Anne Marie Ezzo forwarded an email to Hank and me back in November with an opening sentence that read, “Of all people who can relate to what the Daily’s are going through, thought about the two of you.” Gary and Anne Marie had been praying for us and with us regarding our son Caden who had faced medical battles for over three years at that point. The email that Anne Marie sent was an update sent to some of the Growing Kids community concerning the status of little Titus Daily. Becky had given birth to Titus only a couple of weeks earlier. Titus was the fifth boy to join the Daily family. Titus was in the NICU at Medical City in Dallas and facing some very challenging medical issues. While there have been some similarities in what our families have experienced from a medical perspective, Paul’s email updates have provided some great spiritual insights and encouragement that can be applied to just about any family.

The Daily family has graciously allowed us to share their insights and lessons learned through the many medical issues they have faced with Titus over the past five months. We believe that these wonderful insights will bless you as you strive to raise your children to glorify God.

“It is wonderful having Titus home from the hospital, but also tiring. In the course of the day, Titus is fed every 3 hours (10-30 minutes), he has a nebulizer treatment 4 times today (15 minutes) followed by CPT (15 minutes - continuous percussive therapy - where we pound his back with this suction cup thing), another breathing treatment twice a day, eye drops 4 times a day, cleaning his jaw pins/g-tube 4 times a day, and general therapy on motion/movement throughout the day. We have reduced his feedings at night from 2 feedings to one - which is a huge blessing to only have one of us get up once a night. Becky slept all night last night for the first time in weeks. Titus is still on oxygen (at very low settings). We are becoming quite adept at carrying him around the house with this oxygen hose trailing behind and taking him to the doctor/church with portable tanks. Since Titus is on oxygen, he is also on a pulseoximeter - which monitors his heart rate and oxygen saturation levels. But, if Titus is kicking his foot (where the monitor is attached) or squirming, the meter doesn’t read, and the alarms go off. Imagine this happening about 20-30 times a day - generally at night! The doctor also suspects that Titus may have allergies which is causing the excess congestion. We have a suction machine to help with that several times a day if we feel it is affecting his breathing. On top of the daily routine, Titus generally has 2-3 doctor’s appointments during the week, which also means the schedule needs to be adjusted to fit within the time frame and drive to the doctor.

And, along the way, there are 2 other boys that need to be home schooled and two 3-year olds that need structure and routine (and long naps in the afternoon). The reality of the routine can be overwhelming - and on certain days it is. The regimen that we follow cannot be deviated from and it’s become an incredible lesson in discipline and obedience. Becky and I were discussing that it’s easy to follow a routine if you know where it’s headed, but it’s difficult to consistently day-after-day follow the same routine and not know what the end result will be or see immediate results.

As I was contemplating our routine, I thought about Noah. It took Noah 120 years to build the ark - and he had no idea what the end result was really going to be. And yet, the Bible does not tell us much about that 120 year span. But for 120 years, Noah cut down trees, made lumber, prepared a foundation, built a boat, created barrels and barrels of pitch to coat the ark with . . . He did all the tiny tasks - day in and day out - to complete the plan exactly as God told him too. Along the way, he had 3 sons, raised those boys, watched them get married, maintained his marriage and livelihood and relationship with God, and still built the ark. I wonder - did Noah get tired of cutting down trees and picking out the splinters from his hands? Did he ever question why he was doing it? Did he ever get rid of the smell of pitch/tar? Did he ever take a day off? Did he ever question God’s plan? It will be interesting, one day in Heaven, to sit down with Noah and ask him those questions. But what I do know is what the Bible tells me “Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” Noah must have been faithful with all the little tasks given him to be provided with such a large task. So, we carry on with the little tasks. They may be tiring and we may not know the results for weeks/months or even years to come, but I am reminded - Noah never stopped building that ark until it was complete.”

Paul & Becky Daily
Aidan, Noah, Tucker, Cade, & Titus