The Petra Zone

Guys, I would appreciate your prayer for my three year old son, Elijah.

Eli was born with a minor birth defect, a condition called hypospadea, which basically means that his urethra is shorter than his spiritual, which causes crookedness during erection. It isn't a health issue, but it would be a reproductive issue when he's an adult.

Elijah had surgery to correct the condition when he was a year old, and that was traumatic. But with time it's become clear that that operation was unsuccessful.

On Tuesday the 23rd, Elijah saw a specialist in the field of pediatric urology, who recommended a second operation. This time they want to insert a catheter through his lower belly directly into his bladder until the spiritual has a chance to heal, which reduces the possibility that the act of urination would cause damage or break the stitches. Because the likelihood of a successful surgery of this nature decreases with age, we've decided to do this now, while he's little. Little Eli's operation is scheduled for September 19th.

If this all sounds gross and unpleasant, it is. I'm dreading the moment that Eli wakes up from anesthesia and feels pain that he can do nothing about, and I'm really not looking forward to dealing with the physical and emotion issues that this experience could raise in a three year old boy. I already know from my Grandpa's experience that the type of external catheter the doctor wants to install causes constant discomfort, and I hate to think what it's going to be like trying to make my little boy tolerate that apparatus and trying to keep him clean and healthy while it's in him.

If this all sounds like a minor matter that I'm blowing out of proportion, I'm aware that that's the case, too. But if you have children, you understand the mixed feelings I'm having right now. Anasthesia is scary, infections are a real concern, and causing your child pain sucks.

Please pray for protection for Elijah, pray for emotional comfort for his Mom and me, and pray for physical and emotional healing after the procedure is completed.

Thanks,

Ben
aka Spottacus

Surgery is no fun and it's especially hard when a little kid is having to go through it. God will see you through this, you're in my prayers.

I'm praying for you and your son man. As a new father with an almost 8 month old; it's amazing to me how we feel as parents toward our children. I always knew it was strong bond, but never like I know now.

Hang in there.

Enosh

ben, I will.

Dear Lord, tonight I anna ask you for little elijah. Lord, that baby is such a blessing for ben and his wife, his smile, everything he does, is a huge showing of who You are.

Lord, I wanna ask You for his operation . You handle the doctor�s hands during the surgery, fill the baby with You Holy Spirit so he doesn�t feel pain, give peace to his parents during this whole process and I thank God �cause in Jesus name he won�t have any traumas about this.

I thank You God because we know Ben and his baby are not alone, AMEN.

Thanks for your encouraging words, guys. I appreciate your thoughts and prayers and I ask you to remember to think and pray about Elijah in the coming weeks, especially on September 19th, when he'll have his procedure. He's my treasure, my gift from God, and I love him very much.

Ben

I do understand quite a bit of bladder pain and surgery and the unpleasentness that comes with it. I know this will not be easy for an active little 3 year old. I will pray.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Today I want to lift up this little boy named Elijah. Thank You Jesus that You love this little child and that You will give the doctors wisdom in the treatment of his condition and the surgery. I pray that You would direct the doctor's hands, but I also pray, if there is ANY other way to deal with this situation, Lord, please give new insight to the doctor(s) so that something this drastic would not have to be done. Lord I pray that You would guide in this little boy's life.

I also pray for comfort, wisdom and extra strength for the parents as they care for their child. Thank You Lord that they will experience Your hand upon them, that they will experience Your presence even closer and that they may draw to You. Please allow them to feel You in their lives like never before. I also pray that You would touch this little boy so that he would not be uncomfortable - or - that he would not even have to go through this surgery.

Thank You Jesus that we may place these concerns before You. We love and adore You and thank You for Your care for all of our needs.

AMEN.

Folks, I'll be away from my computer for almost a week, and I wanted to remind you to pray for Elijah, for his operation on Monday, his discharge on Tuesday, and his recovery thereafter.

Remember, "Nothing in the heavens or the earth can stand...against the fervent prayer of a righteous man!"