Today we celebrate Thomas VanderWoude’s birthday and pray with and for Baby Francis and his family (baby Francis is in NICU at the same hospital and begging TVW for help). God is so good and will never be outdone in generosity!

Thomas is responding well to his mother’s milk and his future is miraculously positive! 

Please keep up your prayers for both boys and their sweet families.

Update coming soon!

"No Greater Love hath a man than to lay down his life for his friend." Jesus shared these words with His disciples shortly before His ultimate sacrifice. These words are included in the prayer asking Thomas VanderWoude for his intercession during Cathy's pregnancy with Thomas.

Those who knew Thomas VanderWoude would say he was happy in the background. He was such a sturdy foundation for others quietly working behind the scenes: "he didn’t worry about whether he was the most qualified — he just stepped in" (Dan VW). The following update is filled with quiet hope as Cathy and Dave await yet another round of test results. 

Update from dad (David):

He is Risen! Truly, He is Risen!

Good Friday, a third genetic test was initiated using a cheek swab and results should be back in ten days. The first two tests that used an umbilical cord blood sample returned with no detected abnormalities. Please use caution with this news and continue to pray for Thomas, all the little babies in the NICU, their families, and the medical staff that attends to them. 

Venerable Fulton Sheen's final Good Friday message spoke about how God communicates with us: "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world." Please pray that all the families and staff in the NICU are roused to receive and strengthen in Faith.

Thomas's CPAP was removed on Holy Saturday. He responded well and is breathing on his own. Small doses of his mother's milk are administered through a baby-sized feeding tube placed and today Thomas will attempt bottle feeding! 

The way I see it Thomas is exceeding all earthly expectations.

Today, with the whole Church we celebrate Easter within the Octave and the quiet hopefulness in the final resurrection for all our departed loved ones and this day in a particular way for Pope Francis. May the perpetual light shine upon him and may his soul and the souls of all the faithfully departed rest in peace. 

"The only time our Lord asked the Apostles for anything was the night He went into agony. Not for activity did He plead but for an hour of companionship." (Bishop Fulton Sheen) This is the quote on the door to the Perpetual Adoration Chapel of our parish which is dedicated to Thomas VanderWoude. Thank you for your companionship as you pray for the The Cox Family in their hour of need. Your generous outpouring of support is staggering! Be assured, the Cox's are offering this burden for you and your intentions. 

Update from dad (David):
Thomas was extubated yesterday (4/16) around noon. As expected, it is difficult to breathe after extube, so they put a baby CPAP on him. They are keeping very close eye on him. Pain relief and extracting the secretions/gunk from tummy were main goals. The doctors administered some steroids to help reduce inflammation of trachea and bronchi. Thomas in prone position as this reduced pressure on lungs, as opposed to supine position.

I had the privilege and honor of saying almost every prayer known to the Mystical Body of Christ with Thomas's Godparents in the NICU room with their family via phone. They are an amazing family and it is evident that prayer and devotion is like exercise, one must keep doing it every day to get better. They seem to be at the triathlete level of prayer fitness. I hope to get there soon, but I am still at the level of one getting the tour of the gym after becoming a gym member. 

We prayed in English, Latin, and Aramaic. What a treasure that my son was able to hear, or at least feel the acoustics of the language of the Church AND the language that was spoken by Our Lord.

I know Thomas sensed this as well because during prayer, he looked right up at me and locked eyes for a while. 

Thomas is digesting nutrients well and passing gas post intestinal surgery. Which is a very good sign that the surgery was a success!  

In your generosity, please pray for another NICU baby's family at the same hospital: Baby Francis's family needs your prayers. 

Thomas was extubated today. He is not handling it well and we are praying he does not need to be intubated again. 

From dad:

Breathing tube out.

CPAP on.

Getting gunk out of his lungs and throat.

Sounds normal.

Update from dad (David):

Surgery went well.

Able to remove appendix and a diverticulum. This is a good thing.

Got everything back in where it should be. Closed it up, gave him a cute little belly button, so the surgeon says . havent seen it yet.

He's back in his NICU room. I can go back in a few minutes.

Thanks be to God.