He Answers ALL Prayers

Today's post begins on September 7, 2017, when Maverick, just two days old, had an MRI of the brain to determine if he had Joubert Syndrome.

Baby Maverick, swaddled tightly and resting sounding, heading in for his MRI.

Because Joubert Syndrome is a genetic condition, every pregnancy Adam and I have carries a 25% chance that our child could be affected with Joubert Syndrome.  This is a risk that Adam and I were well aware of when we planned our pregnancy, trusting God's plans are always best in our life.

Throughout my pregnancy with Maverick, we followed his development closely with the perinatologist here in Des Moines, had level 2 ultrasounds, and sent all of our imaging to the great team led by Dr. Daniel Doherty at the Hindbrain Malformation Research Program at the University of Washington in Seattle.  All of our ultrasounds looked "as reassuring as possible" that the baby (whose gender was unknown to us until birth -- we love the surprise!) did not have Joubert Syndrome, but the efficacy of ultrasound imaging for diagnosis of Joubert Syndrome is not yet established, so no doctor could definitively state the baby was not affected.

After the MRI on September 7th, we were all released from the hospital and headed home to begin our life as a new family of four.  On the evening of Friday, September 8th, however, we received the MRI results from the doctor in Des Moines that reported a finding of "hypoplasia of the inferior cerebellar vermis" in Maverick's cerebellum.  This was the exact same finding in Ryker's MRI, which led to his diagnosis of Joubert Syndrome.

A family full of boys!

When I heard those words, I cried.  It was truly difficult to process.  Adam was standing with me as I received the MRI results, and he immediately said, "It will be okay!  Look at Ryker and how awesome he is -- we can do this."  He was right, and I will forever be grateful for Adam's love and faith for our family in that moment -- he calmed me, and he immediately set our focus back on God and His plans, and as always, we put our faith in the Lord.  We prayed over our boys, and were preparing ourselves to raise two awesome little dudes with Joubert Syndrome.

We immediately sent Maverick's MRI results to our expert team in Seattle to review the images of the brain and confirm the diagnosis of Joubert Syndrome.  The MRI results were received in Seattle by Tuesday, September 12th, and -- despite the packed schedule of Dr. Doherty -- he took time (as he always does) to immediately read the images.  At 5:30 PM we heard the following:

"Maverick does not have any concerning features for Joubert Syndrome and he does not have cerebellar vermis hypoplasia."  In other words, our doctor in Seattle, the LEADING EXPERT in hindbrain malformations and Joubert Syndrome, said Maverick's MRI is healthy!  I still do not understand how the doctor in Des Moines could note the the EXACT same finding in Maverick's MRI as was in Ryker's MRI, but the fact that our Maverick's MRI is healthy (after the initial report) is truly miraculous.

If you have ever questioned God's presence, or his ability to answer prayers, I hope this is proof for you that God is always working and answering ALL prayers -- known and unknown.  

In Ryker, he answered an unknown prayer for us which has given us the opportunity to raise an awesome little boy with Joubert Syndrome and help families across the world dealing with a difficult diagnosis in their child.  Our neurologist here in Des Moines has even started reading MRIs differently, and just a few weeks ago he called us to meet a local family whose 13 month old was just diagnosed with Joubert Syndrome.  RYKER IS CHANGING THE WORLD!  In Maverick, God answered our prayer for a healthy MRI, and He created an awesome little brother for Ryker.  I have no doubt that Ryker and Maverick will grow up as best buddies, taking care of each other and always having one another's backs.

God answers prayers.  God works miracles.  God is GOOD. 

Ryker + Maverick

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"You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples." ~ Psalm 77:14