My nephew Micah was born on Wednesday 3rd June 2009, in Oxford, UK. He's currently (no longer!) on life support because of problems he is having with his heart and lungs.

If prayer is your bag, please say one for him, his parents Angela and Andrew, and their other young children. If praying isn't your thing, then good vibrations gratefully received. If you like, you can leave a message on Twitpic.

Update: 14 June 2009, 9:36pm

----- Original Message -----
From: andrew
date 14 June 2009 21:36



We are delighted to say that Micah was discharged from the JR on Saturday afternoon! He was declared fit and healthy by the doctor and therefore able to come home.

This morning we went to church as a complete family, it is somewhat unbelievable that last week I was stood up the front and made an appeal to pray for Micah who was on life support, and this week I returned to the front holding him up fit and healthy. There were many wet eyes this week, as there were last week, but this time the tears of desperation had turned to tears of joy. It is fair to say that us, our parish, our community (and perhaps even you) believe in miracles.

Once again, we want to thank everybody who has journeyed with us and prayed for Micah and our family this past 11 days. We have been upheld in love and overwhelmed with the generosity of kindness.

On the morning of Thursday 4th of June we cried out to Lord to spare Micah's life. We offered him up to the Lord and His will, but at the same time, begged desperately that he would live. We feel like the man mentioned in Psalm 34.6 who 'cried out and the Lord heard him and saved him from his distress'. Whatever our distress, may we continue to cry out.

Love, Angela and Andrew.

Update: 13 June 2009, 2:26pm

An SMS text message from Angela:

Micah is coming home thanks GOD!

Update: 11 June 2009, 10:58pm

----- Original Message -----
From: andrew
date 11 June 2009 22:58

We are thrilled to say that this afternoon Micah left the intensive care ward! He is now in the special care ward, which is basically the NHS equivalent to a five star holiday resort. He is likely to return home from his holiday some time over the weekend.

You may recall that earlier in the week there was some concern regarding Micah's brain function given that he had been through prolonged oxygen shortage. However, in the last couple of days he has been sucking his thumb, swallowing loads of mummy's milk, and generally looking like he has been doing some deep thinking - so at this stage of his life he is behaving healthily.

It's been a dramatic week, not one we'd choose to repeat, but overall a profound experience for our family (and many others).

We look forward to sharing the news of him come home......

Love and God Bless, Angela and Andrew.

Update: 10 June 2009, 3:56pm

As Micah is being treated for jaundice, a special ultra-violet mat was put on his back.

Update: 9 June 2009, 11:17pm

----- Original Message -----
From: andrew
date 9 June 2009 23:17

Well today's news must almost bring this blog to a close. This morning Micah left his 'isolation room' and joined the other babies in the IC ward. He is now breathing natural air, drinking mummy's milk and loving being cuddled by his family, rather than prodded and pricked by doctors - understandable really.

Micah has been branded 'The Miracle Baby' by the JR (John Radcliffe Hospital). This is not the name we have given him, or use ourselves (we prefer his proper name), none the less, it is how he is referred to within the hospital corridors. Today Ange was hugged and kissed by a total stranger (turned out to be one of the nurses from another ward) who said she was so excited to hear the news of the miracle baby.

We are enormously grateful for the lifesaving work of the medical team at the JR, we also believe that Micah was sustained and restored so quickly due to the prayer which was showered upon him. It was team work - God and Man.

THANK YOU to the medical team! THANK YOU for the part you the reader (pray-er) have played! THANK YOU to the angels and saints! And THANK YOU to God!

There have been some 2000 people following this blog, which is very humbling for us. We will share with you when Micah is brought home to join the rest of the family. We will also find a way to recount and share many of the uplifting messages we have received, and pull together Micah's story of hope in its entirety.

Those who may be wondering where we got the name Micah from, he is an Old Testament prophet. The most famous passage from his book says (Ch 6, Vs 8) "...this is what your God asks of you, that you act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with your God". May the experiences of the past week help us to do this.

Love Angela and Andrew.

Update: 9 June 2009, 2:43pm

Some new photos of Micah. He is continuing to make good progress.

Larger versions:
Andrew, Josh and Micah.
Josh and Micah.

Update: 8 June 2009, 10:50pm

----- Original Message -----
From: andrew
Sent: Mon Jun 08 22:50:33 2009

It's been another truly remarkable day, beginning with the oxygen supply being turned off, followed by removal of intravenous lines, then being taken from the incubator and put in a cot, and finishing the day with a feed from Mummy and falling asleep in her arms.

Micah is out of the woods and running happily in the meadow (so to speak). I've never seen so many happy doctors and nurses in one place before. From here, he is very close to resuming normal infant life.

It is hard to believe that just a few days he was so ill. During our darkest and most afraid hour, we committed Micah and our circumstances to the Lord - whilst it has been a difficult journey, we have learned more deeply that we can trust Him. We feel that one of the reasons Micah has recovered so quickly is due to the amount of people who have prayed for the first time, or for the first time in a very long time. We've heard many different stories from different circles such as family, school, work, and the hospital...... which has moved our hearts deeply, one can only imagine what it has done to God's.

Now that I (Dad) have left the hospital and seen the blog which Graham has created, I would very much like to thank him!

Update: 8 June 2009, 10:00pm

Micah has been taken out of the incubator, and has now been put in a cot. He has put on some weight (which is good news) and now weighs 7 lbs 8 ounces.

As of today Micah was being fed 5ml of breast milk every hour, by a tube in his nose. However, Micah kept pulling the tube out and so they have decided to try feeding him by mouth.

Update: 8 June 2009, 6:00pm

Some new photos of Micah. He's looking better isn't he? :)

Larger versions:
Micah, eyes open.
Joseph, Micah and Ange.

Update: 8 June 2009, 2:03pm

Text message from Andrew:

Micah is doing amazingly well. Off his oxygen supply and his belly button and femoral line have been taken out. This afternoon they will begin feeding off his mother's milk - via tube through his nose (unusual eating method if u ask me)

Update: 7 June 2009, 9:17pm

----- Original Message -----
From: andrew
Sent: Sun Jun 07 21:17:07 2009

We had a shock call from the intensive care unit at 6.30 pm to say they had turned off the ventilator and Micah was breathing on his own (with a little bit of oxygen support). We rushed down stairs to the ward and were amazed at what we saw. Micah is very much awake and alert and breathing well with his own lung power.

This is simply staggering given that yesterday afternoon the consultant advised Micah would likely be on the ventilator for another week. We and the hospital staff are amazed at his rate of recovery and we (along with many of the medical team) believe this has been accelerated by the huge amount of prayer he has been receiving.

We give hearty thanks to God. From here it is likely that Micah will be weaned off final assistance and leave the intensive care unit some time in the next few days.

Update: 7 June 2009, 8:30pm

Micah is being much more responsive because he is now off morphine. But even more good news - he's also off the life support machine and off the ventilator!

He is still being given some oxygen, some heart medications and some antibiotics. But i think you'll agree, this is a big improvement!

Update: 7 June 2009, 4:30am

----- Original Message -----
From: andrew

Micah continues to flourish and is recovering at an exceptional rate. He now has his eyes open, is able to move his body and has minimal medicine being put into his body. There are also signs that the ventilator will be able to be reduced in the next day or so. It really seems amazing given that 36 hours ago he was hanging onto his life by a thread. As he has turned the corner and is well on the road to recovery, we have heard from the consultant and medical team that Micah was 10 out of 10 on the critical illness scale, with very low likelihood of surviving or recovering fully. Given the amount of love and prayer which has been poured over him, we are not surprised at his rate of recovery, and expect him to be restored to full health.

We are very much humbled at the generosity and kindness which has been shown to Micah and our family - we will always remember this as a time when we have felt cared about.

Today in the Catholic tradition it is Trinity Sunday, it's a celebration of the family nature of God that we are invited to participate in; a loving Father, our Brother who has endured great pain and suffering and the Spirit who walks beside as a comforter and friend. I (Andrew) remember as a child singing a hymn in school which seemed a little boring because of its slowness, yet somehow intriguing due to the weight of the words. This morning in church we sang that hymn again and it occurred me that it summed up the peace and confidence we have experienced during this past four days. Long may that awareness continue...

"Father in my life I see,
You are God who walks with me,
You hold my life in your hand,
Close beside you I will stand,
I give all my life to you,
Help me Father to be true."

Thank you for your love and support. We look forward to sharing the good news of Micah's full recovery in the very near future.

Love Angela and Andrew.

Update: 7 June 2009, 11:45am

Andrew, Micah and a visiting Aunty Caroline. The number of medications that Micah is on has reduced further, and he is beginning to move a little.

Update: 6 June 2009, 11:18pm

Andrew just emailed us with the following news.

He said it was hard to go to sleep because Micah is showing some signs of response. "It's very exciting," he told us. Here's the email and the photograph he sent us.

----- Original Message -----
From: andrew
Sent: Sat Jun 06 23:18:21 2009

Micah opened his eyes this evening while we were talking to him..... another small step, and very moving!

Update: 6 June 2009, 12:26pm

There is a new consultant who has been speaking to Andrew and Ange about Micah's condition. He has a 1-10 scale for babies in a critical condition, and says that Micah was a 10 (the worst place to be, and really on the edge of death) but is now a 6 or maybe even a 5. The consultant expressed surprise at Andrew and Ange's happiness, but they explained that they are just relieved that there has been a change in the right direction.

Obviously, although progress has been made Micah is still critically ill.

Andrew and Ange have asked that friends continue to pray for Micah's steady recovery at this crucial time. Micah needs all the help he can get.

Update: 6 June 2009, 10:00am

----- Original Message -----
From: andrew
Sent: Sat Jun 06 10:00:31 2009

SATURDAY UPDATE
We bring this update in gladness for the progress Micah is making, humility for the dedicated care he is receiving and gratitude for the love and prayers we have received from many people across the globe.

Last night was another good night for Micah. His kidneys have begun functioning and he has responded positively to further medication reduction. His blood pressure is now stable without medicine assistance. Towards the end of the day they are going to try and wake him up a little, which will be nice because he will be able to see his Mummy and Daddy!

The ventilator is still breathing for Micah, but once again they hope to be able to allow him to begin to breath with the ventilator in the next day or so.

The doctors update was that "he has turned an important corner" - he is definitely fighting and working hard to get better and has impressed the medical team and us.

Somehow (we aren't sure exactly how) Micah managed to buy his brothers and sister a Thomas train each - they were very thankful and are doing a great job of cheering him on.

Thank you for your ongoing love and prayers - it is making a real difference!

Love Angela and Andrew.

Update: 6 June 2009, 8:45am

Micah had a very good night last night! He has been taken off one of his heart medications, and the doctor said that "he turned a corner".

One very important thing - Micah did a wee! His very first wee! Which means that his kidneys have started working. The doctors have been concerned about his kidneys functioning.

Angela also gave Micah his first wash last night, she was able to sponge him down, which I'm sure he appreciated!

Update: 5 June 2009, 9:55pm

24 hours ago, Micah was being fed 15 different kinds of drugs to keep him alive. Now, it's reduced to nine. That gives you some idea of how his condition has changed in the last 24 hours. The consultant says that this is positive, but although Micah is stable he is still critically ill and has a journey ahead of him. All of Micah's breathing is done by the ventilator machine, as he is not strong enough to breath on his own.

In Andrew and Ange's update earlier today they mentioned that there are concerns over Micah's kidneys and brain. Here's a little more detail. Although Micah has peed a tiny amount, it would be good if his kidneys produced some more, and although nothing troubling has appeared on his brain scans, it's not yet been possible to tell if he is - for instance - able to swallow (which will obviously be important for his recovery). We really need people to pray for his full recovery.

Micah's parents have been holding his hands today, and singing and talking to him. Andrew also put his iPod in the incubator so Micah could listen to some fantastic classical music!

PS. Sorry that Andrew and Ange's afternoon update was so late being published on the website today. We had some problems updating the site remotely.

Update: 5 June 2009, 2:20pm

----- Original Message -----
From: andrew
Sent: Fri Jun 05 14:20:47 2009

We saw the consultant this morning and the last 24 hours have been good for Micah. He remains in a critical condition on ventilator and heavily sedated on many different medicines, however, they have been able to stabilise him and he is responding positively to the medication he is on. They have been able to turn off 4 of the 6 heart medicines whilst keeping his blood pressure stable, so this is good. He had a blood transfusion in the night to increase his haemoglobin and this has also helped.

There is a little concern regarding his kidneys and his brain, but at the moment we are hopeful that these too will be fine.

We've been able to spend lots of time with him, talking to him, touching his hand and even playing a little music in his incubator.

We are enormously thankful for the love and prayer support we are receiving, and we think Micah is too!

Love Angela and Andrew.

Update: 4 June 2009, 9:15pm

Whereas this morning the doctors felt their backs were "against the wall" and they were running out of options, things have become more positive.

Last night and earlier today it was believed that Micah had a heart defect, but this seems to have been ruled out now as sometime between 3pm and 4pm Micah's condition improved. This was good news and meant he did not need to be moved to a hospital in London.

But Micah is still seriously ill. There's a lot of gunk in his lungs, and he cannot breath on his own. He needs the help of a ventilator in the life support unit. In total there are probably something like a dozen different sorts of drugs being pumped into him around-the-clock. These have helped reduce his heart rate (which was over 200 earlier today) and increased his blood pressure.

The doctors have been doing a number of tests, including X-rays and brain scans, and Micah's condition is constantly monitored by an array of computer equipment that's presumably on loan from Cape Canaveral.

Because Micah was obviously having problems as soon as he was born, he wasn't officially weighed. However, as many of you are probably interested, we can tell you that he's approximately 3kg (6 lbs 10 oz).

Parents Andrew and Ange have gone to bed for a well-earned sleep in a suite supplied by the hospital.

Update: 4 June 2009, 4:30pm

Some positive news. Doctors are saying that Micah is "not out of the woods" yet, but has improved from his situation this morning. His lungs and heart are working "okay", and he is suffering from an infection.

Thanks to everyone who has sent their wishes and prayers for Micah. Parents Andrew and Ange are really touched.

Update: 4 June 2009, 3:45pm

No decision yet about heart bypass. Surgeons in deep consultation - room packed with experts. Micah's brothers and sister have said goodbye, and on their way home.

Update: 4 June 2009, 1:30pm

Doctors are looking to make a decision at 2pm as to whether Micah is able to have a heart bypass.

Update: 4 June 2009, 11:20am

Micah's brothers and sister have been in to see him in intensive care, and were present at his baptism. Micah is on full life support, and the nursing staff are trying to reduce his temperature which is very high. Not enough oxygen is entering his bloodstream, and they are trying different drugs to see if he will respond.

If they can stabilise his condition and make him strong enough, and if they believe it will help, then surgeons may attempt a heart bypass operation later today.

Update: 4 June 2009, 8:16am

----- Original Message -----
From: Andrew
Sent: 04/06/2009 08:16 GDT
Ange and I are really grateful for your thoughts and the many prayers that are being said around the world. We feel up held by these prayers and at peace so thank you.

We've had an update from the consultant this morning and Micah has had a difficult night, he is currently on a ventilator and very much on the edge of being alive. He seems to be fighting and this makes us feel good. At the moment the consultant is concerned for Micah's life, but they are doing all they can to help him. There is a chance that he may have a heart bypass later today if his condition doesn't improve.

Our dear friend Fr David is coming up to baptise Micah this morning and we are bring up Josh, Joseph and Hope to meet their brother.

We very much hope and pray that he will respond to all the help he is receiving, he seems like a lovely boy.

We commit him to your prayers and to those of the angels and saints and we place our trust in the Lord.

Love Angela and Andrew.

Update: 3 June 2009, 5:10pm

Micah is born in a pool at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK. Angela has carried Micah for the full term, with no sign of problems.

It becomes quickly apparent that there is a problem and Micah is put on a life support machine.