On the mat again

 This has been quite the month for the Lietzau’s.  I have to be honest I was enjoying a little bit of calm and feeling like I was able to pour into others who were in the valley.  I felt like for once I was the friend carrying their loved one on the mat to the feet of Jesus. That time didn’t last long as we find ourselves once again on the mat. I’m ever so grateful  however for precious friends like so many of you who willingly carry us to the feet of Jesus.  

Noah was admitted to UCLA hospital today. Almost a month ago Noah started having fevers and was so tired he couldn’t get out of bed for over a week.  Lab results showed that he had a virus that was passed down from his donor heart.  Because his white blood cell count is dangerously low and his body is not responding to the anti viral meds for the virus he will need IV infusions and injections for several days or weeks.  

Jason also was laid off his job last month.  We knew this Could be a possibility and we are trusting the Lord to provide the perfect job for him.  We are thankful for Gods provision this far and allowing Jason the ability to care for Noah during this time.

This is a lot but I was reminded by a friend today that even though these set backs are wearying, God is not weary in caring for Noah and our family.

Thank you for your continued prayers and your constant support of our family.

God's Grace

 I’m feeling overwhelmed with gratitude this morning as I think about God’s grace to me. I would love to share with you all a few examples of his tender loving care in hopes that it would encourage you and remind you how much your father deeply cares for you.

 I was thinking back to many conversations I had with the Lord over the last ten years pleading with him to protect Noah’s heart.  I wanted so badly to be shielded from seeing Noah collapse and suffer a heart attack or be in the hospital on borrowed time hooked to machines as he waited for a new heart.  I told God I would trust him no matter what but confessed my heart couldn’t help but be anxious and weary about walking that road.  It’s not something that held my mind captive on a daily basis but the fear would creep in from time to time and overtake me.  I talk a lot about how happy I will be when we get to heaven and no longer have to fight the flesh.  What do I mean when I say this? This is what I’m referring to.  It will be so nice to have perfect complete trust free of fear and free from battling our sin.  To always be looking vertically instead of horizontally.  I long to do this well but know I will never be able to do it perfectly here on earth. I will always be fighting the flesh until I get to heaven. 

God was so gracious to me in his timing of Noah’s heart transplant. He allowed Noah to be at home with us the morning we received that dreaded phone call.  A few months earlier and Noah would have been living in the dorms.  Noah’s heart was super sick but he didn’t feel terrible and it really didn’t interfere much with his day to day activities.  This was God’s grace to us because I did not have to watch my son suffer.  Almost six months out and Noah continues to do well with no complications.  I don’t want to lose sight of what a huge gift from the Lord that was and is to all of us.

God continues to put people in my life that show me his goodness in beautiful unexpected ways. Many of you know that I have been writing a book documenting my story and the ways God works in the hard.  It has been quite the undertaking that has been full of high’s and lows. I have questioned many times whether or not I could really do this.  When I have been in those moments it seems every time the Lord brings me the encouragement and assurance I need to keep going so I have continued to walk in obedience knowing that these will be his words not mine. The Lord has provided some amazing editors who have given of their time, talent, and resources to help me.  One saint in particular who did not know me or my story has spent hours of her time.  We FaceTimed yesterday and got to finally see each other and meet for the first time.  I can not even tell you how much I have learned from this beautiful lady. She does not know me, she lives many states away, and has asked for nothing in return. It has been a joy to interact with her and learn from her. She is so encouraging and is championing me to get this book to publication.  I got off the phone and wept.  God’s goodness to us is just so sweet.

Another beautiful reminder came in the form of service.  Years ago I got a referral to a massage therapist who worked in a Chiropractic office nearby.  I started seeing her every so often.  This gal has been through so much hard loss in her life and radiates beautiful joy.  Her sister is a quadriplegic and she helps take care of her.  She has always shown empathy for my situation and a deep curiosity of my story.  Her vulnerability with me has been a gift.  This woman takes of her time to come to my home to work on my sore tight muscles.  She also wants nothing in return but to use her gifts to bless me.  This is overwhelming to me that these two beautiful woman would show such love and kindness to me.

God’s grace and kindness to us come in many different forms.  Paul Tripp has this to say about God’s Grace:

You need it. You can’t live without it, but you can’t purchase it and you can’t earn it. It only ever comes by means of a gift, and when you receive it, you immediately realize how much you needed it all along, and you wonder how you could’ve lived so long without it.

In a fallen world, populated by selfish, lost, fearful, and rebellious people, it’s the one thing that everyone needs. And you can only give it to someone else when you have first been given it yourself, because you can't give away that which you don't have.

You see, God’s grace is the most powerful force in the universe, It reaches you where you are and takes you where God wants you to be. It has the power to do something that nothing else can do: transform you at the causal core of who you are as a human being - your heart.

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:16-17

I hope you are able to recognize God’s amazing Grace in your life.

Mel

A beautiful day

 Jason and I are so grateful to Crossroads Multinational Nazarene church for having us come and share. It was so fun to see so many old and new friends collide for this special event. We were humbled that so many would come out in the rain to hear our story, or rather HIS story working out in our lives. I have even heard from friends who had the opportunity to watch the live stream from other states. Your encouraging words have really touched our hearts. It's a testament to what the Lord can do with willing hearts. We are so grateful that the Lord carries us, sustains us, and gives us a future hope. We are thankful that we serve a loving God who never leaves us or forsakes us. A God who showers us with his love, grace, mercy, and kindness.

Here is the Link for those who have asked and would like to watch. My voice isn’t as strong as it use to be. I pray as long as I still have one, he continues to let me use it for his glory.

https://youtu.be/oFggwlZ34ok

This picture is with those that attended College Avenue Church of The Nazarene.  The church I attended in my junior high and high school days.  So special to see so many of them.

An Invitation

 We are always so humbled and grateful for opportunities to be able to share our story and the ways God has helped us find Joy in the Hard.  We will be sharing this Saturday Jan 14th at Crossroads Church of the Nazarene in Cerritos at 2:00 pm.  If you are local we would love for you to come and join us.  This will be a special time as this is the church that my former youth leader is the current pastor of.  Jonah will be leading us in worship and you will get to hear a little bit from the whole family.

Last year was quite the year with a lot of unexpected hits.  It was hard, painful, tiring, and joyful.  It was filled with lots of opportunity to see the Lord at work in and through it all.  None of it was a surprise to God.  All of it had purpose.  Looking forward with Hope and eager anticipation this year. Hoping to see even more beauty in the hard as we press on in faith and continue to learn to suffer well.

Crossroads Multinational Church Of The Nazarene

12229 E. Del Amo Blvd

Cerritos CA 90703

The Love Of A Donor

 At the end of December it will be five months since Noah received his new heart.  We are so grateful with how well his body has responded. He has had very minimal side effects this far.  He has been able to wean off a few medications, and is slowly adjusting to his new diet.

 

We have altered our lives in different ways in order to keep Noah safe as he slowly builds up a new immune system. Unfortunately for Noah this has meant saying no constantly to lots of fun invites. You can only imagine how hard that is for a college kid.  It's a small sacrifice however in order to keep him safe. We are very aware that this is a huge gift that has been given by the love of a donor.  Our hearts felt heavy knowing that this holiday season there was immense grief felt by a family who lost their loved one.  We spent time praying as a family on Christmas Eve that the Lord would meet them in their grief and that they would know how deeply grateful we are to them.  We are grateful to all of you as well for your continued love and support.  We hope and pray that you all had a wonderful Christmas.  

Audio Interview with the family

Q & A With Lietzau's

Click on the link above to hear our interview with Jonah.  We answer some of your questions and give you a window into how we are all doing during this time of isolation.  We continue to be thankful for all your love and support.

Noahs Transplant story Part 3

I woke up this particular morning feeling grateful. Grateful that Noah survived the surgery.  Grateful for his donor, and grateful that the first twenty four hours were behind us. They took the ventilator tube out,Noah was doing well breathing on his own, and he was now off a number of medications. The doctors were very positive about the direction he was headed. Because he was doing so well I made the difficult decision of going home and getting some rest. Every time his transplant doctor came in she was almost giddy about his progress. Jonah was coming home this day from his vacation with friends and I wanted to be there for him as well.  I knew Noah was in good hands with Jason and if anything arose we had an amazing team of people who could get me back to the hospital as soon as possible.. It was hard to not be right there with him every moment but I knew I was doing the best thing for us all. The last thing we needed was for me to end up in the hospital as well. I face timed Jason and Noah often.  By the end of this day Noah was talking.  It was a tired, shaky, out of breath voice but it was so great to hear him talk.  He also sat up in a chair. Thirty hours after a transplant and he’s out of bed sitting in a chair.  This was incredible to me.  

Noah continued to do well each day surpassing the doctors expectations. He was up and walking, eating , and meeting each days goals. I was preparing myself for a setback but it never came.  God was gracious to us and because of this gracious gift it allowed me the rest my body so desperately needed.  Day five he was moved out of ICU into a regular room.  Once in a regular room they started preparing us for what life at home with a transplant would look like.  We all learned about the many medications he would be on, what they all did, and how time sensitive they were.  We learned about the importance of a low sodium heart healthy diet and foods he would no longer be able to have.  Then we learned about the many weekly appointments for labs, tests, and heart caths/biopsy he would have in the first year after transplant..  It was a lot to take in for all of us.  Most of this we had heard about but until its your turn its really difficult to understand the magnitude of it all.

Noah was discharged on Day 8.  We felt elated to be bringing him home but also nervous.  There is a bit of comfort when he is being monitored by doctors and staff.  It reminded us of the first time we brought him home after his birth.  We brought him home and felt so ill equipped for the job but you figure it out and after some time you feel more and more confident.  We are figuring things out now and feel like we are in more of a rhythm.  Medications are going smoothly and we are learning how to make heart healthy meals.  

When we arrived home from the hospital we were greeted by friends, family, community, and even fire men who lined our street.  They were holding signs and cheering.  I can’t even describe to you the overwhelming feeling of love and care I felt. In one of the hardest times of our lives, we have seen such beauty and felt so much love from God’s people.  You all know how to love well its unbelievable to me sometimes.  God continues to use you to show up for us in the most tender ways.  The cross we have been asked to bear feels lighter because of you.