Feburary 9 - The Third Step

Two steps forward, three steps back.

Actually, it has been quite a while since Barbara has had a setback of any kind. The problem is that she needs to get out of the hospital so that these hospital related things will quit popping up. However, she can't get out of the hospital until they fix the hospital related problems! Make sense?

So now the deal is that Barbara's move to RIC (Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago) is on indefinite hold pending getting her through the present setback. They have discovered yet another blood clot in her leg, and one in her lung. While the blood clot in the lung is a VERY serious matter, the doctor believes that it is small enough that medical treatment should take care of it. On Monday, they will do a short procedure where they install a filter that will prevent future blood clots from entering the lungs. So for now, we are in a holding pattern and praying for healing of a serious situation.

Finding the clots was precipitated by a sporadic high heart rate and low blood pressure. As of yesterday, her blood pressure was still low, but her heart rate was good.

Barbara has been in a room by herself, but due to the fact that the hospital had a rush of new patients, she was moved to a private room. This is an answer to prayer, because we were concerned about the stress that dealing with a roommate, their TV viewing habits, and potential desire to keep the room too hot for Barbara. The hospital took the impetus to move her because they were concerned about those things, as well as the potential for infection due to her immuno-suppressed condition. We are thankful for this level of attentiveness.

So, please pray for the blood clot situation,

Pray that Barbara will soon be able to move to rehab, and that RIC will take her,

Pray for both of us as this is yet another challenge to our emotional well-being!

Thanks to all of you who kept me in your prayers as I traveled to Southern Illinois this week to keep my promise to Mary Robinson. She is the former parishioner who died in a house fire last week-end. She asked me on several occasions to perform her funeral, and I was determined to keep that promise despite road conditions that were a bit dicey at times. Thanks to Karen and Merle for housing me so that I wouldn't have to drive back in the dark (a bit concerned about hitting icy patches unaware). It was like a family reunion seeing so many of my dear friends from our years at Birds. They are all so very dear to Barbara and I, and we pray for them regularly. Our prayers continue to go out to Gene Robinson and the family. They are all very fine people. Gene is such a sweet, godly man. It breaks my heart for him to have lost everything like this. In saying "everything", I realize that there is one thing that no earthly tragedy can steal away; he still has faith in Christ that will sustain him. Praise God for our hope in Him!