update to the update

I talked to Mom a bit ago, so here is the latest-latest. Grams went 16 hours again today, which is excellent. She has contracted a bit of pnemonia in her left lung, which makes breathing more difficult, so please pray that this goes away and she continues to be able to breathe more each day.

By the way, I just skimmed through the past few entries and am astounded at the rate of recovery she is making. It was just a few entries ago that we were so excited she'd gone 4 1/2 hours without the ventilator! Sort of puts it all into a very rosy perspective...

missy

An Overdue Update!

It's been over a week since we gave you an update, and I apologize to those of you who have been patiently awaiting the latest news about Grandma's condition.

As many of you know, last week my Aunt RaVae passed away, and we spent the weekend celebrating her life in Grandview. Your prayers and support were so cherished, and thank you to those of you who stayed with Grams during this tough time. Please continue to pray for her and for Grandpa, and for Uncle Don and the family. We certainly don't understand why things like this happen, but we do know that God is good. A friend was reminding me this weekend that nothing happens outside of who God is--outside of His goodness, his power, his grace--and we can stake our lives on that fact.

Last time I wrote, Grams was on an accelerated track out of the ICU. After she had trouble going straight from 12 hours off the ventilator to 28 hours (quite a huge jump!), they scaled back the tests to 14 hours and, yesterday, 16 hours. She is doing really well, considering everything, and Mom says she just looks great. When asked what she wants for her birthday, she said "to get out of here!" That's what I want for my birthday, too! They are hoping to have her out of the ICU by the end of the week??? I'll certainly keep you updated, as Mom and Dad were scheduled to talk to the doctor sometime today.

So, an overall summary. We are praying for:
* Praise that Grams continues to recover,
* Comfort for her, Gramps, and the rest of the family as they deal with Aunt RaVae's death,
* Wisdom for the doctors with regards to medication and timing for her therapy,
* Continued encouragement for Grams and accelerated healing of lungs and legs,
* Wisdom for Mom and Dad as they make decisions about rehab facilities.

Prayer Request for Today

Grams is continuing on the 12-hour trials, and with success will be moved up to either 24-hour trials or some increment in between. I will give more info when I have it.

In the meantime, the prayer request for today is for guidance in the decision of the rehabilitation facility. Dad and Gramps are visiting and asking questions at the two available facilities in Boise and would like prayer in determining which one is going to be best for Grams. In particular, they are looking for a facility and staff who will see Grams as a project for full recovery and push her to get better and better, rather than operating under the assumption that there is a "good enough" for an 80-year-old woman. Over the past few months she has proven these nay-sayers wrong over and over, and we pray that whoever works with her will recognize and challenge her strength.

Thanks again for your prayers.

It's been a while

since I've posted, and I apologize. Grams is now on 12-hour trials without the ventilator, which, when completed successfully, will be followed by 24-hour trials and then, finally, a move out of the ICU--hooray! I'm antsy to be able to chat with her on the phone instead of through the parents. She did great on her first trial, though it exhausted her, and I have not heard what the result of the last couple tries was. I will keep you updated.

Today Grams went without the ventilator for 4 1/2 hours, and they have decided to change her rehab schedule so that she is breathing on her own from 6-10 am and 6-10 pm. The respiratory therapist was so encouraging, telling Mom and Grams that she should be off the ventilator soon--hopefully next week! What an awesome God we have, and how we see Him through the way He answers our prayers!

Also, thank you for praying that Grams would sleep through the night. She has been sleeping much better, and we need to keep praying for her. Keep praying for accelerated healing to continue, which will allow Grams to do rehab (and get out of that ICU!) in Boise instead of out of state.

So many praises!

Three Hours and Counting!

They have bumped Grams up to three hours at a time (three times a day) off the ventilator. That's 9 hours a day at least! Today Mom said she went at least 3 and a half hours one of the times. Plus, today she had solid food for the first time since Christmas Eve breakfast. Yay!

Just wanted to give you a quick update and thank you for the prayers. God is so good!

We are praying for:
* PRAISE for amazing accelerated healing of her lungs;
* PRAISE for the doctors and how they are pushing her to breathe on her own;
* continued healing of her lungs;
* healing of her spinal cord and voluntary movement in her legs and feet (she has lots of feeling but hasn't been able to move on her own yet);
* Grams to be able to get a good night's sleep and sleep through the night.

missy

Chocolate Milkshakes

I mentioned a while ago that Grams has been working on her breathing toward the goal of a chocolate milkshake (a very worthy goal, in my opinion). Well, that very milkshake is on the menu this afternoon! How exciting! She's been sucking on grape popcicles of the past couple days--her first foods since Christmas Eve--and the doctors have uped her time off the ventilator to 1 hour three times a day, plus 1 hour each time she is on the speaking tube. Very ambitious, but the doctors think she has made amazing substantial progress. Today they told Mom and Dad that she has a "great cough" which will help her breathe on her own more quickly. This, they said, is unusual for her stage.

We are watching God at work!

Keep praying for her accelerated healing.

We are praying for:
* PRAISE for chocolate milkshakes and "great coughs!"
* strength and encouragement for Grams, as she's working really hard to breathe and it wears her out;
* healing of her spinal cord and movement in her feet;
* freedom from anxiety. This is Grams' special request for herself, both when she is breathing on her own (a bit scary, you can imagine) and in general.

Thank you again for your love and prayers.
missy

Verse for the Month

(And for the past months and months to come.)

Mom wanted me to share this verse that God has revealed to her and continues to place on her heart:

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will trust in the name of the LORD our God." Psalms 20:7, niv

We might rephrase that to say that some trust in science and some in just what we know and see now, but we have great hope in a God who can do anything! No matter what happens today or what happens in the future, He has great plans for us and the power to do what he promises.

missy