Joye's Update 12/25/08

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Andrew and I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We also want to thank everyone for their continued prayers and thoughtfulness throughout this ordeal during this year. We could not have made it though this tragedy without you! You have really kept us going with your wonderful posts and cards! We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and we feel completely blessed and so fortunate to have such wonderful friends and family. God Bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 12/7/08

I know it's been a long time since I've posted to the blog, and I apologize for that. November was a very crazy month and it's been difficult to find a moment to sit down and update. Andrew had many visitors during that month. His mom was here from New York, his cousin from England and his best child-hood friend from England as well. He has had a great time with them here and was very sad to see them go. Andrew is still making great progress with moving his arms and he is 100% focused on that task. We ask that you please continue to pray for that arm movement and that he gain enough use so that he can return to Craig in Denver to receive the best rehabilitation possible on his arms. That is his main goal these days. Thank you again for all your prayers and continued thoughts, we appreciate them more than we could ever express. God bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 10/27/08

Checking in again . . . all is well in the Langley house. Andrew continues to work on moving his arms and with your prayers is doing better and better each day. Please continue to pray and there's nothing he won't be able to accomplish. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 10/22/08

Thank you Jesus . . . we have elbow movement. Andrew has been working very hard with his physical therapist and just today he was able to push his arms out and also bring them back in a few inches while resting on a flat surface; the video below shows him pushing his left arm out (click the arrow button and the video will appear). We are praising God for yet another miracle, and we are so thankful for this blessing. Thank you all for your prayers . . . please continue to pray for stength in this movement which will soon give Andew use of his arms, giving him the ability to feed himself, transfer himself from his chair to other surfaces (bed, living room chairs, etc.) and even to drive a vehicle some day. God is awesome and He deserves all the glory for what He is doing for Andrew. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 10/16/08

Just checking in . . . Andrew is doing well and is continuing with his determination to move his elbows. He is doing great in physical therapy and he's had many doctors' visits with all of his specialists this week. All of his appointments have gone well. We were so happy to see everyone last Saturday at Andrew's benefit, and I was very surprised he was able to stay so long. It was a great time and we are so thankful for those who were able to make it out. It really showed us how blessed we are to have so many loved ones in our life. God has given us so much to be thankful for and we haven't taken that for granted for one moment. Please continue to pray for Andrew to gain the ability to move and bend his elbows . . . God is awesome and he hears our prayers. Good Day and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 10/10/08

Wanted to touch base and let you know that things are still going well for Andrew. He works daily on moving fingers and elbows and we are praying hard for him to gain the ability to bend his arms at his elbows. His physical therapist is assisting with this task as well. We are positive that God will answer this prayer and we are so thankful for it. We are both anxious to see everyone tomorrow night at the benefit. This will be Andrew's second outing and he's a bit nervous, however, is looking forward to seeing everyone. A lot of friends and family members have gone to a great deal of work to put this on for Andrew and we cannot thank them enough. God has truly blessed us with so many people in our lives and we thank God for all of them. Good Day and God Bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update10/02/08

PRAISE THE LORD!!! I've attached another video which shows Andrew moving his index finger and his thumb. Although, ever so slightly, these are purposeful movements that his brain is telling his fingers to do which means a line of communication is getting through the damage done to his spinal cord. This is what he has been working on so hard to achieve and what we have all been praying for. God is awesome and he is doing this for Andrew. Keep praying . . . God is hearing us and responding. EVERYONE . . . praise the Lord Jesus right now for yet another miracle! And, for those of you who've never seen Andrew's hands . . . yes, this is how big they are and that is my "normal" sized thumb in the video as I have to hold his hand up so he can see it in order to move it. We all got a good laugh out of how it looks like I'm hold a giant's hand up :) Good day, and God Bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 9/28/08

Just checking in as I know it's been a while since I posted. All is going well . . . it's just hard for me to find the time to sit down at the computer these days. Andrew is still doing well; he's still able to move his arms in the same manner he was doing in the video. He exercises his arms all throughout the day and he is feeling a soreness in his arm muscles which is a good thing as this means there is definitely a message getting from his brain to those muscles that are below his level of injury. In other words . . . it's not just his shoulders doing all the work, and this is VERY encouraging. He has been having some more anxiety in the early morning hours again, so I ask that you please pray for him to get past these hours without having the bothersome anxiety attacks. They keep him awake and make him extremely uncomfortable. Also, please continue to pray for more arm movement. He is giving everything he has to bending his elbows. That kind of movement would be an unbelievable breakthrough . . . it would be a miracle from God and we still hold faith that the Lord will do this for him. Thank you all for your prayers; it means everything to us. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 9/22/08

PRAISE GOD!!!! We have some arm movement. I was standing in front of Andrew tonight rubbing his hands and jokingly said, "give me a hug." He closed his eyes and tried as hard as he could and lifted his arms about 2 inches off the arm rests of his chair. I felt it because my hands were on his and I couldn't believe it. He said he could feel it, but when he tries to move . . . he always "feels" like he's doing it even when he's not. So, I video'd it with my phone so I could show him. God is AWESOME!!! I know He's healing Andrew . . . I can feel it. Please keep praying, it is the one thing that each one of us can do for Andrew. Good Night and God Bless you all, Joye. Here's the video, just click the arrow to play.

Joye's Update 9/21/08

It has been a good weekend. Andrew even got out last Friday for his first outing to the doctor for a check-up. He had a good check-up, but he was very tired by the time we made it back home. Other than that, we've just hung around the house with the kids. His care at home is going well; I think we've finally gotten the hang of it. We continue to pray for movement in his arms and we ask you to please continue praying as well. God is awesome and we have faith that He will heal Andrew. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 9/16/08

It's been an okay couple of days. Andrew had some issues with his breathing yesterday, but he's doing better today. It was scary, but I'm very confident in the training I received from Craig and feel good about the fact that I can definitely keep him breathing until an ambulance arrives if necessary. We aren't sure what was going on, but everything seems to be fine now . . . and we're very thankful it didn't ever come close to the point of needing an ambulance. Andrew is sleeping much better in the early morning and seems to be getting over his anxiety during that time; we are thankful to God for that. Please continue to pray for arm movement (thank you). Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 9/14/08

Andrew had a pretty good weekend. We watched a lot of rented movies and just spent time together. I have just about everything scheduled for him that needs to be (like meds, therapies, meals, etc.) There are many medicines that can't be taken with food and a lot of foods that can't be eaten with certain medicines, so everything takes planning. The nights have gotten easier and we are very pleased with the CNA help that we have each morning. Andrew continues to pray and to concentrate on moving his arms . . . please pray with us for him to gain that ability. We know God will do this for him; our faith is our strength. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 9/12/08

We have been doing pretty good the past couple of days. Andrew is strict with his routine . . . he really likes staying on schedule, and that's fine, it makes him feel more secure to know how his day is going to go. We are also really pleased with the CNA's that are helping us . . . they are very caring and have been completely open to learning Andrew's care the "Craig" way. Andrew is sleeping well with exception to a little bit of anxiety he experiences early in the morning. It usually happens about 4:00 am which is the time he used to get up for work. I think he'd like it if I got him up at that time, but I'm just not (and have never been) able to function at that hour. For those of you who are early risers, please pray for Andrew during that time and ask God to calm him down and take the anxiety away (thank you). We continue to pray for arm movement and Andrew concentrates very hard throughout the day to make this happen. Good day and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 9/10/08

It's been another good couple of days. Andrew is getting more comfortable being home and he's becoming more secure as well. Our Pastor (Barry Nicholson) and his wife (Marie) came by last night to visit and pray with us. It was a great visit and Andrew is really feeling positive and a strengthened faith in that God will heal him. Please continue to pray with us for that healing; God is hearing us and He will provide. Good Day and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 9/8/08

Andrew had another pretty good night. We are still adjusting to our schedule, but it's coming along. Our CNA help is very good and is a huge help to me in the mornings. We are able to have the help for up to 4 hours each morning. We continue to pray together and keep our faith in God to provide for us. Good Day and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 9/7/08

We have had another pretty good day/night. We are really trying hard to get into a routine and it's coming along okay so far. Andrew is becoming more comfortable being away from the security of Craig and I too am becoming more comfortable without that security as well. Andrew has also told me he is ready to begin accepting visitors. We are only asking that you please call before-hand to make sure that he's feeling up to a visit and (most importantly) that I have enough time to get out of my pajamas (ha ha) . . . that has been a most difficult task for me lately :) Our home number is 342-7535. If I'm unable to get to the phone, please feel free to leave a message and I will get back to you asap as a lot of the time I'm tied up with Andrew's needs. Please continue to pray for Andrew . . . most specifically, we are concentrating on him getting movement in his arms. God is awesome and me and Andrew both have complete faith that The Lord Jesus will provide for him. Good Day and God Bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 9/6/08

Well, as you can see I was unable to post last night. I'm going to have to start doing so during the day when I have a little "down" time. Nights are pretty busy for me and it should work better this way. Andrew is doing much better as he is becoming accustomed to the new schedule, new climate and new surroundings. He is sleeping well, eating well and so far no medical problems. It's been an adjustment and continues to be, but we're getting better at it every day. Please continue to pray for Andrew, it's all I can ask at this time and I'm so thankful for that. Good DAY, and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 9/4/08

Well, it has been a pretty long 24+ hours. Last night was "so so" as Andrew's body is adjusting to a different altitude and climate. His body temperature is sort of going a little crazy right now with him either being very, very cold or very, very hot . . . this is due to his autonomic system being out of wack due to his spinal chord injury. When this happens, it causes his heart rate to increase and I was up a good portion of the night trying to cool him down with ice and washing him down with cold water. It's pretty normal, although the Craig nurse (who had to leave today) did say Andrew's autonomic "problems" do tend to be worse than most spinal chord injured people. We are doing better (so far) tonight, so let's pray he has a better night tonight. Thank you all for your prayers, words of encouragement and welcomes home. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 9/3/08

More answered prayers. Andrew made it home safely with no problems. He was very happy to get home and see the kids and the house. His nurse from Craig is staying with us tonight to help get us oriented and we are very thankful for that. She also provided a training to those who will and may be helping with his care. It's is a comforting feeling for me that so many will know how to help if need be. I'm very, very tired and anticipate a long night, so I'll close for now. Thank you again for all your prayers . . . please continue to pray for Andrew . . . God will provide. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 9/2/08

Well, I think I'm just about ready for Andrew to get here. I have unpacked my unbelievable amount of accumulated items from Colorado, the bed is set up and ready, and the medical supplies are put away. I spoke to Andrew this evening and he's ready for his trip. He's had a good couple of days and he's anxious to get here to see the kids and to see how the house looks. Please pray with me that God will see Andrew here safely. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 9/1/08

Well it has been 5 months (to the day) that I've been away from our home in Yuma, but I finally made it here today. The modifications look great and I'm feeling so blessed that so many people helped with making that happen for Andrew. I have a lot to do tomorrow to prepare for Andrew's arrival on Wednesday, but it will be worth it to have everything perfect for him. As many of you may know, Andrew is a very visual person and he like his space to be "just so." I'm going to make sure it's to his liking to make him as comfortable and to feel "at home" as much as possible. I'm so excited for him to get home. Please pray for him to have a safe flight and an easy transition once here. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/31/08

It has been a long trip (so far), but we (me, my sister, and my brother-in-law) made it to Wickenburg tonight. It rained on us most of the way here and it was pretty windy too. We were hauling a U-haul trailer as we brought back Andrew's chair and a lot of other supplies in it, so that made our trip a little slower. We will be in Yuma sometime tomorrow, and I can't tell you how excited I am to see the kids and the dog! I'm also very anxious to see the modifications done to the house. It will be a very busy couple of days as I have a laundry-list of things to do before Andrew arrives on Wednesday. I spoke with him tonight and all is going well. He said he just "chilled" in his room today and hung out with Tony a little too. He won't have therapies or classes tomorrow as it's a holiday, so he wasn't really looking forward to another boring day. He will have his final therapies on Tuesday and will leave Craig on Wednesday at 9am to be ambulanced to the airport. He will then be air-ambulanced to Yuma, and then ambulanced to our house. Depending on how all that goes with his skin will determine whether he can be put in his chair once home or if he will have to spend some time in bed to get pressure off his skin. They are unable to do weight shifts while in flight, so that can cause some problems with pressure sores . . . please pray for NO SKIN ISSUES. For those who don't receive the Yuma Sun, Andrew's story was published in today's (Sunday) paper under the Life section (B). I am looking forward to reading it to him when he returns. He has mixed emotions about all of this public attention, but I know he is very touched and thankful for everyone who is praying and encouraging him. We cannot thank you enough for all of that! God is good and He will take care of Andrew and we have faith that He will heal him. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/29/08

Well, for those of you who don't know . . . I am leaving Denver tomorrow. I have to drive back to Yuma as I will need to arrive a couple of days before Andrew gets there to make sure everything is ready for his arrival. I plan to be in Yuma by Monday, and Andrew will be there on Wednesday afternoon. I will miss Andrew terribly in our time apart, but there's no way around it. It will be a crazy week next week getting Andrew settled, getting everything switched over to different doctors, and finding a new routine. We definitely have our work cut out for us, but it will be worth it to be home with our kids, in our own home. I am not sure if I will be able to post on the blog while I'm on the road due to Internet access, but I will do my best. For now, I ask that you all join me in prayer that Andrew stays safe and does well in the days before he returns home. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/28/08

Andrew had a really good day today. They have been working very hard this week at getting him fitted (correctly) to his new chair as well as to get some devices put on the chair that will help him to be more independent. They put his cell phone on it as well as well as a camel-back (type) drinking system so that he can always keep hydrated and won't need assistance with getting a drink. His phone is set up to receive voice commands along with a blue tooth device that he can click on and off up against a thing near the side of his head, and he can also push the buttons on the phone with a mouth stick if necessary. We are also planning on getting a home system that will allow him to operate the TV, DVD, VCR, etc., as well as to turn on lights and unlock and open doors. He can also operate a computer with a laser light (mouse) system, but he said he's never had an interest in computers so at this time he doesn't want that device. We are so thankful to God for this place. They have really brought Andrew a long ways in a short amount of time. I just can't believe the difference in him from when we first got here. Although our life will be very different when we return home . . . we are both so happy to be able to get back there to begin our much different life together in our newly modified home with our kids, family and friends. Andrew has told me that he feels very fortunate that he made it through all of this and that he'd much rather be alive and with us . . . even if in a chair, than the alternative of not being here to enjoy his life and his family. He's been so strong and I've never been so proud of him. His will and determination have proven doctors wrong, his faith in God is what keeps him going, and your prayers and encouragement have made all the difference . . . we cannot thank you enough for that. This has all been to God's glory and delight and it has restored some peoples faith and strengthened others in the Lord, and that has touched me in a way that I don't think I could describe. God is awesome and He has seen us through this, that's for sure. Good Night and God Bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 8/27/08

Well, we began the day today thinking Andrew was going to get rid of one tube (feeding tube) and it turns out that he got rid of two. His lung doc decided he no longer needs the oxygen he was taking from the nose cannula. One less tube is always a good thing, two less is great! I also have to tell you of another prayer answered. I have literally been losing sleep as I've been highly stressed over finding the right doctors to take care of Andrew once we're home. We were pointed in one direction, and it was just not sitting right with me for many reasons; it was keeping me up nights. So, I began to pray about it and hand it over to God. A few days later I received an email with a great suggestion that has basically led us to a great doctor who it appears may be able to take Andrew's case, and very importantly, it feels right in my gut and my heart. God (once again) has answered this prayer and led us in the right direction. And I really want to thank Carrie and Dr. Scheetz for EVERYTHING! I know I'll sleep much better tonight, so thank you for that. God has put the right people in our life at just the right moment. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/26/08

Andrew had another good day today. We found out that he is supposed to get his feeding tube out tomorrow, which is another huge milestone as they were first thinking he'd go home with it due to his jaw problems. The jaw is feeling much better, therefore, he's eating much better . . . so, the tube comes out. God is awesome and he answers prayers . . . so please continue to pray for Andrew. Prayer has made the difference in Andrew's recovery and prayer is the answer to his healing. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/25/08

It was a good day today. Andrew's power chair (that he will be taking home) finally arrived, so he began learning to drive it today. It's basically the same as the chair he was in before, that belongs to Craig . . . but, there are a few differences that he will have to get used to. Andrew was pleased with his new chair and he said he now has even more of an incentive not to wreck (besides broken bones . . . go figure), but that he doesn't want to dent or scratch his new "hoopty." :) He's still the same ol' Andrew. It's getting closer and closer to when we will be back home and we're both excited and nervous at the same time. This hospital has been a huge security blanket for us and Andrew has felt so safe here. It was a blessing getting to come here and we are both so thankful to God for that. We also know that God will take care of us once we're home and that's all we need to know. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/24/08

We had another pretty quiet day today. We went to church this morning and just hung out together again for most of the day. Andrew has a buddy here (Tony) who invited him to his room tonight to watch some ultimate fighting show. I was very happy not to be involved in all that. These guys are too funny when they're together. They like to ditch class together and then they just end up somewhere asleep in their chairs. Tony is from Hawaii and he was injured in a diving accident and his level of injury is just a little bit lower than Andrew's. We have met a lot of nice people here that we will never forget, that's for sure. God put us in this place and He also put these people in our lives and each one of them has touched us in some way. It's hard to explain . . . but, although I wish this had never happened to Andrew, I do feel quite blessed to have gone through this experience with him. I feel very fortunate to have Andrew as my husband, and my perspective has changed about everything . . . I truly enjoy every moment I share with him. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/23/08

It was a pretty quiet day today. Andrew and I just hung out in our new "pad" and watched movies for most of the day today. It was nice to have the quietness of our own place. Some of the nurses and techs from the west side visited us today because they miss taking care of Andrew so much. We plan to go to church in the morning and to have another quiet day together tomorrow. Please continue to pray for Andrew to be able to bend his elbows. He is spending a lot of time and energy concentrating on moving them. I believe God is going to do this for Andrew. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/22/08

It was a pretty good day today. The staff here are really working hard getting us prepared for our final stretch home. We had our discharge meeting today, and it went very well. We are basically ready . . . just waiting on the discharge day now. When we first arrived here, they told us that we'd both be "experts" in spinal cord injury care by the time we went home. We thought they were nuts and we were both very overwhelmed by that statement. Well I now believe they have delivered on their promise. They not only taught me every aspect of Andrew's care, but they also taught him how to direct his own care and to be in charge of it. Andrew can easily tell anyone how to do whatever he needs them to do as well as what medications he takes and what each is for . . . and let me tell you, that medication list is a long one. We feel so blessed that Andrew was able to come here. We're also excited that we will get to return in 6 months for Andrew's re-evaluation and then again once a year for his annual re-evaluations. We have no doubt that God lead us here, healed Andrew off the ventilator, and will continue to heal him after we leave. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/21/08

Well, Andrew and I have been together for a straight 24+ hours now and we are still doing well. Not even a little marital spat to report :) It has been nice being able to spend the time together. The only trouble I personally have had with sharing a room with Andrew is that he has developed this strange (noisy) way of breathing while he sleeps. It kept me up for a while last night . . . and then suddenly it just stopped, and of course that had me worried that something was wrong. So, needless to say I was up and down all night long. But that's okay, I'm just so grateful to be in this room with him. Otherwise, Andrew has been doing well . . . although not 100%, his blood pressure has been getting better, so we're thankful for that. Please continue to pray for his arms . . . we both feel God is going to do this for him. Good Night and God Bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 8/20/08

We'll we have taken that "big step" and we've moved in together. Tonight will be our first night together in the east "suite." It is nice getting Andrew ready for bed knowing I can stay . . . I don't have to leave him tonight. When we first got here and they gave us a tour, we thought we'd never get over here when they showed us an east side room . . . that seemed impossible at that time and we're finally here and will be going home very soon. What a journey it's been! We continue to pray for Andrew to get use of his arms . . . it would be great if he could before it was time for him to leave and then he could just stay to receive more therapy; however, he will come right back here if he gets his arms back after we get home. This is the best place to receive that kind of therapy for sure. We thank you for your prayers . . . we know it's those prayers that have gotten Andrew as far as he has come. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/19/08

It was a busy day today. I did a lot of packing for us to get ready for our move to the east side tomorrow. I first packed Andrew's things and then tonight I have been packing mine from the apartment. I've accumulated a lot more stuff than I realized. We are both very anxious for the move . . . Andrew had a smile on his face all day today. We are so thankful to God for bringing Andrew here and letting him receive such excellent care. We don't even let our brains think about where he'd be if we weren't able to come up here. God is awesome and He's taken such great care of us throughout this entire ordeal. We are truly blessed. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/18/08

Andrew had a better day today. His blood pressure was still a bit low, but he's managing it much better now. He was able to go to all of his therapies and classes and we spent a lot of time together on the bridge that goes across the street between the east and west sides of the hospital. The sun was out and it was nice to spend time up there. We prayed together tonight for God's healing and I left somewhat early to begin packing my things for my move to his room which will take place either tomorrow or Wednesday. We are very excited about the move. Please continue to pray for Andrew and most specifically, for him to gain use of his arms . . . and, we thank you for that. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/17/08

It was another tough day today for Andrew. His blood pressure is still giving him trouble and Andrew was unable to make it to church this morning. His blood pressure is quite low and is making him very tired; therefore, he slept a good portion of the day. We are praying the blood pressure issues are corrected as to not prolong us from getting to move to the east side in our room together. We are also praying very hard and deeply for Andrew to get movement in his arms. Please pray with us for this . . . we have faith God will provide this for Andrew. We thank God daily for this blessing we know is already on its way. Good Night and God Bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 8/16/08

It was a good day today with exception to the rain and cold weather. Andrew's blood pressure was a little better today, but he still decided to stay in bed for the day because he was very cold. It's okay as long as it's just once in a while. We are planning to go to church in the morning and I'm hoping it won't be so cold tomorrow. I know when we get home, we'll wish we had this cold weather, but for now it's just too cold. I'm a "hot weather" kind of person, that's for sure. Thank you all for your prayers . . . we know God will provide for us; it was His promise. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/15/08

Andrew had a little better day today. His blood pressure is still giving him some trouble, but all in all, his day was better. Coco flew out today and we already miss her. Andrew and I prayed together tonight for God to continue to heal him and to give him use of his arms. We know the Lord will do this for him, and we are so thankful for that. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/14/08

It was a better day today than yesterday; however, Andrew is still having issues with his blood pressure. His doctors are still trying to find out what's going on, so hopefully they will soon be able to fix what's going on. Coco completed her training today and will be flying home to Yuma tomorrow. She learned a lot in one week and her education will be very valuable to us once we're home. We are so thankful to Craig for flying her up here and to her for enduring the training. Andrew is supposed to be moving to the east side of Craig Hospital next week and I will be moving in with him. We are both very excited about that; it's been a long time since we've "lived" together. We continue to pray for his healing and we are thankful that we know God will heal him. Please pray with us for that healing. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/13/08

Andrew had some struggles today. His blood pressure is dropping at times (mostly while sitting upright) which is causing a lot of dizziness and discomfort. They are trying to figure out what's going on, and until then Andrew will have to remain in bed. They have some ideas, so hopefully this won't last too long. Please pray with me for a better tomorrow. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/12/08

It was a good day today. Andrew did all of his therapies and classes and had a pretty good day. Coco is continuing with her training and I think will have about 2 years worth of information given to her in this one week by the time she goes back home. It's a lot to learn, but she's taking it in stride. Please continue to pray for Andrew and most specifically, please pray for him to get use of his arms. We thank you for that. Good Nigh and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/11/08

It was a pretty good day today. Coco is continuing with her training and Andrew and I feel so blessed that she is here, willing to learn, and will be at home waiting for us when we get there. Coco will be living with us and will be there nights to help with getting Andrew back to bed and some of his night care. That has been a huge relief to me as you all know that Andrew is a big guy (still weighing about 240 lbs.) and although it can be done . . . it's very difficult for one person to transfer him from chair to bed and vice versa. I am also aware that our home is pretty much complete and ready for us. We are truly blessed to have the friends and family we do that have done so much to prepare for our homecoming. Andrew and I continue to pray for full healing and specifically for him to get use of his arms next. We believe God will grant him this miracle in His time and we are already thankful for that healing. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Coco's Update 8/10/08

Andrew was up early for church, after church he and Joye came to the apartment to see me, as I slept in today. We all sat here and watched a movie together, and after I helped with lunch. Andrew did have a Twinkie... I asked him how long had it been since he ate one to those and he looks at me and says "Friggen Years" I laughed as I broke up the twinkie to feed him. After our movie we all went back to his room and it was time to get a haircut and shave and a shower. I have never seen Andrew with hair on his head and there was alot. He went to bed early tonight and Joye and I gave him kisses and let him watch tv.
Tomorrow, I will start with classes and go to his therapies with him. This is going to be a busy week as we continue to get him ready to go home...

Coco's update 8/9/08

Hello this is Coco aka Christine. I am a close friend of the family.I have worked in the health care field for 18yrs focusing on elderly but occasionally someone younger to. I was asked to join in the care for Andrew by him and Joye, and was very touched when I was the one Andrew wanted!!!


Well, I arrived here in Colorado last night, for a week long training session, for those of you who don't know I am going to be moving in with Joye and Andrew to help with Andrew's care. Today was an uneventful day for Andrew, as he didn't want to get out of bed until early afternoon. Seeing him up in his chair was like looking at the Andrew we all know and love. It really was a moving day for me and quite humbling as well. Kinda funny how much we take breathing for granted, and when you see him breath, well you almost feel guilty for it being so easy. He has worked so hard and talking to the nurses and techs that work with him they all agree that it truly is a miracle for him to be breathing on his own.
I had some training today, learning how to suction his trach and doing trach care was the first thing on the list. Its awesome to see him cough to help move secretions out of his lungs. As the week goes on I will attend my own traing classes along with his physical therapy and occupational therapy, learning how to move his body and we all know its a big one...lol ... will prove to be the most important thing. He is very excited to be going home soon and living his life as normal as possible.

Joye's Update 8/8/08

It was a good day today. We had our monthly conference and Andrew is still on schedule to be discharged in September. It was reported that he is doing well in his therapies and his classes, and as we all know he has far exceeded their hope for coming off the vent. We cannot thank you all enough for all your prayers. We know Andrew would not have come so far if not for that. Good Night and God bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 8/7/08

It was a very similar day today as the past few. Andrew is still breathing perfectly, he's doing okay with his driving, and he's in really good spirits. We still pray together each day for God to heal him and we do so in great faith. We ask that you please continue to pray for this as well. I received a Daily Devotional, as I do nearly every day, from Barry and Marie Nicholson of Passion Christian Church in Yuma and it really spoke to me about how much we must persist in our prayers and always give thanks to God. I hope it's okay with Bary and Marie, but I'm going to provide some of what they sent to me, and I hope it speaks to you as it did me. It refers to Colossians 4-2 Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as your pray, giving thanks to God. It also refers to Luke 18:1-8 The Parable of the Persistent Widow 1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' 4 "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' " 6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" Because of the woman's constant requests, the judge finally agreed to hear the case. Jesus illustrated that we should continually bring our needs before God in prayer. We should never give up; please keep praying to God for Andrew's healing. Good Night and God Bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 8/6/08

It was another good day today. Andrew was up and ready to go when I got to his room this morning for our first meeting. He then went to his therapies and classes and I was very lucky to get, and very much in need of, a hair appointment for today. So, I got my hair done and then returned to spend a little time with Andrew this evening. We are so thankful for your prayers and words of encouragement . . . they are keeping us going. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/5/08

It was a good day today. Andrew now has his trach capped and he only has to take oxygen through a nose clip now. They will do it this way for a while and eventually he will get what is called a "Jackson" trach which is much smaller and will not be able to be seen with a shirt over it. Andrew will also soon be able to breath without having oxygen through his nose as well. The only purpose of the trach will be to assist him in getting secretions from his lungs as he is still working on building a better cough. There is much hope he will eventually get the trach out too. And as usual . . . we are still praying for Andrew to gain the ability to bend his elbows. I know God is hearing this prayer and will soon bless Andrew with this miracle too. Good Night and God Bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 8/4/08

Andrew had a pretty good day today. He was able to go to all his therapies and his classes today with much ease. It was also a good day today as they have officially removed the ventilator from Andrew's room today. They kept it in there "just in case" he needed it and they now feel he's out of the woods and it is not necessary to even have the vent in his room. Andrew was very happy to see it go. Andrew is concentrating very hard on moving his elbows as well as praying for God to give him this ability. Thank you all for your prayers . . . God is hearing them. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/3/08

Another very quiet day today. We went to church this morning; it was a very nice service, and then we just hung out in Andrew's room most of the day. I rented some Blockbuster videos and we watched a couple of them today. Andrew's jaw is still very sore so he's not much interested in eating and he's having to take pain medication again to deal with the pain which makes him pretty sleepy. Hopefully the jaw pain will get better this week. Please continue to pray for Andrew . . . specifically, we are praying for him to gain movement in his elbows. I believe God healed him of his paralyzed (left) diaphragm and I believe the Lord will heal Andrew much further than that. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 8/2/08

It was a pretty quiet day today. Andrew was still tired from his day yesterday. He decided to stay in bed because he was still feeling groggy from being sedated yesterday for the procedure they did on his jaw. His jaw is still very sore from what they did, so we won't know if it helped or not until the swelling and soreness are gone. We are planning to attend church tomorrow and have another relaxing day to get him ready for his week of many therapies and classes. Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Note from dawn

Today's "update" is going to be done by me (dawn) as I wanted to pass along some information. I spoke to Joye today to see if I could do this and she of course said okay and wanted me to let everyone know that Andrew had a great time at the lake today and his injection in his jaw went well too. :-)

The information I'm announcing is about a benefit dinner that is being put together to raise funds to purchase a van and chair lift that Andrew will need when he returns home. Also, the cost to care for Andrew at home, where we all know he wants to be, is truly overwhelming as you can imagine. With all of Andrew's friends coming together, we can make a difference for Andrew and Joye. This dinner will be an auction. A committee has been formed to get this event going. So far, the date, place, food, band, auctioneer, and I also think a DJ, has been secured. What I am passing on, is that if anyone else out there wants to be on this committee or help out in ANY way, please call me at 928-246-1892, or Tammie at 928-246-7140. I know this is short notice, but the next meeting is tomorrow, Saturday, August 2, at 2:00 p.m. If you would like to participate tomorrow, please call either of us and we can give you the address and directions. There will be more meetings, so if you can't make it tomorrow, please call us and we will give you more information. We truly need help in securing items to be auctioned. Any ideas or input will help out tremendously!

I know we are all excited for both Andrew and Joye to come home. Joye made a comment to me that Andrew "has never met a stranger." Isn't this just SO true?!

Please continue to keep both Andrew and Joye in your prayers. They truly are being answered.

Good Night and God Bless.
dawn

Joye's Update 7/31/08

Andrew is still going strong on day 3 being vent-free. The hospital staff have a new name for Andrew . . . they now call him The Big "Weaner" at Craig. I've even heard talk of T-shirts :) It got very comical today as people were thinking up what could be put on a T-shirt (I'll let you use your imagination). Andrew laughed a lot today, that's for sure. Tomorrow is Craig's annual "Hobi Day." Most of the patients and their families go out to this lake (called Cherry Creek I think) and, believe it or not, go sailing. They do it every summer and it's quite the event. We are going to go on the early shuttle as Andrew has to get back by 2pm to have an injection done in his jaw. Even though it's supposed to be the hottest day of the summer here tomorrow (103 degrees) he's looking forward to going. I told them what real heat was in Yuma. God has so blessed Andrew and I have faith more blessings are to come. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 7/30/08

Well we are going on 38 hours vent free now and Andrew is still going strong. A blood gas was done on him earlier today to make sure he was taking in enough oxygen and blowing out enough C02 and that came back as perfect according to his lung doctor. Andrew is quite proud and a lot of hospital staff have stopped by to congratulate him and see the miracle for themselves. He's once again, quite the talk of the floor. And what's exciting is that we know God has more in store for him. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 7/29/08

Another pretty good day today. Andrew will do his first 24-hour wean today and will continue this way if all goes well. His numbers have been so good that they decided he was ready and so our prayers were answered and he is ventilator free as of this day (Thank You God). He will soon begin his therapy to get his trach out too. I'm sure you all know what this means . . . God answers prayers . . . it's as simple as that. I spoke with Denny Harkins today and his question to me was, "what should we now specifically pray for?" I told him that it is my understanding that as Andrew recovers, what "should" come next will be biceps. According to what I've learned, feeling and movement work downward and elbow movement should be next. So, my prayer request tonight is for you to please pray for Andrew to regain elbow movement. I know God heard and answered our prayers for him to breath . . . many around here say that was most definitely a miracle, and I know God will answer this prayer as well. I know it's hard to imagine why elbow movement would be so important, but being here and seeing the difference between a person who can and who cannot move and feel at that area is huge. It would mean he would be able to feed himself, scratch his face, give a hug, open a door, brush his teeth, wash his face, swat at a bee . . . I'm telling you this list goes on and on. It would be such a blessing for sure. Even if he didn't have feeling and movement in his hands, all of this is possible with special devices; it's amazing what they have. We thank you so much for all your prayers . . . we don't discount for a moment that it's the reason Andrew can now breath on his own. Good Night and God Bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 7/28/08

It was a good day today. Andrew is excited that they are going to let him wean for 22 hours today. He's having no trouble so far, so I'm sure he'll be able to do it. They will put him back on his vent at around 5:30am for a couple of hours and he will begin his wean again for another 22 hours. They said they will do it this way for a few more days and then he will be able to go for 24 hours a day once he's ready. He will have to work on developing a better cough before they can consider taking the trach out though. At this point they say he will most likely go home with the trach, but will still be able to work on getting it out there. I believe God will give him another miracle and Andrew will soon get the trach out as well. Andrew and I continue to pray together for God's healing and our faith is getting us through this. Your prayers and encouragement are also getting us through this as well. We thank you so much for all you are doing for us. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 7/27/08

It was a nice day today. Andrew and I went to church and then watched a little TV in his room today. This afternoon I shaved him before his shower and then left somewhat early tonight as he was very relaxed and ready to go to sleep. He's still weaning 20 hours and is doing very well. Andrew is feeling so blessed for getting his left side of his diaphragm back and together we have given thanks to God for that. We continue to pray and praise God for all He is doing for Andrew. Please keep praying for Andrew . . . God is hearing us and will answer our prayers in His time. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

P.S. As we are getting closer to coming home so many of you have already helped with so many things to make our homecoming possible, and we cannot thank you enough for that. One thing I am being faced with now is choosing a number of physicians Andrew will need immediately on his arrival. I am finding this task especially stressful as it is so very important that we find the right people to take charge of Andrew's medical care in Yuma. If I could please ask you, Carrie, to email me at joye.lynn@adelphia.net I would really appreciate it . . . Andrew says you should be an expert in this area. Thank you so much, I hope I hear from you soon.

Joye's Update 7/26/08

It was another good day today. Andrew is still weaning . . . he will end his wean at 20 hours if all goes well. We spent the day together outside of his hospital room. We sat outside for a while and then we watched TV in my apartment for a while too. It was nice to have the alone time. We continue to pray and to believe that God is working on healing Andrew, and we thank you for your prayers as well. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 7/25/08

It was another pretty good day today. Andrew is weaning for 20 hours today and is doing very well. He's very excited about getting the left side of his diaphragm back and is recharged and ready to get off that ventilator. God's perfect timing with this is evident . . . Andrew was starting to get discouraged especially last week when his doctors told him he would be returning home with a night ventilator. He was feeling a little defeated and God gave him this wonderful gift. He's found that strength and determination and is ready to beat this. I'm very proud of him. Again, we thank God for this answered prayer and we thank your for all you prayers. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 7/2408

ANOTHER PRAYER ANSWERED AND THIS WAS A BIG ONE! They did another "flutter" test on Andrew this past Tuesday . . . it's probably got another more medical name, but that's what they called it. Anyway, it's done in radiology where they can see if the diaphragm "flutters" or not when Andrew breaths. When they did this test before, only his right side of his diaphragm fluttered which is how they knew he only had the right side of his diaphragm. When they did the test this week, they found that the left side is now fluttering too; therefore, he has his entire diaphragm now. This greatly improves his chances of getting off the ventilator for good now. And, I have to tell you . . . this is a rare thing; his respiratory therapist said he'd only seen this one other time and he's been here for years. Because of this, Andrew is now able to wean for 20 hours a day. They will hold him there for a while until his left side catches up with the right. Once he's going strong at that time, they will take him off the vent all the time and watch him carefully to make sure his lungs stay healthy. Once he's able to do that for a good while, and he's developed a good enough cough; he has a chance to get his trach out. So this answered prayer changes a lot. Today was also Andrew's first outing. We went to a museum and a movie. Everything went really smoothly . . . we didn't even have one wreck. So, it was a great day today and we thank God for this day. I have no doubt that the Lord heard and answered this prayer. So thank you for all your prayers . . . please continue to pray for Andrew. Good Night and God Bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 7/23/08

It was another good day today. Andrew is doing great with his breathing, his therapies, and his driving. I didn't go over to see him today until about 3pm. I rested some more as I still had some stomach issues and my head is still pounding. I was able to go over with him and meet with an oral surgeon that has been called in to look at Andrew's jaw. He is going to try to treat it with some injections next Wednesday. The MRI of his jaw didn't show much, but did show something with the disc in his jaw that could be causing the problem. Hopefully this will work so that other, more invasive, procedures don't have to be done. We are still praying and keeping our eyes on God as we know this is all in His hands. And we thank you so much for all your prayers. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 7/22/08

It was an okay day today. Andrew is doing really well with his breathing and is up and moving in his chair again. I wasn't able to spend much time with him today as I'm feeling a little under the weather. Just upset stomach and a bad headache. Andrew's nurse said there is a virus going around like that, so she wanted me to stay away for the afternoon in case I had it. I feel a little better tonight . . . but, I definitely miss not seeing Andrew much today. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. Thank you for your prayers . . . it means everything to us. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 7/21/08

It was a pretty good day today. Andrew's chair was finally fixed this morning so he was able to get up today; he is weaning strong again as well. His doctor is thinking his medications for his muscle spasms were maybe too high a dose and that may have caused Andrew to get so tired and spacey the other day. So, they lowered the doses on the medications that help control the muscle spasms. They can't take the medicine away as the spasms can be quite painful for Andrew, so hopefully a lower dose will still help with the spasms and won't cause him to be too relaxed. I was able to shave Andrew's head and I even "Magic Shaved" his face today. I promised James I would keep it up and I am. Andrew was much more relaxed about it today. Andrew and I resumed our study of the healing scriptures today. We studied PHILIPPIANS 2:13 For it is God who works in you, both to will and to do for His good pleasure. I believe this passage says that God is working in each of us to will as well as to do for His good pleasure. I also believe God will heal Andrew and his health is God's good pleasure. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 7/20/08

It was a pretty okay day today with exception to the fact that I had to take Dawn to the airport today to return home; I will really miss her company and help. It was great having her here. We did hear that Andrew's discharge date will most likely be in the first week in September, provided he continues on the same path he's now on. He could have to stay longer if he has something medically come up to set his progress back or, on a more positive scenario . . . if he gets a new muscle group back (feeling and movement) that could benefit from more rehab, he could stay longer for that. At this point, his discharge plan is for him to go home being able to breath and talk and eat during the day, and then he will be placed on the ventilator at night only. The night vent serves more than one purpose; it helps to open up his lungs and to keep them healthy as well as rests his breathing muscles during the night to keep him breathing strong during the day. Although this is not what we hoped for, it's by far better than having no time at all off the vent and we are thankful to God for that. We continue to pray together nightly for Andrew's healing and we feel privileged that Dawn joined in on those prayers with us while she was here. We will never take our eyes off the Lord and we continue to give thanks for all that we do have. Although we now have a "new normal," we are so thankful to have one another and we cherish our time together . . . and I know there are probably a lot of you worried that "Andrew" or "Drew" or "Langley" or "Big Dog" (whatever your favorite name for him is) has changed; I don't want you to be too worried. He's still a "jokester" and he's still full of life. You will get one look into his eyes and you will see your same ol' friend. He amazes me daily at how well he is dealing with all of this. I'm very proud of him and again, although our "new normal" is now quite different . . . I'm looking forward to every moment I have with this great man. Good Night and God Bless you all. Joye

dawn's update

Since this is my last night here, Joye has decided that I was going to do the update again. Andrew had another good day. When we left his room he had been weaning for 12.5 hours. Yesterday he did a total of 12 hours. So today he said he wanted to do at least 13 hours. We will find out in the morning how long he weaned. When we got to his room this morning, he was ready to get into his chair. On the weekends there are fewer staff so Joye and I got him ready to be put in his chair. When the tech came in, she went to unplug his chair, and a short happened. After this, his chair could not do the weight shift that he has to do every 20 minutes, so he was in bed the rest of his day. He did sit up quite a bit and we all had a good visit. Since the wheelchair can't do the weight shifts, he will be in his bed tomorrow as well until his chair can be fixed, hopefully on Monday. Andrew is working on getting his muscles stronger while he weans. Since he was on the vent for about 36 hours from Wednesday to Thursday, he has to work to get the muscles back to where they were. He worked very hard today, and it was another good day. Oh, to explain the weight shift, his chair has to recline to almost a laying position every 20 minutes, for at least 2 minutes. So when the chair could not recline, he could not do the weight shift which is important so he doesn't get bed sores or skin issues. These can be extremely hazzaderous for him.
Andrew was again still joking aroung today even though he was working harder on his weaning. Tomorrow may be another difficult day due to the issues he had on Wednesday and Thursday. Monday should be somewhat easier.
I have learned a lot while I have been here. Joye really made me help out so she would have yet another body to help when they return home. I was more than happy to learn and understand why "things" had to happen a certain way. She has really had to learn basically numerous medical terms and techniques and is so knowledgeable when she was telling me what had to be done. By the end of the day, I felt a lot more comfortable doing the "things" that needed to be done.
While I have been here, Joye and I have had some really good "girl time." We have talked so much and I have really come to understand the power of God. Our talks have gone all the way from just really enjoying catching up, to some really deep conversations. It has really been a great visit!
Please continue to keep both Andrew and Joye in your prayers. My prayer request is for Andrew to continue to improve on his weaning. I pray each night that he will be able to be free from his ventilator. Please pray with me for this. Continue to lift Joye in prayer as she is Andrew's rock. You can see this in his eyes. No words needed. Not only is she the lady he chose to be his life long partner, but she is truely his best friend.
So I will end tonight to get ready for my journey home. It is going to be really hard to say "see ya all when you get home," but there is work to be done there as well. I am going to find it hard not to be able to talk to them both each day. I know that sounds strange, but I have to say it again, it has been a very good visit. A very special time. Those that have been here know what I am feeling tonight.
So to close, once again, as Joye would say, Good Night and God Bless. dawn

dawn's Update 7/18/08

I made Joye take the night off so this is dawn posting Andrew's update. He had a good day today which is a great thing since he had a rough couple of days. When we got over to his room, Andrew was already weaning and was in the physical therapy gym. He was working on his driver's license. I know Joye explained a little about his wheelchair, but I'm going to get into it a little more. She has already told you Andrew drives it by a "sip and puff" method. I watched Andrew do this. To get the chair going, Andrew has to blow a strong "puff" to make it go. But to turn right, he has to then do a soft "puff." To turn left, it is a soft "sip." To go back it is a strong "sip." To stop it is two strong "puffs." He did really good today and we took a trip through the hallways. The straw that he uses to do this is VERY sensitive, so if he puffs or sips too hard when he is trying to turn, it does fast sharp turns. But he is really trying to work on getting this just right. After lunch he then had physical therapy. He did develop a headache later in the afternoon, but his nurse gave him something for it. He was weaning when we left, which at that time he was up to 8.5 hours. If he didn't get too tired, he had the option to go to 18 hours. So today was a good day.
I also want touch a little more about Craig Hospital. The staff at this hospital is GREAT. Joye has already said that the staff really loves working with Andrew. Yesterday when we got to the hospital, one of the techs really enthusiastically told Joye that she was Andrew's tech for the night. Then today, each person that worked with Andrew has that same attitude. Of course he joked around with each one. The staff is also really good to Joye. If either of them have a question or want to know something, the staff really will explain and follow through with things. This really is the perfect place for Andrew.
I also got to joke around with Andrew today. We have had this long battle over many years over who looks better for their age. Andrew and I are basically the same age. He is three months older than I am. I got to spend my birthday today with Joye and Andrew. So when he and I were discussing, arguing, teasing, who looks better for our age, Joye shut us both up by saying she did. Andrew and I both knew that this was true, so that ended that. :-) Of course she IS 4 years younger than us, but still, discussion over.
God is really watching over Andrew. He is also watching over Joye. Please continue to pray for Andrew's strength. Also to keep Joye strong. She is truly an amazing wife and friend. So as Joye would end this, Good Night and God Bless. dawn

Joye's Update 7/17/08

Was another difficult day today for Andrew. He was still very sleepy first thing this morning, so he had to stay on the ventilator today. He started feeling better around 2pm and they were able to get him up in his chair at that time, but felt it was better to keep him on the vent until tomorrow morning. They tested his blood, x-rayed his chest, and many other medical tests today and have no good answer for why his was so sleepy and out of it for that day and a half. They actually do not believe it has to do with his C02 levels. So, for now it's a mystery . . . I'm just glad he seems to be feeling better. I picked up our friend, Dawn, from the airport tonight . . . it is great to have a girlfriend here to have some girl time. It was fun having James here, but he's no good at girl talk :) We are praying for a much better day tomorrow and Andrew is really concerned he won't be able to wean as long as he has been due to being on the ventilator for over 24 hours now; however, his lung doctor told him today that he could go as long as his body would let him. That made him feel better. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 7/16/08

Andrew had sort of a hard day today. It began with a headache last night that would just not go away . . . even throughout the night and early morning. He woke up very tired this morning, but still began his wean and he also got up in his chair early as well. He had physical therapy at 10am and then I met him at his tetra topics class (tetra stands for tetraplegia which is essentially what he has . . . also known as quadriplegia). The moment I saw him I knew by the look in his eyes that he was not pushing enough C02 out. His eyes get very glassy and you can tell he's just not tracking very well. I immediately took him out of class and got him back to his room to have his respiratory therapist check his numbers. His C02 level was very high, but he wanted to keep going on his wean for a while longer. We went to an electronics meeting where they showed us all the electronic gadgets available for Andrew. He will be able to turn on and off the TV, turn channels, open and close the front door, turn on a light or a fan, and even use the telephone. It's amazing what they have. By the time we were finished with all of that, Andrew was beyond tired so I took him back to his room to get him back into bed. His lung doctor examined him and decided to put him back on the vent for the rest of the day to give him a chance to relax those breathing muscles. She said the biggest reason patients begin to hold on to C02 is simply muscle fatigue, so we shouldn't look on this as a failure or a sett back, but rather a necessary activity that needs to happen every once in a while. She felt certain he'd be much better tomorrow. I'm sure the rest will do him good and he'll be ready to begin again tomorrow. Due to the circumstances we weren't able to study another healing scripture today . . . but I'm sure we'll be able to continue tomorrow. Please pray for Andrew to regain strength and resume his weaning regimen. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 7/15/08

It was another pretty good day today. Andrew weaned for 18 hours, was up most of the day in his chair and he did pretty good with his driving lessons. I usually have to leave when he's having a lesson because watching him and his close calls for wrecks makes me crazy . . . so I actually didn't see how he was driving, I only heard he did very well. I'm not sure if I've ever explained how he drives his chair or not . . . but, I thought I would do so in case you may be wondering since he has no use of his arms or hands. He has a straw that is called a sip and puff device that he holds in his mouth. He is learning the commands for sipping and puffing in the straw to move the chair forward, backward, right, and left. When he is just sitting in his chair he has to do weight shifts every 20 minutes so that he can take the weight off pressure points and avoid skin issues. He shifts his weight by reclining the chair way back for a couple of minutes and then he can resume his normal sitting position for another 20 minutes. It saddens me to see him in a wheel chair, but at the same time I'm so thankful the option exists. Andrew and I studied the next healing scripture today that I'll provide here for you. JOSHUA 21:45 Not a Word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken . . . All came to pass. Dodie Osteen wrote how this scripture helped her so much. She said it stayed on her mind day and night and she knew God's Word would come to pass. Not one word would fail. Andrew and I continue to pray for his healing and our faith tells us God will do this for him. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 7/14/08

It was a pretty good day today. Andrew's weaning nicely again, so they are letting him increase to 18 hours as long as his C02 stays low enough. They won't let him get over tired before they decrease him again. The healing scripture I posted for Andrew to read today was PROVERBS 4:20-22 My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Dodie Osteen said, "The reason the Word of God is so important when you're fighting a battle for your health is because in many cases it's the only hope you have." That was so in her case. She also said, "Give God's Word first place in your heart because it is life and health to your body." Although Andrew is in a wonderful hospital, we know his health is in the Lord's hands. We pray daily for his healing, and are really focusing on the Word of God. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 7/13/08

It was a nice day today. We went to church this morning, a minister from a local Calvary Baptist church conducted service. He too was once a patient at Craig. He had a lower level injury and was once a paraplegic. He now walks with a cane and is very thankful to the Lord for his healing. Andrew has been insisting on getting out of bed and into his chair very early in the mornings lately (so I found out today). His rehab tech, who comes on day shift at 7am says Andrew is always the first patient wanting out of bed . . . nothing has changed there; he's always been an early riser. I don't usually get over to his room until 10 or 11 am (I'm not such the early riser) and I had no idea he'd been doing this. He's the wonder and talk of the floor again as patients usually have to be coaxed out of bed each day. As I wrote a few days ago that I would do. . . I began today writing down the healing scriptures for Andrew to view and for us to use as part of our daily confession. In Dodie Osteen's book, she listed 40 of them and I've chosen number 19 of the 40 to be our first as it really spoke to me. It is MATTHEW 18:19 . . . Jesus said I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. With regard to this passage, Dodie Osteen wrote "This is such an important scripture! if you are married, have your husband or wife agree with you for the healing of your body. Don't let negative thoughts come between you. Jesus said, When you agree in prayer, it will be done for you by your Father in heaven. After you have agreed and you've asked God to heal you, look up to heaven and say, Father, we've done what You've told us to do on earth. Now take over and perform it in heaven." Andrew and I read the scripture together and prayed together tonight. I hope you will also agree with us for his healing in prayer. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 7/12/08

It's been another pretty quiet day today. Andrew is breathing better, but is still very tired. They did a chest X-ray and found that a small portion of his left lung has sort of collapsed and does have fluid built up . . . as they suspected was happening due to his shallow breathing yesterday. They have decided that his wean time will have to be decreased to 14 hours until further notice. This will give his lungs a bigger rest and hopefully the bigger breath when he's on the vent will help to make his left lung healthier. So basically, today was just a "rest" day for Andrew and we didn't spend much "together" time today so he could get a lot of rest. We are planning on going to church in the morning, and we're hopeful for a better day. Starting Monday, our schedule will be much fuller with more education classes that will prepare us for home. Speaking of home . . . work began there today. My sister (the woman in charge), brother-in-law (the man who does what the woman in charge tells him to), nephew (demolition man), and good friends Jeff (contractor from Wickenburg), Jay (floor man), Deborah (another woman in charge), and Tammie (interior designer) completed all the demolition work today. They are going to widen the door to the master bedroom and replace that door with one that swings open 90 degrees so that Andrew can push it open with his chair from either direction; they removed the door to the master bath and will replace it with an arch opening; they took out the garden tub in the master bath for a larger shower area; they removed half the linen closet and the full closet from the master bedroom area to provide more room; they removed the carpet in the master bedroom and will from the den, and they will replace it with wood flooring; they will replace the carpet area in the living room with ceramic tile; they will put a ramp on all three exterior doors; they will put a fence around the pool; and they will also put in a back-up generator system for the things that are necessary during a power outage. It's a big job, and I'm so thankful for my family and my friends for helping us out with this huge undertaking. I'm so grateful and we are so blessed to have this done before we return home. We also feel so blessed for all of you that are praying for Andrew. God is seeing us through this and our faith is keeping us going. Not for a moment have we taken our eyes off the Lord. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 7/11/08

It was kind of a hard day today for Andrew. He started off his wean this morning okay, but by about noon he was beginning to breath too shallow and was not blowing enough C02 out. It was making him very sleepy and we were having trouble keeping him awake during a lot of the day. When I left tonight, he was doing better, but they are going to watch him closely tonight and may decide to take him off his wean and put him back on the vent early. Please pray for Andrew to regain strength again to continue weaning . . . I know God is hearing our prayers and will see Andrew through this. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 7/10/08

It was a pretty good day today. Andrew woke up this morning kind of tired as he said he didn't sleep well last night. He weaned 18 hours and was up in his chair about 6 hours today. I had to take James to the airport this evening . . . Andrew was sad to see him go, as was I. It was great having him here. Last Sunday at church, I received 3 books from the pastor's ministry and I've finally had a chance to read one. It's the story of Dodie Osteen's cancer healing. It is a wonderful story of how by faith and through prayer she was healed from liver cancer after having been given only weeks to live . . . that was over 20 years ago. In the book, she provided 40 healing Bible passages and an explanation of each and how she prayed with each. I've had a chance to read Andrew some of her story and we've decided that we are going to study each of those passages (one per day) to assist us with our prayers. I will also provide each daily verse here on the blog so you can keep up with what we're studying as well. Our pastor, Barry, told me that it was up to me to keep the Word of God in Andrew and I think this will be a great way to do just that. I will also write out each verse on a card and I'll tape one to Andrew's TV every day to be in his view for him to read throughout his day. I believe that God will heal him . . . we just need to continue to pray with faith that He can and will do this for Andrew. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Marconato's Update 7/9/08

This is "Marco" (AKA James Marconato), Andrew's friend and co-worker from Yuma. Today we went to the car show that the hospital put on for the patients today. Andrew found a car he wanted to buy . . . a new yellow corvette. We had barbecue for lunch and then we went to occupational therapy where Andrew is trying to get his "driver's license" for his chair. Then I used the rest of the afternoon for some grooming time. I shaved his head with clippers and shaved his face with "Magic Shave." When I was finished I gave him a mirror so he could see how and looked, and then he said, "that's the Big Dog." After that Andrew was in La La land and ready for bed, so we left for the night. It was a good day, his spirits are really up and he's like his normal self. I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Good Night . . . Marco.

Joye's Update 7/8/08

It was another pretty good day today. Andrew's good friend, James arrived today and he really enjoyed having him here. Andrew was practicing his driving in his chair while I was picking James up from the airport today and he had a pretty good wreck into a wall. No broken bones though, so I'm still able to keep my title as "crash." I can't imagine what our walls are going to look like at home once we're there; I pray we both get better at driving before we're sent home. Please continue to pray for Andrew . . . specifically for him to gain enough strength to develop a better cough which will help him to get fully off the ventilator. He's still weaning tonight as I write and the goal is 18 hours if his C02 remains at a decent level (the ideal level is in the 30's or 40's . . . anything higher is not so good). Thank you so much for your prayers. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 7/7/08

It was another good day today; very similar to the past few days. Andrew weaned for 16 hours, was up for about 7 hours, we had class, and he had his therapies. Andrew is very encouraged that they have decided to up his wean time to 18 hours, starting tomorrow. He can now be up in his chair without his C-collar on, so I'm determined to get Andrew to let me shave his head and his face. Maybe he'll let me do that this week. We pray daily and nightly and are keeping our eyes on God. Our faith is in Him . . . we know He will take care of us . . . it's in God's hands. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 7/6/08

It was a nice day today. We went to church this morning, Andrew weaned for 16 hours, and he remained up in his chair for about 6 hours today. Church was nice; each week a different pastor from bible based churches in the Denver area conduct the service here at the hospital. Today's pastor actually once was a patient here at Craig as he was hit in his car by a drunk driver about 25 years ago. He was standing tall and able to walk and only had slight signs (physically) of ever having had a spinal cord injury. He preached on the topic of prayer and how by faith and God's grace can a miracle happen . . . he was proof of that. It was an inspiring sermon for sure. God is good and I know that He will heal Andrew. We have to continue to pray in faith that God can and will do this for him and He will show us all His glory. Good Night and God Bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 7/5/08

A pretty uneventful day today. Andrew weaned for 16 hours, got up in his chair for about 6 hours, and we basically just hung out in his room today because there are no classes or therapies on the weekend. We are planning to attend church tomorrow morning, and Andrew is really hoping that on Monday his respiratory doctor decides to up his weaning time. His respiratory therapist that he's had for the past couple of nights told me tonight that she felt Andrew's cough is really becoming strong. That is really good news because a good cough can mean the difference in whether or not he will be able to get his trach out. If his cough is not strong enough, he may have to keep the trach in for suctioning secretions in his lungs even if he is able to get totally off the ventilator. His home care will be much easier and safer for him if he's able to get the trach out. We are now on the list to go into a room on the east side of the hospital. That's where he and I will live together in a small apartment type hospital room so that I can become accustomed to taking care of him throughout the night, on my own. This will really prepare us for home. I believe we should be able to get into one of those rooms sometime in August. I'm looking forward to it, but I'm a little nervous too. The good thing is, a nurse is only a few steps away as there is a nurse's station right outside the room. We continually pray that God will heal Andrew, and we also pray daily for the Lord to take care of us as we go through this life-changing ordeal. We know that God will heal Andrew in His own time and we definitely feel the Lord taking care of us each moment of every day. We could not get through a minute of this without Him. We also know that your daily prayers are being heard and answered . . . we thank you so much for that. Good Night and God Bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 7/4/08

We had a pretty good 4th of July today with exception to the news that Andrew's X-ray came back that he has a small fracture in his foot from our wreck yesterday. There isn't any really bad swelling and, of course, Andrew is in no pain. There isn't much they can do about it except keep it elevated and they will have to be careful when they lift him and transfer him. I feel just terrible about it, but Andrew is still just laughing and joking about it that it's my driving. The hospital had a barbecue today that we went to and then tonight there was a 4th of July celebration on the roof of the parking garage with music and fireworks. It was nice and Andrew had a good time. It was also nice to know that I can handle things with Andrew on outings without all the support of the hospital staff. I was nervous about it, but it all went fine and I managed not to break any more bones. I pray that Andrew will continue wanting to go out on outings and will be up for that type of thing once we get home. Well, that's all for now . . . I'm exhausted; it's been a very full day. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 7/3/08

Another good day today. Andrew weaned for 16 hours, had therapies, and rehab on his jaw. They are still working with me to prepare us for home . . . there is a lot to do. We will have to do some modifications to our home and there is a lot of equipment and supplies we'll need as well. They are doing a great job at preparing me for all of that. Andrew is trying to decide what kind of chair he wants, so they are letting him try all the kinds there are to choose from. I was trying to move him from one side of the room to the other today in one of the chairs he was trying and it moved forward and I couldn't get it to stop. I ran him into a cabinet and it turned his foot inward a bit. They don't think anything happened, but he'll have an X-ray tomorrow morning to make sure. I felt terrible . . . I hope it's not broken. Andrew has never broken a bone in his life, and I may have broken his foot while the poor guy was in a wheel chair. He just laughed at me and called me a "woman driver." Andrew's nurse told us many other stories about many other patients who've wrecked in chairs around here . . . it didn't make me feel any better though. His foot hadn't swollen or anything by the time I left his room tonight (thank God). And, his occupational therapist looked at that chair and did find a problem with the attendant driver on it . . . it still didn't make me feel any better either. We continue to pray for God to fully heal Andrew and Andrew's faith is strong in that the Lord will take care of him. We have not given up on God whatsoever . . . by becoming prepared for going home; we just know that we have to go on living and make the best life for us and our family as we can until God heals Andrew. Andrew is doing very well with this and is going to make the best of things; he has no intention of giving up or not enjoying his life or his family. He's at peace with things and knows God will see to it that he is taken care of. He is doing so well with his situation . . . I'm very proud of him. Thank you for all of your prayers . . . God is hearing them and He is working on this, I'm sure of it. Good Night and God Bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 7/2/08

Another successful day! Andrew weaned for 16 hours, was up for 6 hours, and also had class and therapies. They will keep him at 16 hours for a while longer until they feel he can move on from there. His CO2 numbers are looking good, so I'm sure he will be able to proceed. We have met a lot of other patients and their families here at Craig. Believe it or not, there are many who are in worse condition than Andrew . . . I feel so bad for them and their loved ones. I pray for all of them. There are also a lot of people who are here and have literally lost everything (house, cars, jobs, etc.) due to their injury. We also see many people who are trying to make it through this journey without the Lord. I really pray for them . . . I could not imagine going through a tragedy like this without God. We feel so blessed to have so many of you praying for Andrew and sending your encouragement and love to us each day. We thank God for you. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 7/1/08

Another pretty good day today. Andrew weaned for 16 hours, was up in his chair for 5 hours, had 2 hours of therapy, and we had 2 hours of class. He also had an hour of therapy for his jaw. He says it's starting to feel a little better, but that will take a lot more time to heal. The classes are very informative and will definitely help us to make decisions of what will be needed for Andrew to be comfortable and well cared for at home. We continue to pray for healing and we have concentrated our prayers on Andrew's weaning. His doctors continue to be amazed and it's so evident that God is answering our prayers. We have learned that it is very difficult for a person to breath with only half a diaphragm for as long as Andrew is able to, and especially doing so without causing the side that is not working to become unhealthy. Andrew's left lung is doing very well, which means he is using his ability to breath in a healthy way by drawing air from his trach, mouth, and nose . . . and most importantly, by not drawing air into the right side that works from the left side that does not. It's very common for patients who only have half a diaphragm to do this and it causes the non-working side to collapse. Andrew is breathing very strongly and is quite determined to get off the vent. We thank God for this and we thank you for all your prayers. Good Night and God Bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 6/30/08

It was a good day today. Andrew weaned for 16 hours and was in his chair for over 6 hours. We began our classes today that will prepare us for going home. We will have these classes every weekday for the next 4 weeks. Andrew seems to be feeling positive about us beginning to prepare for going home. I feel that we are so blessed to be in this place that is so well equipped to help us get home with a lot of training and information; I cannot imagine not having this support. I believe that God is seeing us through this very difficult time and I also believe he will heal Andrew in His time. Please continue to pray for Andrew . . . God is hearing you and is taking such good care of us both. We both feel truly blessed. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 6/29/08

Andrew had another good day today. Mario and Tara stopped by early this morning to say goodbye . . . it was such a good visit and we hated to see them leave. He felt good enough for me to be able to take him to church at the hospital chapel too. However, his jaw has been hurting him lately and seems to be getting worse. The doctors and dentist have looked at it and believe it's caused from straining when he breaths on his own. They say it will pass and they will begin rehabilitation on it tomorrow, but it will take a while. Andrew's nurse gave him a muscle relaxer to help his jaw pain at about 2pm and even while weaning, Andrew fell asleep for about 4 hours. He breathed just fine through the whole nap, but he was so surprised when he woke up. It scared him at first, but he was happy to know he could breath and sleep and the same time. Andrew weaned today for 16 hours. We have a full week ahead of us with classes that are supposed to help prepare us to go home. There's a lot to learn and a lot to plan and we've now begun that stage of this ordeal. One thing for sure, the people here at Craig are equipped with everything we'll need to do and know to get home . . . and Andrew is very much looking forward to going home. My biggest goal is to keep things as "normal" as possible while still being able to care for him. I will also do my very best to remain in the role as wife and not just care giver. They are doing a lot here to show us how to achieve that. And, as always . . . we will continue to pray for a full healing for Andrew, which we believe God will see to in His time. We can only ask that you all continue to pray with us for that healing, and we thank you for that. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 6/27/08

I have to tell you that today was absolutely the best day that I personally have had with Andrew since he was injured. I didn't go over to his room until about 1:30pm today because I spent time this morning doing laundry and I needed to pick up some groceries at the store. He was already weaning by the time I got there and he had his "talker" in too. He was feeling good and ready to talk to me, which I was very happy about. We talked about the kids, about everything that's happened to him, about Yuma, and about how God is working in our lives. It was a great talk. Then later this afternoon Mario and Tara got here and we all had the best time together talking and laughing and enjoying our friendship. Andrew felt good all day and did so well breathing and keeping his "talker" in. Then I showed Tara the place I've been staying since I've been here and gave Mario and Andrew some "man" time together. I'm not sure what they talked about, but after Mario and Tara left tonight, Andrew told me how great it was to have that time with him. Andrew and I later had some time alone together and we again had such a great talk. We got to talking about all our family and friends and the phone rang; it was the kids and they were so happy when I had Andrew answer the phone. So he talked to them for a while and then after, we got to talking about our friends Barry and Marie Nicholson in Yuma. Andrew has known Barry since he was in the Marine Corp and Barry is also our pastor in Yuma. And so Andrew asked me to call him, which I did, and they were able to have a great conversation and Barry also prayed with Andrew. It was just a great day all around . . . I'm so thankful to God for this day. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow too. Mario and Tara are going to go by Andrew's room early in the morning to say goodbye as they have to return to Arizona, and I'm going to take Andrew to church services at the hospital chapel for the first time since he's been here. I know that God has blessed us with this great day and He has provided Andrew the strength and the healing he's needed to feel so much better and be able to enjoy Mario and Tara's visit. It warmed my heart more than I could ever describe to look at my husband lying in that bed in the condition he's in and to hear him say that he's a lucky man . . . what a blessing he is to me. Good Night and God Bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 6/26/08

Another good day today for Andrew. He weaned for 12 hours (all they will let him go for now) quite easily. He was up in his chair for about 5.5 hours and had therapy for 2.5 hours of that. He was able to keep his "talker" thing on his trach for about 3 hours today so that he could visit with Mario and Tara. It was a great time for everyone . . . Andrew was cutting up and joking around like usual with us. It's been really great to be able to hear his voice. After Mario and Tara left for the night and Andrew and I were alone for awhile, I climbed up next to him on his bed and we watched TV for a while . . . things really felt "normal" for a just a little bit to be next to him for that time. I know that God is working all this out in His own time. I continue to pray for patience and I have faith that the Lord will grace Andrew with this miracle. I thank you all so much for your faith and your prayers. I believe that Andrew will be healed and he will breath, and move and touch, and feel, and walk again, and this is what I pray for each day. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 6/25/08

Andrew had a pretty good day today. They limited him to only be able to wean for 12 hours as he was not blowing out enough CO2 towards the end of his longer weans yesterday and the day before. This just means he was getting too tired, so they are a little concerned he's going too long and want him to work a little more slowly towards more time weaning. He was very happy to have a "surprise" visit from Mario and Tara Diaz. It wasn't exactly a surprise because someone (I won't mention any names Denny) accidentally told him they were coming. :)~ I'm more surprised it wasn't me who slipped and told him . . . I'm not great at keeping secrets. It was great to see how happy it made Andrew to see them walk in though, and it was really great that Andrew was able to talk to them because he had his "talker" thing on his trach to be able to speak. Thank you so much for your words of encouragement . . . I know that God is hearing our prayers and will continue to work on this for Andrew. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 6/25/08

Andrew had a pretty good day today with his breathing. He weaned for 14 hours and was up in his chair for 3.5 hours. They purposely had his time up in the chair limited today because he was very tired today and they are concerned he will get over fatigued. We had our monthly conference today, which involves his main doctor, nurse, physical therapist, psychologist, and social worker. We were able to see Andrew's latest MRI and each person gave a report on Andrew's progress and expected prognosis. Although a lot of the information we received, with regard to prognosis, was not all that great . . . we were told that they are amazed at Andrew's progress and he has far exceeded their earlier prognosis'. His MRI looked very scary . . . he has extensive damage to his spinal cord from C3 to C7. They are also concerned that Andrew may not be able to get off the ventilator. Even with his progress, there are still a lot of other components that have to work properly in order for him to be completely weaned from the vent. These were not great things for us to hear today, and although (after the conference) I really tried hard to help keep Andrew focused and to continue his faith in God to heal him . . . I'm worried the news today will set him back. So my prayer request to you tonight is to please pray that Andrew will persist with his vent weaning and that he will soon be completely free of the ventilator. Please pray for Andrew to breath on his own. Thank you so much for your prayers, we appreciate all of you so much. Good Night and God bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 6/24/08

Things are still looking great! Andrew weaned for 13 hours today, was up in his chair for 6 hours during the wean, and he had 1.5 hours of therapy during the wean as well. He's really doing great and is well on his way to getting off that ventilator. We're still praying for his thumbs to move . . . he's determined to make that happen. Of all the articles and stories I've read about people who are paralyzed and begin having movement, one commonality with everyone is their will and determination to make their bodies move by starting with one little finger or toe. I've read most of those stories to Andrew and he's really trying hard to focus on those thumbs. Please remember to pray for that . . . with his will and our prayers and everyone's faith in God to make it happen, it will happen. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 6/23/08

Another good day today. Andrew weaned for 10.5 hours today, and for 4 of those hours, he was up in his chair . . . and, he went through 2 hours of therapy at that same time. He was very tired tonight when I left, but feeling very proud of himself. I'm very proud of him too. He's doing very well with his breathing and is looking forward to getting off the vent and getting on to more rigorous physical therapy. We continue to pray and are keeping our faith in God to heal Andrew, and we thank you for your continued prayers and faith in God's healing. Good Night and God Bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 6/22/08

Another good day today. Andrew weaned for 9 hours, 10 minutes. He was going for 10 hours, but started falling asleep, and although he can definitely breath while he sleeps . . . he still gets uncomfortable with it, so he decided to stop at that time. He's still concentrating hard on his thumbs, so keep those prayers coming on the thumbs. We still continue our faith in the Lord healing Andrew and we so appreciate all of your prayers and words of encouragement. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 6/21/08

We have another record! Andrew weaned for 8 hours straight today. He was tired when he was finished, but not over tired, which is good. The kids and my family left this morning, so I was pretty sad most of the day. I will really miss having them around and so will Andrew. Hopefully they will be able to return soon. We thank you all so much for all your prayers. God is hearing them and is healing Andrew; I just know it. Even with some of these set-backs, Andrew still has complete faith that the Lord will heal him. Andrew has been concentrating very hard on trying to move his thumbs . . . (one thing at a time). Please pray for Andrew to have the strength and the focus to begin to move his thumbs. It's kind of like building a new path through the spinal cord . . . it's how numerous people with spinal cord injuries have gone about getting movement back, and Andrew has committed himself to this. So right now . . . it's all about the thumbs :) His breathing is obviously doing great and is right on track with that (thank God). Good night and God Bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 6/20/08

A much better day for Andrew today. Andrew ate breakfast, weaned in bed for 2 hours, and was put into his chair while weaning and was able to wean up for 30 more minutes. He then ate lunch, was up for a total of 4 hours, and then he weaned for 5 hours and 15 minutes tonight. Andrew is feeling better today, for sure. Thank you for your prayers . . . I know it's definitely what has helped today. God does hear our prayers and I know He is working on this for Andrew. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 6/19/08

Andrew was a little better today. He weaned for 4 hours this morning, got up for 2.5 hours, and then he was going to try a wean later tonight; I won't know until morning if he did or not. He tried to eat real food today too, but it's hard for him as he still has the jaw pain. Andrew is still feeling down, but he's really trying hard to do well. Please continue to lift Andrew in prayer. We are so thankful for your prayers and words of encouragement. Good Night and God Bless. Joye

Joye's Update 6/18/08

Another (kind of) hard day today. Andrew was still feeling badly this morning so he was unable to wean this morning. He was able to get up for a couple of hours and then he did wean this evening for 4 hours. He wanted to go longer, but they felt it was better to have him stop while he was still feeling good, rather than let him get too tired. Andrew is feeling a bit depressed due to his latest bump in the road and really needs to be lifted in prayer. Please pray for strength and determination for him . . . and, I thank you for that. Good Night and God Bless you all. Joye

Joye's Update 6/17/08

Kind of a rough day today. Andrew was having some pain in his chest this morning. He said he felt like someone was sitting on his chest . . . it was just very heavy feeling. They scanned him and did an EKG and a few other tests, and found nothing scary. He was still having this "heavy" feeling tonight, but no answers so far. Due to this, he was unable to wean today. We are praying for a better day tomorrow. Please continue to pray for Andrew . . . he's needing strength and encouragement. On a good note . . . Denny and Kristine Harkins visited us today. It was great to see them and it really cheered Andrew up to get the "scoop" from Kristine and to pray with Denny. It was a great day in that respect. Good Night and God bless. Joye

Joye's Update 6/16/08

Andrew had an okay day today. His muscles in his neck and jaw are quite fatigued; therefore, causing him some pain. He tends to tense up in that area when he breaths on his own. He did not wean this morning, due the pain, but he was able to wean for 5 hours tonight. Andrew's enjoying having the kids here as well as my sister and her husband being here for him to visit with. It's been nice having my brother-in-law (Billy) here because he likes to get up early and spend time with Andrew in the morning, giving me a chance to sleep in a little. Billy likes to tell the nurses that he's Andrew's brother. Billy is a 5'8" (white) man :) Thank you for all your prayers and words of encouragement. Good Night and God bless. Joye

Joye's Update 6/15/08

This is Jennifer posting for Joye tonight. I'm Andrew's niece. My mom, (Joye's sister)my dad, and Bobbi (Joye's Daughter) all arrived this evening and are staying for a week. We drove from Wickenburg, Az which seemed like a never ending drive. When we got here we went straight into Andrew's room and when we walked in he smiled. My parents had their share of time talking to him, and when it was mine and Bobbi's we stood next to his bed and he winked at us :) we talked to him for a few minutes but he couldn't talk because his jaw was hurting. Since he was weaning we didn't stay for long so that he could concentrate, but when we went up later he was still weaning so we sat in there to keep him company. Andrew only weaned for an hour and a half this morning because he was tired and his neck and jaw were hurting so they thought that it would be better for him to spend the day resting. Tonight he weaned for 5 hrs and was still working hard when we left the room. He also fell asleep while he was weaning which is good news. Thank you for all of your prayers. Goodnight