Geoff and Churie and Natalie (Sep12/08)

Dear prayer partner,

I want to thank you for your prayers.  We have received hundreds of letters assuring us of your prayers.  Many letters represent a prayer chain network indicating that a church or Sunday School class is praying.  You don't know how much encouragement these letters have been.  I wish I could have been there to grieve with Geoff & Churie, Raina & Felicity, their two daughters who were looking forward to the birth of this sister, and the rest of the family.

 

Here is some of the details.  I trust this information is correct as I am writing from a distance and going on my 50+ year old memory from telephone and Skype conversations. 

 

As you prayed for Churie, we had a most encouraging U/S and were rejoicing in a miracle just a few months ago.  Follow up sonograms revealed that there was an over abundance of amniotic fluid.  Then a week or two ago Churie began having some contractions and went to the doctor.  She was huge and she was kept for observation but released later on strict bed rest.  While Churie was on bed rest, Felicity, their two year old was not.  Geoffrey was at work and there are a few stories about Felicity including how she fixed her own Oreos (a brand of cookie or biscuit for our Melanesian prayer partners).  Raina, the 5 year old, was at school.  Churie's mom and dad, Dale and Kathy Blake are pastor in a church on SW Oklahoma district, an hour and half of so away.  Kathy took a leave of absence from her job so she could stay with them to help Churie until after the baby was born, and Churie was back going again. 

 

Then we received the call from Geoff telling us of Churie's hospitalization.  That she was having contractions and that there was a lot of amniotic fluid.  The U/S also showed fluid on the baby's lungs (pleural effusion) and fluid in other places in the baby's body.  It did not sound good.  After Churie was admitted, they began to give her steroids to help the baby develop, because the doctor knew the only possibility for the baby's survival was an early delivery by C-section.

 

The baby was delivered by C-section on 10 September at 5:30 p.m. or so local time.  There was seven liters of amniotic fluid removed from Churie during the delivery.   Following the delivery they began working with the baby to save her life.  They put in tubes to remove the fluid from her swollen body and to assist in her breathing.  The lungs were really in poor condition.  After 45 minutes the doctor came to Geoff, Churie, and the waiting family with the grim news that they tried but felt they would not be able to save this little one.  The birth weight of the baby was around 7 pounds but after the 45 minutes and removal of the fluid the weight went down to around 4 pounds.  They then removed all the tubes and gave this little girl to the mother, father, and family to

spend some time with.  They named her, Natalie Grace, and little Natalie passed away within about 45 minutes.  The girls were able to hold their sister and say their good byes.   There was a professional photographer there who took some photos.  The photos will be posted on the company's web site soon.  They kept their precious daughter in the room until 11 p.m. or so and then released Natalie's body to the funeral staff who were going to do an autopsy on her prior to her burial. 

 

As far as a memorial service they did not wish to have one right away, but maybe later with just the photos.  For those who would like to contact them here is their email address.  Geoffrey's oasispaint@gmail.com  Churie's bag_lady_churie@yahoo.com

 

Churie is sore from the C-section but otherwise in good health.  She plans to be dismissed from the hospital Saturday morning local time.  Kathy will be staying with her for some time and help her with the children.  Thank you again for your prayers.  As you remember Geoff and Churie are preparing to come to the Solomon Islands and help us in the ministry here.  We were so looking forward to holding this new grand baby, but that will now have to wait for heaven.  Continue to pray for Geoff and Churie during the grieving process.

 

Thanks,

George Miller

PO Box 712

Honiara, Solomon Islands

phone: (677) 25 109

george_nancy@reachone.com