Update from Chapel Hill

I am spending some of the next few days with one of my favorite families while their five year old son is undergoing another major surgery.. Below is an update I wrote on his caringbridge site. Click here to read more about his story and the family's incredible faith journey.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jacobcastles/journal

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 11:05 PM, CDT

I am a good friend of the Castles family and have been blessed to have gotten to know the family and be able to help Stephanie with Jacob and Luke over the past few months. I arrived in Chapel Hill this afternoon to stay for a few days so I am writing Jacob's update for Stephanie tonight. Jacob is hanging in there. It broke my heart to see his little body in a big hospital bed with about 8 wires/tubes hooked up to him; including an epidural, two IV ports, a cathetar, his hickman, and a few others. He took a nap during most of the afternoon but he woke up crying a few times in really bad pain. It's hard for him to tell the nurses exactly what is wrong because the pain from the surgery is so severe in multiple places. He did get up and go for a walk around the floor and I was so proud of him! He is so strong and is such a fighter! The doctors are impressed with his recovery and are hoping to remove some of these tubes in the morning, which will make him a lot more comfortable.The past few days I have really fallen in love with this song (God who Answers Prayers) and that is my hope for the Castles this week and as Jacob continues to fight this battle that the Lord has given him. "Bless the Lord oh my soul with all that I am, make me whole here I stand, I place all my hope in You. My Healer will see me through."Please pray for Jacob's level of pain and healing and also for the Lord to continue to encourage him and ultimately heal him; and to continue to give Lindsay and Stephanie strength and for God to pour his love over this family.with Love,Jess Mitchell