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