A DAY OF SADNESS
Today we lost our beautiful little Helena. She fought hard, but this morning at 9am she went into cardiac arrest and the doctors and nurses fought valiently to save her. Helena was struggling to take breathes ever since her breathing tubes were taken out. The doctors were about to put the breathing tubes back in (re-intubate) this morning, but she went into arrest before they did it. Then they were able to bring her back and intubate, but they lost her heartbeat again and worked for almost an hour. The doctors were shocked and don't know why she didn't survive. We are shocked and our hearts are breaking.

Her funeral will be at Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo, MN on Thursday, April 10 at 11am. Visitation will be before the service at 9:30am.

As we planned her funeral tonight, our bishop read to us Psalm 69:

1Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.
2I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.
3I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.

13But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me. With your faithful help
14rescue me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.
15Do not let the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the Pit close its mouth over me.
16Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
17Do not hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress—make haste to answer me.
18Draw near to me, redeem me, set me free because of my enemies.

These words are comforting us now and they also make us think that Helena was praying this prayer as she was struggling for breath. God has delivered her, but not in the way we can understand. We love you all and thanks for your prayers.

Aaron and Mary

POST-SURGERY UPDATE #3
This morning Helena had her chest tubes and breathing tube (ventilator) removed. She has been working hard to breathe today and they are watching some fluid build up in and around her lungs. If things do not improve, they will have to put the breathing tube back in. She is still in the Pediatric ICU and she will have to stay there until she is free of a breathing tube for at least 24 hours. It has been a roller coaster today, but every child recovers at a different rate and has different complications. Thanks for the continued prayers.

POST-SURGERY UPDATE #2
Since Helena is still completely sedated, we spent the night away from the hospital. We got back to the hospital earlier this morning. She had a good night last night and her blood oxygen levels have been holding steady. They continue to watch some blood around her right lung that was left over from the surgery. Today's plan will be for Helena to rest and they may take the breathing tube out. The doctors are still debating that one and so they may wait till tomorrow. Once the breathing tube is taken out, she will not be completely sedated. The main concern about her being awake is that she would pull out her IVs or chest tubes. That is the latest around here, more updates to come. Thanks again for all the prayers!

Aaron, Mary and Helena

POST-SURGERY UPDATE!!!!!!
Greetings from Minneapolis Children's Hospital. We have had a long day, but Helena came through her surgery with flying colors. Things went smoothly and there were no complications. We are most excited that she no longer has reddish-blue lips and blue fingertips and toes. She has the most lovely pink lips now! We had no idea that she was even blue before - she was just Helena.

Currently she is heavily sedated and she has a big dressing on her chest, two chest tubes, a central line, an artery line and other various equipment hooked up to her. But other than that, she is beautiful. She is also intubated, but that will be removed tomorrow or the next day.

Thanks for all your prayers and support. We have been feeling lifted up and supported throughout this experience. We will add pictures when Helena is not hooked up to so many machines.

Hello Everyone. We are getting ready to go to Minneapolis tomorrow (Wednesday) for Helena's Pre-op appointment. Her surgery will be at 8am on Thursday morning. Thank you for all your prayers and support.

This is a picture of Helena with the Easter Bunny at Hanska Community Center. She was in love with the Easter Bunny and not afraid at all. She kept saying "Bun Bun" the whole time she was on his lap. And she cried for "Bun Bun" all the way home.

Hello all! We are terrible at keeping this blog up, but I was reminded again today by some dear people in Kiester, MN that I should send out an update.

Helena is doing well. She will be nineteen months on March 24. She was a late walker, but she started finally at 17 months. And she is moving right along. She is also very verbal and adds new words and word combinations everyday.

Here is a picture of her sitting on her perch in the kitchen and also two pictures of Helena helping out with laundry - one of her favorite pasttimes.

AND, today is the anniversary of her baptism. One year ago today Helena was officially welcomed into God's family. So much has happened in one year!

We will continue to keep you posted as we get near Helena's surgery on April 3.

Greetings everyone! Ok, we know it has been a really long time since we have updated our blog, but we are doing it now! Well, things are going well for us here in southern MN and we are still getting used to our new life as ordained ministers. We have now been living in a house for four months now and we love it! It is so much better than apartment living.

Our days are busy keeping track of the activities at our four churches which make up The Prairie Land Lutheran Parish. Much has been accomplished in the last few months. We have established a new office, started a youth group, performed five weddings, six funerals and started a men's Bible study.

Helena is doing well, but she will need a heart catheterization in two weeks at the Minneapolis Children's Hospital. The heart cath will determine when her next surgery will be. More than likely the surgery will need to be done within the next month or two. About a month ago we discovered that Helena was quite anemic and so we have been working to increase her iron level.

Helena has recently discovered the joy and wonder of a television show called Sesame Street. Her face lights up whenever she sees Big Bird and she shouts, "Ba-Ba." Aaron has also been busily working to make Helena a U2 fan - so far so good!

Aaron has been busy fulfilling his childhood dreams. First, he joined the local fire department and has been taking firefighter classes. Aaron also joined the ambulance service in St. James and is on call two times each month. Last weekend he took an emergency driving class and learned how to operate the ambulance with lights and sirens! Mary likes to make fun of Aaron and is unsure if it is good that he is fulfilling so many childhood dreams at once!