Prayer for Aubrey Winstead

I've been praying for little Aubrey Winstead (3 1/2 years old) for some three and a half years now. She is the granddaughter of two dear friends of mine, Skip and Terri Weir (see http://www.weironamission.org).

Little Aubrey was born with a congenital heart defect, which has required countless surgical interventions -- and far more suffering than any 3 year old should endure. My situation pales into insignificance when compared to what Aubrey and her family must endure.

For this reason, I felt it important to share their prayer request on the Prayer Firewall, and I ask you to take up Aubrey's cause in intercession before the throne of God. Here is the latest news report that I've received from Skip and Terri.

First the good news: We were able to get enough pictures on the echo for them to be satisfied and we do not have to do a sedated one tomorrow... So, thank goodness for that!

The not so good: Aubrey is still suffering from the **Protein-Losing Enteropathy Secondary to Congestive Heart Failure which is causing her protein levels to be low... The problem with her protein levels being low is that it allows the water in her blood to seep out of her veins and it can leak into her lungs and around her heart causing heart failure... Since she hasn't been eating, she's not getting the nutrition she needs to help that level go up... But the problem can persist whether or not she eats what she needs to... If they find that this surgery has not helped to resolve the problem and a better diet also does not cure it, they will have to do another catheterization in a couple months... If they still cannot find a resolution for the protein loss issue, the only option left is a heart transplant... For now, they are giving her albumen (which replaces the protein in her blood) through her iv and hoping that with that replacement and a better diet (along with time for her body to adjust since the surgery) she will stop having this complication... In the mean time, we are waiting and our hospital stay has been extended until Friday or later depending on what progress they see...

Soooooo, we need prayer! We just need this protein loss complication to cease and desist! Please pray over Aubrey's mental and emotional stability so that she can be happy, calm, and return to her normal behavior and diet... The prospect of more tests and a longer hospital stay is very emotionally taxing on all of us... And the idea of facing a heart transplant is unbearable... So, we are asking you to believe for Aubrey's total and complete healing with us and just lift her body and spirit up in prayer with us... We are asking for and believing for a miracle to put an end to Aubrey's suffering and allow her a long, healthy, happy life! Thank you for your persistence in prayer with us and for the showered support... We are so blessed!

**Protein-losing Enteropathy (PLE)The abnormal loss of protein in the stool, resulting in crampy abdominal pain, diarrhea, fluid retention and swelling of the abdomen, extremities and eyelids. PLE is a rare complication of the Fontan operation, and occasionally other forms of congenital heart disease.

If you would like to encourage the Weir/Winstead family, find out more information, or subscribe to their regular updates, you can contact them directly at weirfamily@weironamission.org.