Monday, February 17, 2025

We have some very exciting news to share and a few new ways you can be praying for us!

Bodie got to go outside again which was so wonderful! He enjoyed seeing all the cars drive by, people riding bikes, hearing horns honking, and throwing rocks. He also got his feeding tube out and has been eating very well by mouth. He’s meeting all his therapy goals and doing great! 

Bodie has regular echocardiograms, and they have increasingly shown progress with his heart function - Praise God! His heart function has improved so much so that the cardiologist even said his function is "somewhat normal." The heart pump has tremendously helped his heart. We are continually amazed at God's mercy in Bodie's life. Due to the increase and continued normalization of his heart function, his medical team is now beginning conversations as to if the risks outweigh the benefits of having the pump. They do not want the pump and Bodie’s heart to compete with one another as the risk of stroke could go up with two good pumps in the body. So, what’s next? On Friday, February 21st at around 10 AM the medical team is planning to take Bodie to the heart catheterization lab to perform a series of tests. He will need to be under anesthesia and have a breathing tube for the tests to be performed. The goal of these tests are to determine whether or not it is necessary for Bodie to have the pump. They will turn the pump off and monitor the pressures of the heart. The outcome will shape the conversations and discussions to follow.

A few ways to pray:

1. Pray for this upcoming test to give the doctors clear answers as to what the next steps will look like.  If the test clearly shows the heart function remains normal while they lower the pump support, the doctors would then schedule a future surgery date to remove the pump. If this were the case, Bodie would still wait for a heart, just without the support of the pump. 

2. In the previous update, we mentioned there is a new medication we have been waiting for Bodie to begin that could potentially help his heart significantly. We ask you to continue to pray for this to be available soon. 

3. We also ask you to pray for a safe test for Bodie when they do this heart cath lab. He will be put under again and need a breathing tube as well as a couple of other lines placed in his body. Pray for Bodie to feel the Lord's peace. He will most likely go back to the ICU for one or two days after this test is performed. 

We miss you all dearly and thank you for praying for our family. We will do our best to keep everyone updated. Love you all! 

Monday, February 3, 2025

Hi there friends! A few things to share, but one major highlight that was really special to Bodie and our family happened on a SNOW day in Houston. That morning when we arrived at the hospital, the staff informed us they would like to attempt to get Bodie out to see the snow. This caught us by surprise because moving Bodie around is not a light task. Bodie is accompanied wherever he goes by "Bernie," his Berlin Heart machine that weighs over 200 lbs. Needless to say, it takes a village to move Bodie around and took 3 of us just to push the machine through the snow! So worth it.  Bodie loved seeing the snow. His face lit up seeing a snowman decked out in medical attire. It was the first time since November Bodie had been outside, it was truly a special day for us!

The last couple of weeks have been filled with visits from Bodie's grandparents and great-grandparents. We currently have Amanda's parents in Houston and we have pastor Todd and his wife Kathy on deck to visit in mid-February. We had the joy of celebrating Everleigh's fourth birthday on Sunday. We ended the day of celebration with an ice cream party at the hospital. I am thankful for our family of churches in Sovereign Grace. The Sovereign Grace Church in Pearland has been a wonderful means of grace to our family. We've been getting together with other families for park dates and zoo outings and are thankful for Sunday morning fellowship with the saints in Pearland. 

Amanda and I have been praying for boldness to be a light and unashamedly share the gospel with those around us. This week we had the privilege of hearing the story of one of Bodie's "sitters" who has been walking through her own trials (Bodie has someone who monitors him 24/7 because of the assisted device he is hooked up to). We had the opportunity to encourage her in the Lord, invite her to church, meet some of her practical needs, and to pray for her. There were lots of tears from both of us. It was a blessing to care for her and show her the love of Christ. 

One HUGE prayer request: There is a new medication that Bodie will hopefully be able to take soon called Elamipretide. This medicine has been trialed for almost a decade now and has shown improvement in cardiac function for heart failure patients and those with depleted mitochondria function. There was one boy in Philadelphia who had Barth's syndrome (Bodie's rare genetic disease), a Berlin Heart device, and was awaiting a heart transplant and began taking this medicine. His heart function improved so much that he ended up not needing a heart transplant and was able to remove his Berlin Heart. While this was only one instance, we know we serve the God of the impossible and ask you to join us in praying this medication can drastically improve Bodies's heart function. We are still waiting for a heart and expecting the most likely scenario is a transplant, but this is definitely something we can begin praying for. Ultimately, we rest knowing God's perfect plan for Bodie is already written out and we trust in His good plan. 

Pray for 3 things: 

1) The medicine will become available for Bodie to begin taking some time this month 

2) That Bodie's heart function would improve

3) That we would continue to trust the Lord's perfect plan and will for Bodie

Love you and miss you all.

-Alec, Amanda, Braxton, Everleigh, Bodie, and Nora

Monday, January 20, 2025

Update: We are finally in somewhat of a routine with Bodie. Each day he has physical and occupational therapy which consists of him walking and playing while doing exercises to strengthen his legs. He’s been standing and walking great again and is regaining strength! The hospital has a service dog named Noelle that Bodie really enjoys seeing and giving treats to. The siblings come at some point each day and that is definitely the highlight of Bodie’s day. The team did a showing in the family room on Bodie’s floor of Moana 2 and they all got to watch that together. We try to eat dinner together in Bodie’s room every day - not a small task for 6 people in a not so big room! Such a gift to all be together though! 

I (Alec) started easing back into remote work for the church and Amanda is spending a little time each day doing school with Braxton and Everleigh. Nora is busy eating as much food as she can. We have lots of family visits scheduled in the coming weeks and have also been able to see some familiar faces from El Paso (see photos below). Our hearts have been refreshed seeing these dear friends!

How You Can Be Praying:

• Pray for Bodie to remain healthy. If a heart became available and Bodie had any type of virus or infection he would not be able to get the heart. Pray the whole family would be protected from sickness.

• Pray for the balance of our new normal especially as we incorporate work and school back in.

• Pray we would experience God’s peace like never before and that our hearts would be daily reminded of 1 Peter 1:3-13

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Update: Alec Shoffeitt here. WOW! The last 7 weeks have been a rollercoaster to say the least! Our family misses you all dearly from Houston. We miss seeing Mr. John's bowties, embracing our dear brothers and sisters in the sanctuary, and praising the Lord through worship and the preached Word with you. Bodie was watching the livestream the other day shouting, "JON! JON! JON!" while strumming an imaginary guitar. There aren't enough words to express how much we miss being with you in El Paso. 

The dust is settling now that we are in our "home away from home" two-bedroom apartment and Bodie is out of the intensive care unit. Amanda started homeschooling Braxton (5) and Everleigh (4) again and Nora (7 months) began eating solids! Our apartment is a 10-minute walk from Bodie and we can see our apartment complex from his hospital room window. I am starting to ease back into work this week and am excited to begin serving y'all again.

Thank you to everyone for your countless prayers, generosity, and love from afar as we wait for a new heart to become available for Bodie.

How You Can Be Praying:

• Pray for God to pour out his grace on all of us while we transition out of "emergency mode" into our new normal rhythm in Houston.

• Pray for our trust and patience to increase as we wait for a heart to become available.

• Pray for comfort and peace over the family of the heart donor.

• Pray the Lord uses our family to share the hope of the gospel to those around us in the hospital.

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Update from Alec & Amanda: “ It has been a big week for the Shoffeitt crew! Monday we moved into our new apartment where we will remain while we wait for Bodie to get a new heart. The apartment is very close to the hospital, we can easily walk which is huge! While we were moving into the new place, Bodie’s nurse called us to inform us they were moving Bodie to a new floor. This floor is much more relaxed compared to the ICU. Our hope is that he can stay healthy and regain strength as he waits for a heart.”

Current Prayer Need: “We would love prayer for patience with the waiting. Pray we can faithfully trust the Lord and His timing. Pray for Braxton, Everleigh, and Nora especially as they are recovering from sickness. Pray our whole family can be protected from sickness as it’s crucial for Bodie to stay healthy pre and post transplant. Also pray for the Lords sustaining grace as we figure out this new rhythm for our family.”

We miss COG and El Paso so very much! Love you all and thank you for praying continually!”

Monday, December 30, 2024

Updated mailing address for the Shoffeitts

Alec & Amanda Shoffeitt

2222 Maroneal St, Apt #122

Houston, TX 77030

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Update from Amanda: “Surgery went well! The sum up from the surgeon was that it was a really good choice for them to get in there and drain the fluid and they anticipate Bodie will feel much better. He’s still in OR and they are hoping to be able to extubate while he is still in there.”

Monday, December 23, 2024

Update from Amanda: “Bodie has had a great past week. He’s been out of bed, laughing with siblings lots and playing more, and finally started eating again which was huge!

Current Prayer Need: “Unfortunately a few days ago he started acting off and they discovered what they suspect is blood building around his heart. He will have another surgery tomorrow at 8:30am to place a drain in. He will be intubated again for the surgery. Pray everything goes well with the surgery and intubation and that this procedure helps Bodie feel better. Pray for Alec and I to be feel strengthened as we are discouraged by what feels like a step backwards.”

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Update from Amanda: “Some surprise guests came to visit Bodie.”

Sunday, December 15, 2024

Update from Amanda: “Big step for Bodie to get out of the bed! He’s doing great. Big day tomorrow for him as he will see speech pathology and hopefully get cleared to start eating! Each day he’s doing better. Siblings have been enjoying lots of fun times together. Lots of park time, coloring, and face painting. They bring us so much joy.”

Sunday, December 15, 2024

Mailing address for the Shoffeitts for the next month:

Alec & Amanda Shoffeitt

7777 Greenbriar Dr, Apt 1052

Houston, TX 77030

Friday, December 13, 2024

Update from Alec: “Bodie was approved as a candidate for a heart transplant — great news! They told us he would be in the highest tier as far as priority but his number in that system will depend on things like heart size, regional location, etc.”

Current prayer need: As Bodie has been weaned off sedation and other medications he has had a difficult time adjusting. Pray for Bodie to be at peace and have minimal side effects. Pray for sustaining grace for Alec and Amanda as they adjust to being in Houston.

Siblings and Santa got to visit Bodie

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Update from Alec: “Such a teary morning for us today. Bodie is the calmest and happiest we’ve seen him in weeks. He’s coming off sedation, talking to us and smiling. So great to see his big blue eyes again.”

Monday, December 9, 2024

Update: This is a big week for Bodie! The transplant team is beginning their evaluation to make sure he is a candidate for a transplant. This involves various meetings with all kinds of doctors. Once he passes those evaluations, the transplant team will meet, Lord willing, this Friday to hopefully list Bodie as a candidate for transplant. If he gets approved as a candidate they can also start the process to get on a waitlist for housing. They have options for transplant families to live in apartments that are at no cost to the family so they would like to be added to the list quickly and get in quickly once Bodie is approved.

How You Can Pray:

• That Bodie’s evaluations will go well and that he will be listed as a candidate for a transplant

• That they can start the process to get on the waitlist for free housing and that it would happen quickly

Friday, December 6, 2024

Update: Bodie’s surgery went very well. They finished faster than expected.

Friday, December 6, 2024

Update: Bodie is currently in surgery for the “Berlin Heart” procedure. The surgery is expected to take between 10 and 14 hours. Please pray for the success of the procedure and the peace of the family. We’ll update here once we know more.

Blue for Bodie: We have also had a number of our church family decide to wear blue today to remind them to pray for Bodie. Blue is Bodie’s favorite color. If you send our staff a photo of you wearing blue for Bodie we’ll happily give that to the Shoffeitt's!

Giving and Gifts: We’ve had many people inquire about how they can help financially or give a gift to the Shoffeitt family. The reality is that right now all those needs are not yet clear. We’ll plan to communicate that back to the church as soon as we can. In the meantime if you have a card for them we’re planning to get those to the Shoffeitt family as we receive them so feel free to hand them in at church.

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Update: The Shoffeitt family is together in Houston now and upon further evaluation, it's been determined that Bodie will have surgery tomorrow to put a device in his heart called a "Berlin Heart." This is a very serious surgery and is considered a "bridge to heart transplant." This surgery is scheduled for 7:15AM CST and generally takes between 10 and 14 hours.

How You Can Pray:

• Alec and Amanda have specifically asked for prayer that Bodie will be a candidate for a new heart. They have asked that we pray for peace and comfort from the Lord as they navigate all the many aspects of what life will look like from here.

• As Ricky said yesterday, we ask that you please pray for Bodie. Ask that God supernaturally bring healing to his body. Ask that God would do a miracle. Ask that God would give sweet Bodie a sense of his nearness and peace. 

• Pray for Alec and Amanda. Ask that God would sustain them physically and spiritually and that God would give them a profound sense of his nearness. 

• Pray for wisdom as the Shoffeitts navigate the next steps in a very intense time where questions abound.

• Pray for Braxton, Everleigh, and Nora. Ask the Lord to be near to them, comfort them, and help be their stability in this situation

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Update: Bodie's condition took a downward turn over the past few days. His heart has not been responding to current treatment. As a result, he's being transported today to another hospital in Houston where he can receive the highest level of care possible and where physicians may have more treatment options. 

This is, of course, not the update we hoped for. Yet, it is an opportunity for us to turn upward to God the Father who invites us to bring our burdens and petitions to Him. Christmas is a season that reminds us that God has drawn near to us and his nearness is such a gift in these moments.

How You Can Pray:

• Please pray for Bodie as he's being transported to Houston today. Ask that he be safe in transport. Ask that God supernaturally bring healing to his body. Ask that God would do a miracle. Ask that God would give this little guy a sense of his nearness and peace. 

• Pray for Alec and Amanda as they travel to Houston. Ask that God would sustain them physically and spiritually through a trying time. Ask that God would give them a profound sense of his nearness. 

• Pray for wisdom as the Shoffeits navigate the next steps. A new city, new team of doctors, and new medical situation means answering many questions all at once. Pray that God would give them wisdom. 

• Pray for Braxton, Everleigh, and Nora. Ask the Lord to be near to them as well, comfort them, and help be their stability in this situation. 

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Update: The Lord has continued to show his steadfast love to the Shoffeitts, and has provided new morning mercies each day. These mercies include the praise that Bodie was able to be extubated today! While Bodie’s condition remains serious, many of his body’s markers are improving and healing, and his cardiologist is encouraged by his progress.

Amanda and the kids are scheduled to arrive in Corpus Christi today (Tuesday) and be reunited with Alec and Bodie.

A huge answer to prayer is that when Alec met with the financial counselor, he was assured that all of his medical expenses will be covered one way or the other either through Medicaid or the hospital charity arm. The social work team has gotten them housing for the next week and believes they can get continued housing during their stay for free. Additionally, they provided the Shoffeitt’s with food cards for meals, so most of their lodging and food should be taken care of. This is a huge praise. 

How You Can Pray: Please continue to pray that Bodie’s heart would be strengthened and that he is able to wean off of supplemental oxygen and respond to treatment well.

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Update: Last night, Bodie was admitted to the PICU here in El Paso with a severe set of heart issues. The doctors have decided to transport him again to Corpus Christi to be able to receive specialized treatment available there. This is heavy and unexpected news, but we hope in the Lord in these moments. 

How You Can Pray:

• Please pray for sweet Bodie. Pray that the Lord would strengthen his little heart, that medicines being administered would work, and that no other complications in addition tot he heart develop. Pray that Bodie would know the peace of God as he receives treatment.

• Pray for Alec as he travels with Bodie to Corpus Christi. Ask the Lord to make their travel smooth and for the Lord to give him abundant grace and strength for this moment. As of right now, Todd Peterson is planning to join him in Corpus later today.  

• Pray for Amanda and Alec, that they would feel the nearness of the Lord, that He would pour out His Spirit on them as they walk through this trial with their son.

• Pray for wisdom for Alec and Amanda as they navigate the next steps. There are many decisions to make and they are taking things one moment at a time. 

• Pray for Braxton, Everleigh, and Nora. They may not understand all of what’s going on, but they know their brother is sick. Pray that the Lord would draw near to them and give grace.