Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Drake's Race Against Time

Waking up this morning with hopes of seeing a full catheter were quickly diminished when I didn't see a drop. I am constantly by his side giving him my little pep talks to keep him strong and fighting. I am his coach in the game of life, and Annie and I are his biggest fans! There is little to update as far as his progression. Continued regimen of countless medicines, blood, and maxed out respirator settings. I had a difficult conversation with the doctor, well I listened as he explained the circumstances we are seeing first hand. His little body is being saturated with so much fluid to help drive potassium levels down and begin kidney function that it is taking a toll on his internal pressures. He said the fluids have to go somewhere.  We are now up against the race of time.  He is a fighter and the strongest little man in the hospital, but we need his kidneys to work quickly!!!!  I am so sad right now it is painful to think, type, see!...But I refuse to give up hope and will do whatever it takes to get him better.

36 comments:

  1. Praying, praying, praying for little Drake. Sending all my love your way. Love ya !!

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  2. Continuously lifting up your family in prayer.
    Jolain

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  3. Praying for Drake and Kennedy right now, asking God to lay his loving hands on them and heal them and protect them right now, as they fight! Praying for you Brian, as well as Andrea, as I know this time is truly so hard for you two. You two are not alone, all of us believers are standing behind you two praying for God to heal your two angels!

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  4. Please know that your family is being bathed in prayer - for Drake and Kennedy's health, strength for you and Annie, wisdom for the doctors and nurses and that all of you are comforted by His presence.

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  5. I said a prayer again today as I read tour blog. God Bless, and may you feel the prayers flowing to little Drake and Kennedy.

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  6. Brian and Annie, what a little fighter you have on your hands and it sounds like his sister is right there with you as you encourage him to heal. We are always praying for you, especially for little Drake right now. Prayers for Kennedy and her continued improvement. Prayers also for Mama and Daddy as you fight along side your babies. -The Hatchers

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  7. Brian and Annie,
    Our prayers are with Drake and Kennedy, and your entire family. You have all been in our thoughts and prayers. We pray for Drake to continue his fight and for Kennedy to continue in her progress.
    Chris Burke

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  8. Sydney and I continue prayers for all of you daily. Sydney wishes she could give Annie a big hug right now. We will continue praying for all of you and especially for baby Drake.

    Yvonne

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  9. Thank you for your continuous prayers. If you are able, please help Drake & Kennedy and their devoted, loving parents by making a financial donation to relieve some of the MANY burdens they are going through and will continue to go through with their babies. Please also share this link. Thank you! www.giveforward.com/drakeandkennedygilstrap

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  10. PRAYING FOR YOUR LITTLE ONES AND THAT DRAKE STARTS IMPROVING SOON. Cathy Cartmell

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  11. I don't know you but i have spent time in the NICU with one of my children. I am praying for Drake and praying for y'all. Praying now that God would cause his kidneys to begin to function and that the Dr's would stand in awe of the miracle that he is in the mighty name of Jesus! Find strength, rest, and peace in the Father today... My heart is heavy for this sick little angel. I know our God hears our prayers. We turn this baby over to you Jesus and pray for complete healing this day. Amen

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    1. Praying this prayer with you! Lord hear our prayers and perform a miraculous healing in Drake's body. Amen
      Dianne

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  12. Praying for little Drake today that our Father will place his loving and healing hands upon him! I am also sending prayers of peace and comfort for your family. May God Bless you!

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  13. Praying for strength for Drake and all of you. Your faith/hope/love is an encouragement to us all!!

    God Bless the Gilstrap Family.

    Greg

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  14. We are praying for Drake to continue to fight and his kidneys to begin working properly. For the doctors to have wisdom and use the best treatment plan, for Kennedy to continue to be strong and keep improving, and of course for mom and dad to have the strength to deal with everything and know that God is mighty and in control of everything.

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  15. I am keeping you and your family in my thoughts. Stay strong little Drake! You can pull through this sweet baby!

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  16. You can do it Drake... You've already touched hundreds of lives with your journey. Praying for a miracle. We love you!!!

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  17. For I know the plans I have for you" says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

    Jeremiah 29:11

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  18. I saw your blog and just wanted to let you know that your family is in my prayers. Having watching my twins(29 weekers) go through the unit I know that God works miracles. These little ones are fighters. Hang in there and know that you are not alone.

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  19. Praying for divine healing, and God's peace and comfort in the middle of all this! Much love and prayer!!!
    Katie

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  20. I saw the prayer request on KVNE website and want all of your family to know East Texas is lifting your family up in prayers. Remember Philippians 4:6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.

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  21. Praying for baby Drake! Fight Drake...God works miracles.

    Cristi

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  22. As Brian's father, this is my first and probably the only comment that I will post, as I am by my son's side and will be until I am no longer needed. I feel compelled though, to write and thank everyone for their graciuos and continuous support and prayers. Secondly I want everyone to know, if you haven't arlready realized by now, what strength Brian and Annie have shown in this, their time of ups and downs with both Drake and Kennedy. Son, no father could be more proud of their son as I am of You and Annie. If little Drake has half the strength of his Mom and Dad and God willing, he will fight his way through this crisis. Today You and Annie read your son his first book, 'Guess How much I Love You'. My heart broke into a million pieces as I want, as you do, for this to be the first of many that he will hear read to him by his Mom and Dad.
    Son, know that I love of you with all my heart and soul and in a heartbeat, would take this burden from you and bear it myself.

    Your Father

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  23. Keep fighting Drake. You and your sister are contantly in my thoughts.

    -Uncle Matt

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  24. I don't know you but since I saw your blog yesterday your family and especially those sweet babies have been on my heart and mind. I have been praying continually for all of you and especially Drake. I have recruited others to pray as well. Please know that you are surrounded by love and prayer. My heart wants nothing more than for your babies to be fully healed.
    Sunday I prayed for a deeper connection to God. I prayed that God would replace the indifference in my heart with love. Monday morning I saw your blog. God placed your babies on my heart and the indifference is gone. They are changing lives already!

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  25. I don't know you either, but you all have constantly been on my mind. I have said several prayers for your family today. May the grace of God be with you.

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  26. Brian and Anne I am so proud of you both you are strong in your faith and both of you come from strong families that no storm can break you you have a army of prayer warriors and family who are at battle with you I pray for you both that God give you strength and places his healing hands on you and our wee babes. I love you all I am the proudest Greatgrand Mother God has truly blessed me with all my children and their children 3 generations.

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  27. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. I am thinking of you often.
    Kelly Pratt Beale

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  28. I am a friend of Angie's and have never prayed so much for two little precious gifts. Most merciful and eternal God, the everlasting Salvation of those who believe, hear us on behave of little Drake, for whom we beg the aid of Thy pitying mercy, that, with his bodily health restored, he may give thanks to Thee with his cry and we will rejoice with him.
    Through Christ our Lord, Amen

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  29. Brian and Annie, our prayers are with you both and your two beautiful babies. They are so lucky to have wonderful parents like you. We love you both and are here to support you in any way that we can.

    Drake and Kennedy, although we have not yet met you, we love you already. You are a part of our family and we hope to see you soon. Keep fighting and stay strong sweet babies.

    Sending our love,
    Robyn & Jason

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  30. I saw a link on Facebook to your blog through Beth Lockhart. I know very much of what you guys are going through. I have twins who were born at 23 wks 5 days in 2010. We spent 133 days in the NICU and weathered many storms. My heart aches for you all because I know how hard it is to watch your babies struggle to live. I just read your story from the beginning and it sounds so familiar. I am lifting you all up in prayer and praying hard for Drake's little kidneys to start functioning right away and for Kennedy to continue growing and gaining strength. Sending lots of prayers your way.

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  31. Still praying. And will continue to. Sending thoughts, love, strength and prayers to both of your children.

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  32. I just want your family to know we are praying hard right along with you!!! Thank you for all the updates I can only begin to imagine how hard they are to write! Stay strong Gilstraps and be encouraged!!!

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  33. Not a second goes by all of us at the spa and tanning salon aren't asking about y'all, checking the blog, and just praying. God is with y'all, we're all praying and crossing our fingers. Drake is a Gilstrap and I know a little bit about what gilstraps can do. They are fighters, survivors and winners and we all know this little angel will pull through. As we all fall asleep tonight we will hit our knees and speak to god on you and your family's tradgic situation. No words said can help comfort what u and Annie are going through just know my thoughts and prayers and most of all HOPES WILL NOT WEAKEN! We will not give up and neither will little Drake. God bless all of y'all

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  34. Thinking of you constantly and praying you get your miracle. Love you!

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