Jonah's Up Date - end of November 2006

Jonah Van Spronsen and his family need our prayer today as they adjust to new information they have been given this week. On Monday Jonah was in Sick Kids hospital to meet the specialist and have further tests.

After the tests were concluded it has been determined that Jonah needs further surgery to restrict the passage opening to his stomach. The doctors intend to wrap the top portion of the stomach so acid from his stomach is not allowed to come back up into his esophagus. He will also not be able to eat and swallow food in a normal way from that time on.

To help you understand as an adult, often we may have a severe burning sensation in our throats and may awake coughing having a burning taste in our throats. If you have a hiatus hernia you will know the affects of acid reflux and the discomfort that comes with it.

Jonah has this all the time. In fact it is so extensive with Jonah that his throat is swelled almost tight shut. It has caused an infection that has gone up to his ears as well and all passages connected to the stomach. The discomfort and burning that he must be having is really difficult to imagine.

By restricting the stomach opening it should stop the acid movement. Jonah will be eating from his feeding tube for the rest of his life.

There are further problems with a “vascular ring” in his heart. For this they are not doing anything at this time.

Back in his room…
When Jonah was brought back to his room after the testing procedures were completed, his little body was laying quietly in his bed. Because of the biopsies that were done in his ears and throat there was some bleeding. Jessika and George wanted to encourage him as much as they could. They had bought some small cars at the Tuck Shop in the hospital. Jonah gladly took the little vehicles and smiled – with one in each hand hitting them together.

A nurse came into the room to check on him. He saw her and reached out his hands with the two cars in them – as if he was going to give them to her. She responded and went to receive the cars. He then pulled them back and grinned. ‘Sorry nurse, I was just playing with you’. The little bright and happy heart had just said, “I am okay. I am all boy.”

The Future…What we know now…

• Surgery will be happening soon with the new surgeon.


• They are not sure if there are vocal chords that will function or not. The opening at this time down into that area is about the size of the tip on a ball point pen making it impossible to see what is there.


• Jonah’s hearing has either been affected with the swelling/infection or the parts necessary to hear are not there. He is close to being deaf.


• He has a happy heart.


• God has a plan for his life.

As George and Jessika live through this, by putting one step in front of the other, there are periods of time that they cannot go much further – I am sure. Jessika’s testimony is one that blesses me – “Without the prayer support of so many people, I don’t know how we would have made it. I know we need that prayer. Please thank everyone for praying.”

~ Pastor Murray ~

Jonah’s verses…
Psalm 71:5-7
5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you.
7 I have become like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.

Psalm 139:12-14
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.