A quick update for today. We've been excited to watch the hospital staff tackle the ventilator issue more agressively. In a little over a week Grams has gone from trials/exercises of 15 minutes off the ventilator to 45 minutes, and they are talking about increasing those to 1 or 2 hours soon. Yesterday Grams went for 1 hour on the speaking tube, a record so far! This work tires her out, but she is doing great and we are seeing accelerated progress--keep praying!

We are praying for:
* PRAISE for increased lung capacity,
* continued acceleration of lung healing so that she can breathe completely on her own,
* wisdom for doctors and nurses with regards to her medications, and protection for Grams from bad side effects of medication.
* encouragement and peace for Grams

Encouragement today!

Mom wanted to make sure that I post today to tell you that Grams has begun to have some involuntary reflex movement in her feet and legs. When they touch her feet now, she sort of jerks in response. It is not intentional movement yet and the doctors are cautious about getting too excited, but it means that things are firing and connecting in her nervous system. Yesterday when they moved her from her chair back to her bed she involuntarily shifted her hips a bit to get comfortable.

Isn't it exciting to watch God work?!?

The BIG prayer request right now is for her to get off the ventilator. Because she is otherwise medically stable, they are beginning to consider trying to get her out of the ICU and into a rehab hospital. Unfortunately, the nearest hospitals that can facilitate someone still on a ventilator are in Salt Lake City and Seattle. Please pray for continued accelerated healing of her lungs so that she can stay in Boise as she heals.

As the family was in Grandview this weekend, it's been a couple days since we've had an update. I wanted to share with you "the latest," but be aware that updates are likely, since Mom and Dad haven't had a chance to sit down with the doctors since they got back to the hospital yesterday.

One HUGE praise is that Grams was able to go for 45 minutes on the speaking valve last week to tape a message to share with Aunt RaVae for her birthday tomorrow. That is wonderful on many levels--it is awesome to see that kind of physical progress, and more importantly it was so important for her to be able to say what she wanted to say to Aunt RaVae. Please keep praying for her as she deals with her forced absense during Aunt RaVae's illness.

Since that time, it has become easier and easier for Grams to breathe on her own. In an earlier entry Mom pointed out that they had not been completely taking her off the ventilator but had been using a speaking tube instead so that she could speak. Lately, however, they have been doing a number of trials to actually get her off the ventilator entirely--not only the speaking tube, but also exercises for her lungs and giving her time to breathe completely on her own. Grams is doing great, and the doctors and nurses have replaced the word "if" with the word "when" as they discuss getting her completely off breathing assistance.

In addition, the therapists have been working with her arms and they are getting stronger. She continues to feel more in her legs, though she hasn't moved them on her own yet, and we are hoping that she will not have to go on any muscle relaxers. All of this is so encouraging.

As we continue to pray for Grams, I just ask that you really pray for Aunt RaVae and for her family, for Gramps, and for Dad. We have such a powerful God, don't we? Not only in His ability to raise the dead, but in His deep love for us.

We are praying for:
* PRAISE for continued healing of Grams' lungs;
* healing for her spinal cord and movement in her legs;
* wisdom for doctors and that they will see what God is doing;
* encouragement and peace for Grams and Aunt RaVae, and the rest of the family;
* God to continue pouring out his blessings and showing his power and love.

I am going to try to remember the specific details of my conversation with Mom last night, but you might want to check the blog again later today, as my notes are sitting on our desk at home and I may need to update with more info later. Mom wanted to make sure I thank you for prayers that Grams wouldn't have nightmares, as she's been two nights without them. Keep praying!

They are working Grams hard on the speaking tube, and she is doing better each time. Improvements come both in being able to be on it longer and also in being able to talk more clearly. Let's keep her in our prayers, as this is hard work for her.

Also, please really lift up the family this weekend. Mom, Dad, and Gramps are going up to see Aunt RaVae, who, as most of you know, is very sick with cancer right now. It is very difficult for Grams to not be able to go and to be encouraging to Aunt RaVae, and I know that feeling goes both ways. This is an extremely tough situation, and we really crave your prayers for Grams and for Aunt RaVae. Today while Grams is on the speaking valve she is going to tape record a birthday message for Aunt RaVae, so really pray that she will be able to say what she wants to. There is a lot of weight on a lot of hearts!

We are praying for:
* PRAISE for continued improvement with the speaking tube and for no nightmares;
* Grams to be able to speak clearly when she records a birthday message for Aunt RaVae;
* Peace and comfort for Grams as the rest of the family go visit Aunt RaVae;
* miracles in healing and comfort for Aunt RaVae;
* peace and encouragment for Uncle Don, Kary and Scott, Joey and Rebecca, Dad and Mom, and Gramps over the weekend;
* strength for Grams' lungs;
* healing of her spinal cord.

If you have a moment...

Mom has been printing comments off of this blog and reading them to Grams, which is really encouraging to her. As you check the updates, if you have a moment write a quick comment to Grams (click on "comment" below each blog entry). I know it would be such a blessing to her.

Over the weekend grandson Joey and Rebecca and their two girls, Ashley and Emily, came to see Grams. She has been increasing the amount of time that she can go without the breathing machine--slowly but surely--and Mom says they are working towards a chocolate milkshake! Sounds like a good goal to me.

Yesterday (Sunday) they took Grams for a walk outside, which was great. It looks like quite an adventure don't you think?

We are praying for:
* PRAISE at accelerated healing and rehabiliation efforts;
* patience for Grams through this long process;
* relief from pain, as these new efforts have made her more sore and tired;
* healing of lungs so that she can breathe on her own;
* continued healing of her spinal cord and movement in the lower half of her body;
* rest and encouragement for Gramps, Mom and Dad, and Aunt RaVae and Uncle Don.

missy

Another thing from yesterday...

Mom wanted me to add to yesterday's entry that Grams went 15 minutes without the ventilator yesterday, which is a huge improvement. The medical staff seems ready to give it the ol' heave ho with getting her well and out of the hospital--they are going to a rigorous schedule with the breathing tests (3 times a day) and are planning on taking her outside soon (perhaps today). Mom said they were praying for accelerated healing, and here it is!

missy

Good News Again Today!

Well, the Grams we all know and love is awake, alert, and very much herself. I talked to Mom today on her way to the post office to send in Grandma and Grandpa's bills, because she said that she didn't dare face Grams another day without having all the bills paid and taken care of! :) The other day Grams spent 5 hour sitting up in the chair they have for her, and although she was worn out afterward she is doing really well.

The good news of the day is that, after another x-ray, the neurologist said that there is very little--if any--damage to her diaphram. They have been concerned that her diaphram was affected by her spinal cord damage, preventing her from being able to breathe on her own. This is GREAT news, as moving forward with rehabilitation will be much easier once she is off the breathing tube. Right now she is communicating by mouthing words (Dad said they are getting really good at charades) because the tube prevents her from talking.

Also, the feeling in her toes has increased, giving us great encouragement that her spinal cord keeps healing. Isn't it exciting to see God work? I told someone this week that my Christmas and the weeks since have felt like I've been much closer to where God is working, so that I can see it more clearly and feel it in myself, like being closer to a really hot fire. Let's keep praying that, through this experience, other people will also pull up a seat near that Fire.

We are praying for:
* PRAISE that feeling continues to grow and diaphram damage is little-to-none.
* also, PRAISE that Grams continues to be really upbeat and encouraged.
* healing in her lungs to continue so that she can breathe on her own;
* continued healing over her spinal cord and feeling/movement in her feet;
* the doctors to see that God is truly working miracle after miracle;
* good rest for Grandpa and that he will be able to sleep through the whole night;
* continued encouragement and strength for Grams, Gramps, and those who are with her.

I cannot say enough how deeply your prayers are felt. I don't have the right words to describe how your encouragement, love, and help pull us all through each day. I really think that tears might say it better. Thank you.

missy

A Perkiness Update

Oops! I thought I had posted this blog entry yesterday, but I had saved it instead and never came back to finish it. Mom sounded really encouraged yesterday when I asked her how Grams is doing. She said that they got Grams sat up in a chair, and though she can't talk (the trach tube keeps her from using her vocal cords) they had a good "conversation" (Grams mouthing questions and Mom giving explanations) about just where she is and why she's there--and what the heck happened to Christmas and the rest of January! She said Grams was perky and alert and very much herself. They also did a swallowing test, which she passed--not ready to get the stomach tube out, but it was a good solid step.

Today is Grams and Gramps 60th anniversary. What a greater celebration than we expected it to be! Grams "warned" me before I got married to "choose wisely, since our family is notorious for long marriages." She and Gramps are an incredible example to us.

Thank you to all of you who joined in during prayer for Grams last night. Keep 'em comin'!

We are praying for:
* PRAISE for swallowing and for Grams' perkiness and being encouraged;
* healing in her lungs and diaphram so that she can breathe on her own;
* healing of her spinal cord and movement of her legs.

love, missy

An Invitation

Tonight (Saturday) at 7:00 p.m. a group will be gathering on the 4th floor of St. Al's hospital (in the chapel) to pray for Grandma's healing. We would love for you to join us at the hospital or, if you can't make it, in prayer wherever you are at that time. If you have questions, feel free to call Denny or Jeanetter, or contact Eagle Church of the Nazarene.

Successful Surgery, Part 2!

Thank you so much for your prayers--today's tracheotomy and feeding tube insertion went just fine. Mom and Dad said that it was great to see Grams smile this afternoon, now that she has the tubes out of her mouth! They said she seems to feel better today and, while she still can't talk, she mouthed the phrase "Get me out of here!" to them. :)

Also, a heart update (there are so many body parts to monitor for healing, I think I forgot to keep it up-to-speed!): As I mentioned earlier, the doctors determined that she had a heart attack after she fell on Christmas Eve, and they were really concerned that she was having continued heart damage that may have ended up being severe. This week, however, they took another look at her heart and decided that not only is her heart safe, but it didn't sustain much damage at all! This type of miracle has happened an awful lot in the past two weeks.

Even though things are progressing more slowly than we'd like (don't they always?), every day brings something new--and baby steps are still steps! I was reminded today that, even though we were discouraged yesterday, God is completely in control and in our helplessness we are reminded that He can be fully trusted to take care of us. How much better things look when we leave them in His hands! As things progress and we move into what we know is a long recovery process, we've been learning what specific things to pray for next, so I'll share with you the list:

We are praying that:
* praise for today's surgery;
* Grams will be able to swallow so that they can remove the feeding tube (her mouth and throat are pretty sore and beat up after a week and a half on the respirator);
* that her lungs/respiratory system will heal so they can remove the breathing tube (right now that is the major thing keeping her in ICU);
* healing for her spinal cord; and especially
* patience and encouragement for Grams.