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