Dear Friends and Family of Jude Bradley Hall –

         This time last Monday our family was settling down for bed time when Cindy and I started feeling that our 2 month old son, Jude, wasn’t acting like his normal self. He hardly would open his eyes and he had a persistence wet cough that he could not shake. He was also beginning to “pull” his breaths and having a hard time getting oxygen with all of the fluid in his lungs. He had a doctors appointment that next day at 4pm and we both realize now that we were in denial that he was sick enough to go to the ER. We had called the nurse line multiple times and we got the same story that if he wasn’t running a fever he was fine. We kind of knew what he had…a cold, because our Daughter Bethany had just started to get over a cold and it was quickly grabbing a hold of both Cindy and I as well. We took Jude’s temperature (with 3 different thermometers) and found out quickly that his temp was up over 100. We quickly made plans to go to an urgent care in Aurora where we live in a suburb of Denver. I looked up the directions and Cindy packed up and took off to the clinic. After 30 mins Cindy called me almost in a panic and said that the clinic that I sent her to was closed. She then called the nurse line of the Colorado children’s hospital which is only 5 mins from our house. The nurse said that since we were so close that we should just come on in to the Children’s Hospital ER. I truly believe that this is the first time that God lead us that week.

It was extremely frightening to see Jude laid out on the ER table with 5 or 6 strangers surrounding him. All I could do was cry as they put a tube down his nose to suck all the mucus out and stick an IV in his tiny arm. They hooked him up to oxygen and then he got a chest x-ray. After 3-4 hours in the ER we were moved to the PICU. Mom and Dad Eckstein came up and met us there. The next 2 days were filled with numerous deep suctions, another IV, an oxygen device called a c-pap, Tylenol, antibiotics, 24 hours of fasting, and many tears. The first time I spoke with doctors they thought he might still have several rough days left. All the nurses where saying a week or two was normal for this type of sickness. But we had put out the word to as many friends and family that we could reach and your prayers were already strengthening Jude and guiding his nurses and doctors. Thankfully Mom Hall had arrived to help as well. Baby Jude began to make small but steady improvements and by Wednesday evening he was moved to a transition room where he had a restful night and was able to eat whenever he wanted.  After that your prayers continued to strengthen him and he made such rapid improvement that the doctors released him on Friday! Jude was diagnosed with RSV Bronchiolitis. The good thing is that he shouldn’t get sick from it again. Next year it will be a different strain but he will just have a cold if he gets it and not have such a hard time.

Jude’s rapid recovery and strong will to fight and get better quickly are all a part of Gods amazing ability to heal as He sees fit. Thank you all for lifting our baby and us up. Your support was felt all this last week as we cared for our son and daughter. We are so thankful to be surrounded by friends and family who are willing to help and pray for us at a moment’s notice.

 

Thank you all so much and we love you!!

 

-Brad, Cindy, Bethany & Jude