January 6: Need a faith boost today?

Let me just share with you about how our Lord answers prayer.

Yesterday I was talking with the nurse about some medical situations and trying to remember what doctor was treating which area. As she looked over Barbara's list of docs, she said, "Boy, you really have a 'dream team'" here. It's something that I'd heard before, but it was a great reminder of how God answered all of our prayers even before we prayed them! You see, the neuro-surgeon, Dr. Rifai, is in high demand, and there is literally a long list of people waiting to see him. But, thanks to having Karen Johnson, a wonderful Christian lady, as our nurse practitioner (basically our "family doctor"), she was able to quickly get Barbara's health issue to Dr. Rifai, who in turn insisted on seeing Barbara immediately. Then, Dr. Rifai hand picked the best doctors to attend to her other areas of need. Also, Dr. Rifai has taken Barbara's care personally, and has treated us as if we were his own family.

The point of all this is to assure you that God is so big, so awesome, and so un-restrained by time that He could answer all of our prayers before we prayed them. He put this in place, and has master-minded Barbara's healing process by inspiring the doctors who care for her.

Supt./Pastor Chet Martin put this concept in my mind regarding a totally different issue early last year. But I've come to understand that God, being greater than time or distance, and understanding that we can't see the future, masterfully hears the prayers yet to come and answers them in advance of us even praying. If you're not prepared to believe that, I would suggest that you search the scriptures for all the examples of God doing things that are much bigger than man. It won't be hard to find them. God is far bigger and greater than we can humanly comprehend. Thinking that we can wrap our mind around God is arrogant and a bit heretical. Be glad that we serve a Lord who can do far more than we can even think to ask.

While we are still in intensive care, things are progressing quite well. Her heart rate and blood pressure are doing GREAT today. In fact, the lung doctor was just here, and will order that her respirator settings be lowered even further today in the process of weening her from it all together. So, basically, we're waiting for the weener!

Barbara is in good spirits today. She has the look of rejoicing on her face as we've "talked" about how well things are going. We just now received word that they will keep her here over the weekend, and move her back to the step-down unit on Monday (probably). This way, they can continue the process of weening her from the respirator while able to monitor her progress more closely and attentively. This is all good.

The main issue, besides the blood pressure, is that she is experiencing a lot of nausea and bloating in her stomach. The good part is that she is feeling it working.

So, please pray that Barbara's stomach do well digesting,

Pray that her entire digestive system will kick into full working order,

Pray that her blood pressure remains good,

And pray that the respirator weening process goes remarkably well.

Also, if you would please, keep Jackie in mind today. She sent an email this morning expressing that she is having trouble getting into a class that she needs from UK in Lexington to complete her Masters in Counseling at Asbury. If she can't get into the class, she won't graduate this spring. Please lift her in prayer today.

January 5

So here we are today back in intensive care. Actually, I like this area better than the other because of the superb care she gets. While there were certainly some nurses in the step-down unit that were good, the nurses here set such a high standard of excellence. They've also become like family!

Barbara's blood pressure is back in a good range. Due to the meds they've given her, her heart rate is a bit high. However, that is fine as long as she maintains a steady pattern of heart beats. As things stand now, she'll probably be here for a day or two more while they monitor her, administer this blood pressure medicine, and try to prevent this from becoming a problem.

Barbara was very upset last night, seeing this as a "regression". However, she is peaceful today and realizes that it is simply a step of prevention. Everything else continues in a good pattern.

Please pray that her blood pressure and heart rate stabilize again,

That she has NO MORE anxiety attacks,

That God SPEEDS the rate of her healing,

And that I stay sane!!!

I mentioned that we pray for many of you as a means of lifting our own spirits. Please join me today in praying for a very dear friend of ours who emailed us today that she has just found out that she has cancer. I haven't asked permission to use her name, but I definitely would like you to join with Barbara and I in lifting her in prayer today. She shares that the prognosis is good. I know the experience of your great wall of prayers surrounding us, so I solicit you again for someone who is a mighty servant of God. You may not know the details, but God will know.

Oh Fooey

We are temporarily (we hope) back in nuero intensive care. While Barbara is still doing well in most areas, her blood pressure took a nose dive today. Her surgeon didn't think she really needed to come back here, but the heart doctor wanted her to be closely monitored. So, here we are... but hopefully for just a day or two.

January 4

It seemed that we were lucky to string 2 good days together back in intensive care, but now she seems to do a bit better each day. She's getting poked, prodded and stuck in about every way, place and region known to mankind. I've learned that IV lines go bad over time and new ones must be planted in. This poor girl has been through so much jabbing it's sickening.

Today they will turn her respirator to lower setting once again, meaning that she will be taking more breaths on her own. They are still delivering just 40% oxygen, which is good. She is doing very well.

Remember that I've mentioned that they're trying to get her digestive system up and running again? Over the past week she's been on a liquid diet, and has really enjoyed getting to have flavor in her mouth. She craved strawberry milkshakes, tomato soup, and Big Red. You're probably thinking what I thought... she has eschewed the good stuff for junk. However, they have no problem with her having it if she wants it, so who am I to say. As of yesterday, they are once again pumping a nutritional liquid into her stomach line. *If you have a sensitive stomach, you'll want to put your had over your ears and hum through the next part* In the past, she has thrown up every time they feed her in this manner. However, she has gone a day with it now, and has only suffered some nasty nausea. Another good thing is that she's starting to feel her system at work, so to speak. These are good things.

The down side is that she never wants me to leave her side, even to eat. Every time I try to leave, she begins frantically asking for things (made difficult since I have to try to read her rapid lip movements!). Her anxiety continues, but understand that it is something that would happen to almost any of us after long hospital stays. I am trying to be here most of the time, and have set up office here in her tiny room!

So please pray that her anxiety and fear decreases,

Pray that Barbara is at peace when I must leave at times,

Pray that body movements continue to increase,

Pray that recovery gains momentum every day.

I haven't been lulled into thinking that she is safe from any further complications. Every invasive line in her body, as well as the trache, represent sources of possible infection. There is also the danger of the pneumonia returning. Also, each passing day in this little cell of a room represents more emotional struggle for both of us. I am not being pessimistic, merely asking for continued prayers as we make our journey through this.

Barb's mom went back home on Tuesday, and I'm sure Barb's dad was glad to see her again at long last! Don't forget her in your prayers, as she has also struggled with all that has happened.

I find that when I run out of things to pray for us, there are many of you that come to my mind that I pray for. There is probably some wisdom for all of us in realizing that the biggest blessing comes as we pray for others. It's one of the most productive things we can do when we feel the most helpless about our own situation.

January 2, in the year of our Lord 2007

Well, a belated Happy New Year, one and all.

We continue to stitch together good days. Since being moved from intensive care to, uh, non-intensive (?) care, we have seen ongoing physical improvement. Today brings more good news in that they are turning the respirator assist down even lower, and she is taking many breaths on her own. She has complained of difficulty in breathing, but I'm betting its mostly anxiety related. She is moving ever closer to being off the vent.

Her movements are still small but significant to me. She doesn't see the improvement, but then she hasn't been witness to all that we have thanks to her sedation for weeks. Anxiety is a huge problem. When she tries to communicate and we can't understand her, she becomes very agitated. The good news is they've starting working with her on a speaking valve for the trache that will allow her to talk in breathy words. They've also began giving her a little goodie juice to help her relax and sleep. I am deeply grateful for that considering her frazzled state at times! I'm about to the end of my rope... and that's not a pleasant place to be. Just ask Saddam! (A little dark humor for those whose sensitivities can handle it!) *remove tongue from cheek*

All in all, her health is improving daily. Just pray that God will heal her RAPIDLY (yes, I've gotten all the emails about patience... I can tell you it is a highly over-esteemed virtue!). Perhaps that's why we have such difficulty ministering to others... we're patient. God help us to become impatient to see lives transformed by the remarkable love of Christ.

Please also pray that Barbara's anxiety will subside,

Pray that MY anxiety will subside,

Pray that God will use us to touch lives for him while here.

Impatiently yours...

December 31

To quote one of our favorite doctors here, "Hello, hello, hello." Every day he triumphantly enters the room that way with his middle eastern accent. The nurses affectionately call him Bob the Builder because, well, he looks like Bob the Builder. With a mustache. Or so they say. I just looked up a picture of Bob the Builder, and I'm not so sure. Anyway, this doctor is a repeater. He says most everything twice. "Hello Bawbra, hello Bawbra." You get the picture. Like I said, though, he is an exceptionally good and caring doctor who always encourages us and always tells us to pray!

Barbara is needing a lot of encouraging right now. She continues to progress very well, albeit slowly. But she is going bonko stir crazy. As well you could imagine. No, maybe many of you can't. I'll bet a few of you know what its like to be trapped in a tiny room for an extended period of time. Add in immobility and difficulty communicating, and you get the picture. Please pray today that God will heal Barbara's spirit and help her to experience joy here in the fire.

Really, that's all I have to say. Oh, except praise the Lord for the WONDERFUL way His Holy Spirit moved among us again today in worship. One lady shared that she came expecting God to do something amazing! Now that's the way to come to worship! We had a covenant service and the presence of the Lord was in the house.