Mike Burnard and his wife, Jasmine, welcomed their second child on January 18. Just hours later they were following an ambulance bringing their son to hospital in Winnipeg. 

Update - Jan 24. 6 a.m.

Mike says that Declan's third surgery was a success and he is now on the road to recovery.

However, they have faced another setback. Jasmine has been admitted into hospital now for an infection, after coming down with a fever. Originally they were going to send her to another hospital, but thankfully staff were able to find her a bed at the same hospital as baby Decland.

Please continue to pray for the entire family.

Mike is the music team leader at the Meeting Place church in Winnipeg. He's also the lead singer of Made in Manitoba band, The Boy & The Sea.

Cardiologists determined that Declan Burnard had transposition of the great arteries (TGA). He was flown to Edmonton where he underwent surgery to repair it on January 21.

TGA is a congenital (present at birth) heart defect, according to Stanford Children's Health. "The large vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs, and to the body are improperly connected. Essentially, the connections in the heart are 'swapped.'"

Declan will undergo another surgery January 23 to close up his chest. That will be his third surgery in four days.

God at work

Mike said they've been leaning on the meaning of the name Declan, which is “man of prayer."

"What a testimony this already is to God’s goodness."

While Declan was flown to Edmonton by medivac on January 18, Mike and family were forced to stay behind until they could get their own flights to Edmonton the following morning.

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However, Mike has a cousin that works at the hospital Declan was taken to. That cousin texted Mike and said they would stay by Declan's side until his family could join him. It was just one of the many ways that God had worked to help through a difficult time.

"We are completely stunned and overwhelmed by the tremendous support that we have received in the last 4 days (I had to re-count because it feels like weeks already)," Mike wrote in an online post.

He also thanked the many people who had offered support through a GoFundMe set up for the family, as well as those who have been praying for them.

"What a testimony this already is to God’s goodness. We are so blessed.

"We have seen the power of prayer in so many ways and have had multiple friends say that this is their first time praying. We have proof that it works. And we are so grateful. If you haven’t yet, please try it...and I’ll selfishly ask that you pray for our little boy."

Prayer requests

Mike listed a number of items that people can pray for:

  • Please continue to pray for Declan as tomorrow is his surgery to close his perfect little chest. This will make it 3 surgeries in 4 days. Praying that his tiny frame is rested and ready to conquer.

  • Pray that mom and dad experience rest.

  • Pray that Silas continues to be healthy as he has developed a cough.

  • Pray that mom and dad stay healthy so they can stay next to Declan’s side.

  • Pray that jasmine and I continue to be good to one another. That this strengthens our marriage. That we support and love one another. That we advocate and fight for each other.