Miracles Happening Live at Vanderbilt!

Yesterday was beautiful. Not because Killian's numbers were rising. Not because our hearts weren't breaking. And certainly not because the doctors were giving us hope (on the contrary). Yesterday was beautiful because we all seemed to be coming to terms with what would be happening next.

As of yesterday:

• Killian's blood gas readings were in the teens. They should be in the 60's.
• His lactic acid was 9.86. The highest they had ever seen in anyone was 15.
• His poor little feet were purple from the lack of oxygen circulating in his body and he was visibily in distress.

Lindsey, this young mother, was picking out what outfit to lay Killian to rest in. Why I say yesterday was beautiful is because we were all at peace with it. We sang hymns, read stories, laughed and cried (often at the same time) and just loved Killian to pieces. It was a good day.

But then something happened...

When we woke up this morning, his coloring seemed to be back. His numbers (not official, but on the screen in the room) were better. At one point his heart rate began to drop, and as we all held our breath and held each other, it slowly crept back up on its own, unassisted.

The doctors had stopped running tests on Killian yesterday because they assured us we were at the end. That there was no need to put him through even a blood draw. Lindsey, leaning into her faith like someone from the Old Testament, said, "Something doesn't feel right about what they are saying. I believe in miracles.I want another blood gas drawn."

Here are the results from 1 hour ago:

• Lactic acid is at 1! AT ONE!
• His blood oxygen levels are back in the 30's! We still need them in the 60's, but it's a tremendous win!
• His coloring is back and he is still opening his eyes to the sounds of his mama's voice.

I would be remiss if I didn't say, that the doctors warned us that things could get better before they quickly got worse. But we are RECEIVING IT BY FAITH that for Killian that is not the case. And we need YOU to as well!! Hard!

Also, Killian's numbers have been low for three+ days, which means that there very well could be significant damage to his brain cells, tissue and organs. Again, we aren't believing this is the case and invite you to stand with us in that.

Regardless if this is a fluke or if this is God swooping in at the last moment (He sometimes does that just so you know it was Him), we are thankful for any improvement as we know that it means more comfort for Killian.

We BELIEVE your prayers and positive thoughts are working. Please. Don't. Stop. We love you all!
Love,
Aunt Layna

p.s. Forgive any typos. I want to get back in there with my boy!


Killian has been fighting - like a champion! - for his life since he was born. Because Killian's family is so spectacular; their friends decided to create this website in their honor to help in any way possible.

Any donation you're able to make will help this sweet baby boy - from getting his family to & from the hospital to helping with Killian's care. From all of us who love Killian and his family, thank you!

All donations go directly to Killian's care and the care of his family. The paypal donation account was set up by a friend, Liz Wolfe, whose name and email appears on the PayPal page. Liz manages all donations with the support and oversight of Killian's aunt, Layna Lambert Dugan.

More about CDH from CHD Support:

CDH occurs when the diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs into the chest cavity and preventing lung growth. CDH occurs in 1 of every 2500 births; somewhere in the world, a baby is born with CDH every 10 minutes. 50% of babies diagnosed with CDH do not survive. The cause is not known. Over a half million babies have been born with CDH since 2000. CDH is as common as Spina Bifida and Cystic Fibrosis but there is very little awareness and even less research.