Update on Baby Levi

Our little two-month-old grandson Levi is making progress overcoming the challenges he was born with. Here is an update on how he is doing so you can pray with us for him and his parents.

Paul and Kate took Levi to Mayo Clinic yesterday for a full day of appointments. Overall, it was a very encouraging day! Here are some highlights Paul told us about.

The persistent diaper rash Levi has had is almost gone! Now his parents have one less cream to apply.

The follow-up on the surgery on his "little pooper" was encouraging. the healing is progressing wonderfully. Now there is one less dressing to apply! And they don't have to wake him up every night at 2 a.m. to change his diaper and dressings anymore. If he wakes up on his own, they will change them, but if he sleeps through the night, they can let him!

Surgery on Levi's cleft lip is scheduled for December 14. This will include just a 2- to 3-day stay in the hospital. The downside is that Levi is not allowed to touch his lip for three weeks! That means that when no one is right there to keep his hands away from his face, he will need to be restrained. (I'm thinking baby straight jacket, but I hope not.)

Since Levi is not permitted to have tummy time (the wiggling on his stomach could irritate his exposed bladder), he always lies on his back. This has made a flat area on his head that the doctors said would be best to correct now. This is optional, but recommended for Levi. So, soon he will be fitted for a helmet that he will wear for the next three months.

Levi will see the urologist about his upcoming bladder surgery the end of this month. The current plan is to have the surgery in late January.

Levi is growing and he is smiling more now! Thank you for your prayers. God is not healing Levi as quickly as we would like, but He is healing him a little at a time!