Jonah's Journey
Donation protected
Jonah's Journey began at birth in the NICU and has continued on every year. Throughout his journey he has been diagnosed with: Hydrocephalus, Syringomyelia, Tethered Spinal Cord, Spina Bifida, Low Muscle Tone & Weakness, Autism Spectrum, Chronic Kidney Disease, & Neurogenic Bladder & Bowel. He has had over 15 surgeries (including a broken hip & femur surgery, throughout his journey.
He is my Hero!!!
Throughout the past 10 years, we have traveled to Cincinnati Children's Hospital to see a Complex Urology Specialist. The past 4 years has been focused on seeing a Colorectal Specialist.
On October 28, (Jonah's 20th birthday) he will have another intensive Colorectal Surgery. The surgeon will open Jonah's original abdominal scar once again. In order for Jonah to "evacuate" his bowels, he has to have daily enema flushes through his abdominal wall. If you want more information, google: "MACE procedure bowel". The stoma opening that we have been using, has closed up, due to excessive tissue growth. The surgery is to locate a "new spot" to create a opening for the enema flushes.
The surgery will last a minimum of 6 hours, depending on how much scar tissue the surgeon has to remove, once he opens up the abdominal wall. Jonah will be in the hospital at the least of 1 week, but could be longer. We will have to fly back to Cincinnati 4 weeks after surgery for testing and post-op appointment. After that, we will go back every 6 months, until we find a Colorectal surgeon in Arkansas, willing to take on Jonah's complex case.
Over the years, we have been blessed with financial help for these trips from our family, friends, & our church! I am trying to find other ways to help raise funds, and my sister suggested I try, "Go Fund Me".
Above all, I ask you to pray for my sweet Hero! He has a 19 yr. old body, but his emotional development is often on the much younger side. He is a joy to take care of and I am blessed to be his Mom! Pray for his emotions, for the surgeon to have steady hands, & for Jonah's recovery to go smoothly. My sweet husband, John, will not be able to go with us, due to recovering from Knee Replacement Surgery. Jonah has a sweet Emotional Support Dog, named Paloma, He loves her very much & relies on her for comfort. He wants to take her with us, but that cannot happen. Pray that throughout this next chapter in Jonah's Journey, that I will remain strong in my faith in the Lord, that I will remember that He is in control of every part of this journey, that I will have the comfort knowing that the Lord is in that OR with Jonah & his medial team, and for faith & belief in Christ to shine through to everyone I come in contact with.
If you are able to donate, I would be grateful & blessed, but I cherish your prayers, above all.
Tina
God is ever present and ever faithful.
He is my Hero!!!
Throughout the past 10 years, we have traveled to Cincinnati Children's Hospital to see a Complex Urology Specialist. The past 4 years has been focused on seeing a Colorectal Specialist.
On October 28, (Jonah's 20th birthday) he will have another intensive Colorectal Surgery. The surgeon will open Jonah's original abdominal scar once again. In order for Jonah to "evacuate" his bowels, he has to have daily enema flushes through his abdominal wall. If you want more information, google: "MACE procedure bowel". The stoma opening that we have been using, has closed up, due to excessive tissue growth. The surgery is to locate a "new spot" to create a opening for the enema flushes.
The surgery will last a minimum of 6 hours, depending on how much scar tissue the surgeon has to remove, once he opens up the abdominal wall. Jonah will be in the hospital at the least of 1 week, but could be longer. We will have to fly back to Cincinnati 4 weeks after surgery for testing and post-op appointment. After that, we will go back every 6 months, until we find a Colorectal surgeon in Arkansas, willing to take on Jonah's complex case.
Over the years, we have been blessed with financial help for these trips from our family, friends, & our church! I am trying to find other ways to help raise funds, and my sister suggested I try, "Go Fund Me".
Above all, I ask you to pray for my sweet Hero! He has a 19 yr. old body, but his emotional development is often on the much younger side. He is a joy to take care of and I am blessed to be his Mom! Pray for his emotions, for the surgeon to have steady hands, & for Jonah's recovery to go smoothly. My sweet husband, John, will not be able to go with us, due to recovering from Knee Replacement Surgery. Jonah has a sweet Emotional Support Dog, named Paloma, He loves her very much & relies on her for comfort. He wants to take her with us, but that cannot happen. Pray that throughout this next chapter in Jonah's Journey, that I will remain strong in my faith in the Lord, that I will remember that He is in control of every part of this journey, that I will have the comfort knowing that the Lord is in that OR with Jonah & his medial team, and for faith & belief in Christ to shine through to everyone I come in contact with.
If you are able to donate, I would be grateful & blessed, but I cherish your prayers, above all.
Tina
God is ever present and ever faithful.
Organizer
Tina Hollman Barfield
Organizer
Fayetteville, AR