Stronger Heart

Elaine's condition is steadily improving. Her heart is strengthening each day, she is starting to breathe on her own (although the doctors have not yet removed the ventilator), and she is very alert -- opening her eyes, moving her arms, and shaking her head in response to family and visitors. She is still in the ICU, and up until this point she has been unable to move her legs because the fall caused some spinal cord injury. At this point she will need surgery to relieve pressure on her spinal cord, and the doctors are waiting until her heart is judged strong enough to endure the procedure (a procedure we are told is relatively common). She is not excited about surgery, though, so we are praying that God will heal her spinal cord without it. We request that you continue to pray that her heart continues to strengthen and that the swelling of her neck would recede--we are anxious to see her toes move!