My Dad has been blogging fairly extensively over the past 12 hours about the activities and thoughts going on. If you want the play-by-play, check it out.
The surgery was the most intense stage of the transplant process so far, and it almost entirely depended on the skill and wisdom of the medical staff. Today and the next few hours and days and weeks will be even more difficult, and will rely almost entirely on Tricia. How will her body react to and accepts the new lungs? How will she mentally and emotionally respond. How hard will she push herself to get out of bed and start her new life.
These next few hours and days and weeks will be the most critical. There are too many possible complications to list right now on no sleep, so I'll blog about that later...for now, be praying that Tricia will stay infection and rejection free.
We are incredibly excited and blessed that we've come this far, and your encouragement and thoughts and prayers are more critical right now than ever before. I look forward to telling you of the day's progress tonight!
Thank you!
Nate
294 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 294 of 294Glad to hear everything so far has gone well. We're still here with you, and we're always praying :)
Praying for you and family -
I am so happy for you, Tricia & Gwyneth! God is so good! Happy Belated Birthday too. :) I LOVE seeing Gwyneth in that little outfit, so adorable! :) She look so awake and alert in the most recent picture with you! :)
That is such great news, Nate. I've been on tenterhooks all day because we were out and about and for some reason, my mobile wouldn't let me log on to your blog! Needless to say, we're so pleased to hear how well things are going so far. Sending lots of love to you, Tricia and little Gwyneth, and assuring you of our constant prayers over coming hours, days and weeks. XX
We are all thinking of you and your family today!
READERS! Dont forget to donate to Nate's Great Strides fund! Even $1 helps!!
So glad to hear that Tricia is now out of surgery! Praying for Tricia's body to accept these precious lungs. PRAISE THE LORD that you have made it this far in the game!
To receive this gift is beyond grace. I am a transplant recipient (kidney) and so understand the value of a second chance at life. I also work with a young woman who is the longest surviving heart and double lung transplant recipient in Canada. She's strong, she's healthy, she's vital and she has 2 beautiful children. This has become our lives - www.bluemarigold.ca
All I can say is Believe!! keep a positive outlook, take the meds faithfully and say thank God for giving me another chance.!!! God bless.
Oh great news!!! You are awesome Tricia!! Your baby girl is waiting for you...Nate we are praying!!!
I found your blog through fellow bloggers and I am so touched by your story. I am praying for you guys!
Cat
My prayer is that our most Powerful Lord and Savior will reach down with his healing hand and touch Tricia so that she will have total healing. All of us at Faith church in Pole Tavern, NJ are praying for all of the Lawrensons.
In true Christian Love,
Mr. Kuhn
wrapping you in prayer. get some rest HE is in control.
I'm praying! Have been nervous all day at school, and am really glad to hear the surgery was suscessful so far!
Nate I am so happy that tricia got her lungs and I will be praying for her strength and speedy recovery. If there is anything you need from me please let me know. Richard from Residence Inn RTP. I will chatt with you when you get home.
I'm praying too.
God Bless and know you have the world praying for your family.
::HUGS::
PRAYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Absolutely praying for you all as well as the donors family.
Praying for you all!
Thanks for the update. We will be praying over here in Post Falls, ID. God bless you all.
This is the best update ever. Thanks for sharing. You and your fam are still in our prayers. Blessings from Florida.
God is so GOOD! I have been reading, but could not let this amazing event go by without commenting. I am a NICU nurse of 16 years as well as a lover of obx, so I feel a connection on many levels. :) May God continue to richly bless you and your beautiful family. Thank you for your transparency. My perspective is changed forever!
Glad to hear the things have progress well so far. Do get your needed sleep. Still praying from Terrace, BC!
We are praying for your family:)
Will continue to pray.
I'm praising God for bringing you this far. I'm praying for Tricia's body to accept the new lungs and to remain infection free... and that she'll be breathing on her own soon! I'm praying for little Gwyneth to continue to grow strong and stay healthy. I'm also praying for your families that you'll be able to rest and stay well yourselves during this trying time! God bless all of you! What a story of faith in the midst of trials! (You should write a book after all this is over!)
Wow, I'm sure words can't even begin to describe all the feelings and emotions your are going through right now! We are still praying. . . .
God Bless,
Michelle in MO
I hope you are able to get some sleep. Sending strength to Tricia and all who love her.
http://msheidiann.blogspot.com/
Nate, to make it easier...I've re-typed all the emails I sent out pre and post transplant and posted them on my new blog (Tricia's story has prompted me to remember how precious my own gift has been). Hopefully they'll provide some comfort knowing someone else has been there! It's a tough road, but it will only get easier everyday.
Saying Prayers for Tricia and your family. Your story has truly touched my heart.
God Bless!
You guys were the topic of discussion at our mothers group this morning. Praying for peace and strength in the hours and days ahead. You have all been such an inspiration. Tricia may be more motivated now than ever because she will finally feel like she can move forward. Praying for the generous donor family as well.
Praying for you and your family!! God is so good!
Hi, I've been following your story for the last couple of weeks. It is amazing! Your faith has inspired me, even if it is the faith that you want to have, and are striving for. That is faith. To keep on believing in hard times. Our God is amazing and at the same time ununderstandable. One day we will know! Keep on going! You are all doing great!
I am praying for you all and thinking of you! I am so happy and relieved that the surgery went so well. May God bless you as you start your new life and as Tricia heals and accepts this gift. I will also pray for her strength in recovery.
I had twins two months early and remember the times in the hospital. Only minimal compared to what you are going through. My heart goes out for you, Tricia and Gwyneth! God loves you all so much!
We are praying . . .
Praying Nate, take your time and rest, Tricia is going to need you now more then ever. She is going to need you to help push her and know when to say enough is enough for her to rest.
Congratulations on the new lungs!!! My uncle had a heart transplant, so I know some of the emotions you are experiencing. The journey is just beginning. I believe the Lord has just given you your miracle though. I pray for you guys all the time, and will now pray for the family of the person who's lungs Tricia will now be breathing freely with.
Godspeed!
Yay God! I have been praying for your whole family for months but this is the first time I've commented. Will continue to pray for your miracle girls and both of your families.
Our God ROCKS!!!
You are all in our thoughts and prayers continually - as well as the donor family.
Thanks for sharing your journey of faith with all of us.
James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
You are being covered in prayer, now try and get some sleep.
Tricia is SO strong, I'm sure she'll come through this with flying colors!!
We are still thinking about and praying for you all.
Thank you for taking the time to continue to update....we are praying in upstate NY.....
Thinking of you from Holland
Thanks for the update. Continuing to pray (thanks for the "thank yous" on my blog too!).
We are so happy to hear that the surgery is over and continue to pray for Tricia's recovery! Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ!
Still praying
THanks for your dad's link...it's neat to hear his heart and the journey through his perspective. Lord, please continue to minister to Tricia through healing, blessing her body with the right messages to receive and accept the beautiful new lungs within her body.
Nate- Still crying as I reread the posts from the past day or two. Praying that Tricia responds well to these new lungs, that the pain will be manageable, and that her activity level will pick up. So glad to hear that the surgery was a success. May the Lord grant you the peace that your family needs through a time like this. Love, The Hagers in Michigan
Incredible.
Prayers for Tricia and her donor. <3
Thank you Jesus for giving Tricia new lungs to breath with. Thank you donor family for unselfishly giving life to someone in need. I cannot wait to see T's progress. Thanks for the updates Nate, now go get some sleep. Heather
My family, Bible study group, and co-workers continue to pray for you.
I have seen God answer prayers before, and never doubted His ability, but am still humbled by what has happened! I am so very, very happy for you and your family, and will continue to pray for the acceptance of these new lungs and the continued strength and good health of your girls.
This is so exciting and scary at the same time. God has watched over your family in a special way, and I am sure He will continue to do so.
You guys are an inspiration. We are praying for you. xx
praying for you
from England
I am so thankful the surgery was successful. I will continue to pray for you both. My hands were shaking as I started computer, eager to find out how she was.
I am praying for good recovery for and that it will be a smooth one
Praying ND
I've been reading your blog for months and just wanted to say I'm praying! Praying hard!
Continuing to pray here in Massachusetts. Your story has the touched the hearts of our family. God bless you all.
Thanks for the continued updates. You are in my thoughts. I feel positive that things will continue to go well.
Get some sleep. Stalkers orders
continuing in prayer...
Its such a relief to hear that the surgery went well...To share a little something with you.. I went on a job interview today and I was a bit nervous and before I stepped out of the car I said a little prayer and I included Tricia in it...It felt good. I didn't get a chance to check the site yesterday night till now...so I was elated that thus far things are going well.
Nate..thank you for keeping us updated in these times...BLESSINGS!!!
Still praying in NYC.
I have been following your story for a while now....but never have commented. Just wanted you and your family to know that we are praying for all of you and the donors family.....keep praying - God is Good!!
By the way - I LOVE all of your photos (especially the Gwyneth's!! :) )
SO SO SO EXCITED FOR TRICIA & HER NEW LUNGS! Here lately when praying for y'all I would ask Jesus for lungs specifically and LOOK- HE PROVIDED! Praise the Lord! Can't wait to see what the future holds and how full of joy you both will be knowing that she has a long life ahead of her! Praise Be!
Much love!
Annie- Nashville
So thankful... I will be praying against rejection and infection!
Nate, I want you to know how much you, your family, and your readers helped us by praying during OUR greatest time of need... meeting Maddox, and then saying goodbye just 4 hours later. I hope that my readers (who I imagine in most part are yours too) will come to encourage and lift up your family as well... I have asked them to do so.
Thank you for your support and giving God the glory in praise in everything!
In prayer,
Kenzie (Maddox's mommy)
Thank you again for allowing us to share in this journey. Our God is so awesome!! We are praying.
Danielle Davis
I am praying for everyone's strength to be renewed.
wow! I missed one day of updates and I can't believe all that has happened. We have continued to pray for lungs for Tricia and I am in tears right now that God has answered (tears don't come easily for me!).
Even though I have never met any of you, I feel a funny connection in that we both had our first baby born within days of each other, and Tricia and I share the same birthday. Ok, the emotions are maybe making me a bit strange here as I am a complete stranger to you, but as I have gone through the process of being a mommy for the first time, I can't help but think of Tricia. It is so amazing just being "Mom." Also, I as think about another year of my life wrapping up in just a little over a month and reflecting back on the year, I am sure Tricia will be having some of the same thoughts... This has easily been the biggest year of changes and blessings for me!
Ok, well anyway, we are praying for the success of the transplant, and can't wait until you all get to go home as a family.
I am still praying! Like I tell others, "loving you from afar." Take care.
continueing to pray here in Raleigh
Stay strong Tricia! I just can't imagine the feelings you have going on right now, but the world is pulling and praying for you and yours!
I am sitting here crying (and praying of course). I had not checked in for a few days and now that I have ...wow!
May G-d keep her safe and grant her strength and keep the miracles coming.
Actually, I suspect that, so long as G-d does His bit and makes sure that the lungs are accepted, Tricia will do the rest.
Lots of love to you guys from Tel Aviv.
Good morning from New Zealand to you! praying against rejection & infection & an awesome speedy recovery for Tricia! Go Tricia!
Have been checking in all day...Praying, praying, praying. Keep updating if you can...
alison in TN
Praying God's protection over Tricia's body and your sweet family!
I am praying for tricia's "free"dom. For Tricia to be "free" of infection, "free" of rejection, and "free" of ventilation.
I am praying as I have been all day.
Continuing to pray!
Did you know there's a whole chat board of moms of Korean adoptees who are praying for you?
I followed their link and spent all afternoon reading the last seven months of your blog.
One thing I've noticed is that some of the biggest moments of your lives have occurred within days of some our worst. Your wedding was a couple of days after my mom lost her life in a motorcycle accident. You found out about being pregnant a few days before we lost our five year old son.
It's interesting because I've spent a lot of wees in ICUs over the last six years (my husband and I were blessed with identical twin boys...who just happened to have the genetic disease called Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. It was TSC that killed our son last September). Whenever I've been in my lowest lows, when I've been next to my mom in the ICU and saying my last goodbye, or in the days and hours when I cradled my son and said goodbye to him, I found immense comfort in the thought that even though these days (for me) were the saddest, there were still people out in the world who were experiencing their greatest joys, their greatest happinesses during those same days. It reminded me that there was still joy to be had in the world, and that if I continued to move forward some of that joy would be ours again.
You and Tricia were two of those people who were joyous while we were suffering, and thought it might sound strange--it's such happiness to know that. It's happiness to know that the lives that were happy while ours weren't were yours. I don't know if that makes sense.
There is joy in the world, so much joy. Our son, bless his heart, was pure joy. I will be praying for you, and I'll ask my mother and our son to watch over you and yours. They're a pretty powerful team, Nana and our "Jamesbug," so watch out. Get ready for some serious joy.
This was Jamesbug (meet one of your new angels)...his Nana is the sweet Italian-looking lady wearing the flowers around 6:45.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28coo7TMWwQ
Bless you all. You will always be in our prayers.
...and dang, those are a couple of lovely girls you have in your life. :D
Praise God from whom all blessings flow! I look forward to reading more of Tricia's progress, and I'll put your link in a post about it on my blog.
Vicki Small
Stay strong!!!
Channel 11 ABC here in the Raleigh area just did a quick update on Tricia's transplant!!!It aired about 5:15 Eastern time. Yeah! And they are promising a longer report soon! God is so amazing. I watched the initial story that this station did last week and I have been thrilled with the coverage.
Rejoicing with you through this latest part of the journey.
Susan
We are praying and sending love to you all.
We will continue to keep you in our prayers! I am glad all went well.
hugs,
Renee
I'm praying for your lovely wife.
May God give her the strength and encouragement that she needs (and you, too) and may her body accept these new lungs as her own. In Christ's precious, holy name, amen.
I was directed to your blog today, what an incredible journey you have all been on. I have everything crossed for guys and sending out special thoughts to the donor's family, what a tremendous thing they have done.
we are praying for Tricia and praying for a quick recovery and no problems such as rejection or anything else. We hope there is a change in her and you can see the transplant's effect on her. My mum had a kidney transplant about 16years ago and l remember the change in her when she recieved a new kidney. She was a new and healthy mum.
Praying for you all.
with love from Renee, Nige, Nathan and Tahlia (in Oz)
Thank God Tricia's surgery has been a success so far..all of you are in our thoughts and prayers!!! God is awesome!!!
Praying for peace, comfort, and strength for Tricia. Hope you and your family were able to get some rest today.
I contacted Barbara Gibbs yesterday after seeing the surgery was a go. She informed me that Nathan had texted her already and they would be airing the update. I was glad I was watching for the update.
Thanks to Barbara Gibbs for getting the word out to those who are watching WTVD.
Praying continually!
Praying in Michigan and reading your updates and now your dad's. God is so good.
So glad Tricia and Nate have seen each other in the ICU, and now the whole family can get some sleep. All your "lurkers" will sleep better tonight too....last night I kept waking and checking the clock and wondering, "Is Tricia out of surgery yet???"
I will definitely keep her in my prayers and that she accepts these new lungs. My thoughts are with your family often during the day. God bless
I've been praying for Tricia (you & family) all day. Complete strangers, yet, somehow, not. Brothers and sisters in Christ! Very cool.
Praying for Tricia's swift healing.
How wonderful. Everyone involved -- your family, the donor's family, the medical team -- is in my prayers.
Prayers from Ft Gibson, Oklahoma are going to Heaven for you and your sweet family!
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