Claire is Three and in Critical Condition

Family | 5/31/2010 | AKA Elena

[AKA Elena]

Claire is the three year old granddaughter of my nephew, Tim and his wife, Susie. Claire lives in Texas with her mom and dad Tiffany and Tyler.

Yesterday she was found floating in a pool ... I do not know details beyond that bare and stark fact.

She is now at Children's Hospital, but the family in CA is unsure if this is in Houston or Dallas. She is on the ventilater 50% of the time and off it breathing on her own the other 50%.

She is on a cooling pad to keep brain swelling down if possible.

Please join my family in prayer for Claire and her sisters, Autumn and Heidi and our whole clan.

[AKA Elena]

Further positive news on Claire:

Claire news:
an x-ray showed that her lungs are clear. WOW!!!
She is still sleeping, but they are beginning the process of raising her body temperature back to normal.
It's one more step in this long process.
Each new report is so encouraging!!!

Report from my niece, Mary Ellen, greataunt to Claire.

[Quix]

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

PRAYER REQ TO END TIMES LIST

[Joya]

Father God, touch this little one with healing and restoration, in the Name of Jesus Christ I ask this, amen.

[cubreporter]

Time and patience and prayer. More prayer than anything else. Come on little Claire...hang in there darling... you can do it! Fight hard and know everyone is praying and fighting for you as well. Thank you for the update. God bless everyone involved and may the knowledge of the Physicians be enough to bring this baby back to her family.

[Grammy]

Praying this evening for little Claire.

[EDINVA]

Such encouraging news! Little Claire was on my mind most of today, and I had very positive feelings. So glad to read this update.

[RebelTex]

Prayers up for Claire and her family.

[wolfcreek]

Good news.

Continued prayers for for recovery.

[AKA Elena]

Tiffany, Mom of Claire, has posted a blog which has a picture of Claire and can be accessed through copy and pasting of this: http://www.ourclaire.wordpress.com

Of course, I will keep updating until Claire is out of danger, but they have a darling picture of her on their pages and sometimes it is easier to generate prayer when you can picture the person for whom you are praying.

I did not read a great deal different than I updated last night, but I will follow this as well as the family postings and e-mails that are circulation throughout the country.

May our Freeper Family praying together rise to merit the Mercy of Our God.

[baseballmom]

Prayers for Claire, and your family too.

[AngieGal]

I will pray for precious Claire. My heart aches for her and your family.

[LibertyRocks]

That is certainly encouraging news! Praise God! Prayers continuing.

[amom]

I just saw this thread. Know Claire and your entire family will be in our thoughts and prayers for the duration.

[AKA Elena]

UPDATE: 1:43 PDT on June 2, 2010---

Claire is showing definite signs of improvement ... the critical time is now down to 36 hours.

She did start to raise her temperature, without change by the professionals in her cooling blanket, but they brought it back down to 93degrees.

Her color has improved and her pupils reacted to light, but the doctors did say words to the effect that that they should not put great stock in that one neural sign.

May her Guardian Angel remain at her side!

[amom]

Thank you for the update on Claire. I’ve had the unfortunate or fortunate experience of the waiting game with a child. I learned two things; it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever been called on to do AND there is such a thing as miracles. 8D. Prayers continue.

[AKA Elena]

Update from about 10:00 PM, Texas Time.

From Claire's blog ... small steps, but forward...written by my oldest nephew, Chuck.

My brother Tim, aka Papa (Grandpa)Thanks all of the family of God!

They started taking Claire off a meds that paralyzed her temporarily and she is moving her feet! She opened her eyes for a second! She has moved her hands...

We are all expectant ... Your prayers are working.

God is doing something wonderful.

The doctors commented that this was a good day for Claire. Thank you for all your love and support.

[amom]

Oh my gosh!! Claire moved her feet and hands and opened her eyes. Such good news! Prayers continue.

AKA Elena thanks so much for the ping. Claire is such a lovely little girl...

[Albion Wilde]

Claire is making steady progress, prayer warriors! Updates posted at 90, 100, 101, 109, 114, and 116.

[Albion Wilde]

Freepmail for you...

[AKA Elena]

The following update is not to make people give up, it is to encourage more prayer on behalf of little Claire and her family. Please excuse the frequent updates ... I feel those who have become involved are entitled to know the good and the not so good about Our Claire. It was written by Tyler, my grand nephew and Dad of Claire.

Thursday, June 3: Update 2 June 3, 2010 -- 6:35 pm

We got the MRI results and the only word I have to describe it is ‘ambiguous.’ I don’t know why this is affecting me so acutely, but this news in particular is hitting me hard. It may have been that I was hoping for too much.

The MRI revealed that there is damage to the Basal Ganglia in her brain. This area of the brain is a deep portion of the brain and disorders in this area can lead manifestations like Cerebral Palsy. The neurologist used ‘mild’ to describe the damage but it is a nuanced use of the word: while the current MRI looks mild, there is potential that the damage could still be devastating. This is where the ambiguity comes in. We were told on the first night that the extent of damage on functions could be between 0 and 100%; that appraisal remains the same.

While the doctor and neurologist who conferred on the scan have been practicing for decades, they could only describe what they were seeing as different: this is a new case to a neurologist that has seen much in 25+ years. This ‘different-ness’ doesn’t leave things open to interpretation: there’s just nothing to interpret. The MRI results are a data point that gave just confirmed that our uncertainty was warranted. Things are still very uncertain.

So where does that leave us? The only person that can answer that question is Claire. The damage to her brain is done. Nobody knows to what extent. So we are now getting ready for an exercise in ‘Show us what you can do.’ While we were wrapping up our MRI results meeting, the doctor turned off the remaining sedatives. We’ve started the process of removing whatever roadblocks she would have to directing her own recovery. No more sedation meds. No more paralytics. And as soon as she’s able, no more assisted breathing.

We’re going to be looking for progress. We don’t know how deep the injury goes so we will be anxiously waiting, praying and hoping to be shocked. Because that’s what it’s going to take.

Tiffany, Autumn, Heidi and I are missing our daughter and sister. My heart is hurting for her and I am frustrated that I can’t fight for her. As a father I have always been aware of what I can protect her from and I have endeavored to keep those things at bay: it’s so difficult that I can’t see those things that are standing in front of her right now. It’s harder that I don’t know which obstacles she’ll be able to lift on her own and which will be permanent. I want to move those mountains for her. I can’t.

I am sorry we don’t have more news to report. The next seven days will tell us much. And as a skeptic, I’m asking for a miracle.

The ache in Tyler's post is palpable. We have to storm the heavens with sincere passion on Claire's behalf. If we could manage a short prayer every day of the next seven, for Claire's brain to heal and be wholly functional or critically functional, we would be asking Him for a great deal, but as we all know, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!