I am sitting here by Rance's bedside, watching him sleep.  Rance has been in the hospital for the past few days with a raging case of pneumonia.  He is doing a little better, but right now it's too soon to tell just how good.  He is still a pretty sick little boy ...

Rance is eight years old.  He has Down syndrome along with congenital heart problems.  This is what makes his having pneumonia so dangerous: any number of things can happen, but so far, nothing has.  I pray this continues.

Just to be on the safe side, the doctors have Rance knocked out, so his lungs can rest.  They have him on a vent and on a heart monitor, as well as IVs in his arms, which are pumping nutrients and strong medicines to prevent dehydration and to combat the pneumonia that's infiltrated both lungs. (Standard equipment in the ICU; it's normal to see people like this.)  He looks a lot worse than he really is but he's actually in fair conditon, which means he is doing much better than a lot of the other patients here in the Pediatric ICU.

Small blessings.  Answered prayers.  I have been keeping a vigil here at the hospital with Rance, leaving only to get the mail or get a change of clothes (or take a shower) every few days.  I mainly stay here, in case something should happen.  So far nothing has and for that I am truly grateful.

I knew Rance was going to be okay when I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit whispering in my ear: "Jesus will meet you there.  Just trust in Him and believe.  Rance WILL get better.  You just have to trust in Him fully and completely!"  Ever since, I have not been as stressed out and I feel so much better about Rance and how he's faring.

David, my husband, just left a while ago; he came after church to check in on our son, but then he had to go back home so he could relieve Mamma from watching our other child, six-year-old E.J. (Edwin Jacob).  He also came to bring me some food from Wendy's.  It was very good; I am already sick of eating hospital food!

Well, I am going to visit Rance again in a bit, then probably lie down in the waiting area and try to get some sleep.  I am past the point of exhaustion!  I will write in here again in a few days with an update; pray that Rance continues to improve and that he gets moved out of the PICU! I would greatly appreciate any (and ALL) prayers!  Thanks in advance!

~Vickie, Rance's mom, Temple, Texas.  :)

~To be continued.~