Our daughter Hildy was born a healthy, perfect gift. She was thriving and meeting every milestone, which made her life-threatening diagnosis that much more alarming.
An unexpected diagnosis
At a routine checkup, we mentioned that Hildy’s eyes still had a slight yellowing from jaundice. Her pediatrician ordered blood work: when the results came in, we were instructed by the doctor to go to the hospital immediately. She was diagnosed with Cystic Biliary Atresia (in which a cyst forms in an otherwise obliterated or scarred biliary tract). Untreated infants will develop cirrhosis and liver failure, so at 10 weeks old, Hildy underwent an emergency, life-saving surgery called a Kasa, performed on infants with this condition.
Hildy’s recovery has been extensive, involving medications, frequent blood work, numerous weight checks, and constant monitoring. Because the liver is so vital to the body’s function, this condition affects many areas of her health. It has been overwhelming to worry about her physical stability, the potential need for a future liver transplant, or even the risk of a simple cold or virus reversing her progress.
We are incredibly grateful for our CHM family. The phone calls for prayer and handwritten cards from fellow members were so encouraging, personal, and grounded in Scripture.
Ready for battle
While Hildy is doing well, she is developing new side effects, as her liver is scarred and unable to work properly. We are in a “wait and monitor” stage. It’s been one year since her surgery, and we still have many unknowns for her future. We are changing our habits to trust God and not fill our anxious hearts with research. Please join us in continued prayers for wisdom, Hildy’s health, and our family’s trust in God.
Through this, we have had many difficult talks with God. One of my hardest prayers was asking that I would not be angry with Him and that His glory would shine through regardless of the outcome. During a storm it’s difficult to understand the “whys,” but I asked God to show me His hand at work, and He has done so at every step. We now know why she was named Hildy Hope: “Hildy” means “ready for battle.”
How dearly God loves His children.
Psalms 139:13-18.
