Nearing the End and a Thank You to All

I want to add one more post after this one before we head home. It will be about the life of Jared Bangerter and how his story has blessed and influenced our lives. But this post includes one last update for Levi for now and a thank you to all who have served us in any way. 

Wearing hat made by his
Aunt Kristi

We had an appointment for Levi with the cardiologist this last Wednesday to check his progress. The nurse practitioner was able to pull out his feeding tube because he was gaining weight and feeding completely on his own for the day and a half preceding his appointment. We were so glad to see it go! He came off the medicine that was draining excess fluids from after his surgery, but he will continue to be on aspirin up until the 6 week mark after his surgery to avoid blood clots from forming in his coronary arteries. We were told that there is still a leak where the hole was patched up, but everything else looks great. The leak just means he needs antibiotics an hour before certain types of surgeries. But regardless, at this point, they say he should be able to do anything physical activity wise. Our cardiologist in Anchorage will continue to monitor his heart throughout his life as nothing is ever for sure, but few things in life are. We are so happy for the good news! We plan to be leaving for home in another week.

Our community just recently had a fundraiser for us that was headed up by my sister-in-

Happy to be Eating and Sleeping like
a Normal Baby!

law. I want to share what my husband posted on his Facebook in regards to this fundraiser and other service we have received throughout this time. He expressed so eloquently how we both feel. "We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all those who took the time to put this fundraiser together and for all of those who donated in any way. We have been very humbled by this experience and have been so grateful for amazing friends, family and community members who have reached out and showed their love and support, from those who have offered their time, their home, helped with babysitting, offered donations, words of encouragement, and most importantly, all of those who have been fasting and praying. We are aware that there is a very real God out there that has answered those heart felt prayers and it is nothing short of a miracle that little Levi is doing so well. I know that there is a loving God who cares about the details of our lives and that he looks down and touches our lives. There have been moments that I was unsure if our son would make it through something like this, but whether or not he did, the miracle of holding his tiny little body in my arms and knowing that the Lord had blessed us with a child, was enough. Our hearts go out to those who have dealt with this type of difficulty in their lives and all those who deal with so much more. We have seen that there are people that go through experiences far beyond what we are dealing with and they deal with it so beautifully. We know that many of you have a silent untold story of your own, that you have difficulties that others may never know about and we thank you for your prayers and thoughts in spite of your own trials. We love you and pray that the Lord will bless you all, for all you have done!"

I am so grateful for the sacrifices and service of others, but I often feel like Peter did when the Savior washed his apostles feet when it comes to allowing others to serve me. But then I am reminded of the Savior's instruction and important lesson to Peter as he washes his feet:

 “5 …He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 

8 Peter saith unto him, Thou needest not to wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.”

The Savior washes Peter's feet

I often feel like Peter did, that he should be washing the Savior's feet or serving others, not the Savior serving him. But then the Savior teaches Peter that we all have need of the Savior. The Lord often blesses us or serves us through the lives of others. By allowing others to serve us is like accepting the Savior into our lives and what He did for us, whether we have temporal or spiritual needs. Likewise, as we reject the service of others, we may be rejecting the Lord and denying the opportunity for others to be blessed from the service they would have rendered. Another scripture confirms this as it reads, "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God." We really could not have gone through this experience without the help of everyone. Thank you.