caleb to the ER to have him checked in since he has had the same bacteria and is still not doing well himself. Please pray. I will try to keep you updated as I am able.
Edited on: Thursday, May 08, 2008 5:45 PMPosted in Prayer N Praise (RSS)
Kovach Ministries Baby Update
Posted on Saturday, May 03, 2008 at 5:43 PM by Paul Kovach
Our family wanted to thank you for your diligent prayers for our family throughout Ashley’s pregnancy. God has been gracious and answered your prayers as we were all praying that she would be able to carry the twins at least until 34 weeks, which was April 15th. It is awesome how God answers direct prayer as Ashley went into labor and delivered Titus Luke and Caleb Joshua at 6:38am on April 15th. Ashley did have to have the children via cesarean since both were breech at the time of labor.
For the statistic enthusiasts, Caleb was firstborn at 6:38am. He weighed 4 pounds 7.6 ounces and was 16 ½ inches long. Titus, born at 6:39am, weighed in at 5 pounds 1 ounce and was 17 inches long. I will post photos as I am able and time permits.
We praise the Lord for his wonderful answers to prayer. Both children, even though being born at 34 weeks, were very healthy. One main concern for children born this early is that their lungs will not be fully developed. We are excited to report that both Caleb and Titus had fully developed lungs and their blood oxygen saturation level was at 100%. The second main concern is regarding their ability to eat properly. Again, both Caleb and Titus have hearty appetites and have been eating well and without incident. By the day after their birth, Caleb had dropped to 4 pounds 2 ounces and Titus to 4 pounds 10 ounces. They have since regained their birth weight.
The past two weeks have been very busy with adjusting to a new norm for our family. Caleb struggled with jaundice initially and had to be on a billirubin blanket at home through last week. I have been busy caring for Ashley, who has been recuperating from her cesarean. Unfortunately, she had a minor complication from the surgery. After the operation, Ashley developed a spinal fluid headache which is a result of spinal fluid leaking from the point of the epidural. Those who have experienced migraines and latter had a spinal headache say that there is no comparison of pain. Spinal headaches directly affect the central nervous system. By the third day, the doctors were able to perform what is called a “blood patch.” It is a process whereby they take 15cc’s of Ashley’s blood and inject it into the point of leakage in the spinal sac. As the blood clots it allows the membrane to heal and retain the spinal fluid.
Thank you for all of your prayer support for our family and especially during Ashley’s pregnancy and the healthy delivery of the twins. God used your prayers to bring all this to pass and we cannot thank you enough!
Posted in News (RSS), Prayer N Praise (RSS)