The Smith Family Times

A long overdue update

2010-02-19T11:18:00.000-08:00

Well time has been flying as I realize the last time I updated this blog was in November! WoW!!

So much has changed... where to begin.

I'll start where things left off last time. Dad is doing well- however he is still in the nursing home. His physical health and emotional health grow stronger all the time. We have set a goal of March 11 for him to be able to move back home. None of us are 100% positive it will happen- but it is the one year anniversary of the heart attack. Please pray with us that he will be able to come home then.

Ok, now for the not so easy update-on me! There are a lot of you who know all the details and so this is going to be review... but for many of you all of this news will be a shock to you.

In early October B's (my first foster kid- if that is news, well check out fostercareme.shutterfly.com for pictures and more information. That is the best place for all the info) first foster mom (Collene) got a sibling group of 3 who, I guess you could say, stole my heart almost instantly. By mid November I had been seeing them 2-5 times a week and they knew me and ran into my arms any time I came over. (Did I mention that they screamed "MAMA" anytime they saw me?)

By late October it was becoming obvious to everyone in the case that they were going to end up wards of the state because their parents were not around or even able to be found. By mid November Collene made a statment along the lines of "yeah they are going to go up for adoption" and my heart skipped a few beats. Long story short, I tried to ignore, fight, manipulate and run away from what God was whispering in my heart... these are my kids.

I never told Collene, but I talked to the agency about them and let them know that I was interested. Let's be clear- I prayed A LOT about this and talked to a TON of people about it before pursuing it. However, because I was fighting it I was expecting a lot of "Your crazy" or "Don't even think about it" but instead I got "Well, about time you got to it" etc.

In Mid December my foster care license was officially finished and that meant that B could finally be moved to my license and get settled. By this point- if I were honest, I had grown very tired/ weary/ complacent about my position at work. Also, I had been praying for months that God would make it clear when it was time to leave that job. Well, after the meeting to move B to my license, I was back at the office and praying again that God would make it abundantly clear when the time to leave would be. The last thing I wanted to do was to leave in my timing and not God's.

About 2 hours later I was let go from my position. I have never been fired from a position before- so it kinda stung- but really it was a direct answer and as clear as clear was going to get.

The next day Collene called me and told me that she believed that the sibling group should be my kids. I about fell over laughing. Remember, I never told her once what I was praying about. I told her that I had been praying about it already, had made a call to Bethany in regards to them and hadn't heard anything back yet. So, she took it on and started making calls herself. The process officially began.

I started taking them on respite- weekends and such- to try to start the bonding process. It was amazing and these kids and I felt so good together.

The day before New Years and 5 days before the "deadline" the kids parents showed up out of the blue saying they want to get their kids back. My heart broke- but if this is what God wants then so be it. However, it will take an absolute miracle on their behalf for it to happen.

They moved in with me in the middle of January and were officially transfered to my license a little less than a month ago.

So, right now I'm a full time mom of 4 kids! Ages 1, 2, 7 and 15. I'm happier than I can ever remember being... although I have to admit going through a really rough couple of weeks as I was adjusting to being a mom of 4 and more than that a mom of babies and being home all the time.

God gave me a vision about 5 years ago... and here I am living out part of it... The rest is still being prayed over and will hopefully come about soon. :)

I cannot believe how blessed and overjoyed I am! Thank you for praying with me, for me and for praying in the future about what's coming next.

May you be blessed,
Megan

Going forward- again

2009-11-12T13:29:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to give a quick update on Dad...

The water pill is doing the job they were hoping it would- he's lost 47 pounds in 2 weeks. And because he's not in pain from being so swollen he's going back to being funny, outgoing, hardworking (walking to and from meals, and to and from PT) and sounds like the good new old self :) (I think some of you know what I mean :)

Also, last week they found some of the Cellulitis coming back, they were able to kill it with antibiotic almost immediately- so things are looking good again!

I'm praising God for quick answers and strong deliveries. I'm also thanking Him for having the ability to continuously baffle the doctors...I think it's my new favorite thing! :)

Oh, and I'm Praising God for another birthday for my dad... today he turns 55. :)

Thank you for praying and many blessings to you all!
Megan

Falling backward

2009-10-30T10:13:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Well, I should have updated when things were going well and Dad was blowing us all away with improvement. But alas, I didn't and now I must report some bad news.

This morning dad saw the kidney specialist. Wait, I should give more of the in between before jumping to the end... so....

Dad has been doing really well, getting up and out, walking around the hallways, giving attitude to anyone and everyone... he even moved rooms because they didn't need all the heavy equipment anymore for him. He moves around in his wheelchair and acts like he owns the place. I find it all rather funny...

A couple of weeks ago when I went to go see him I noticed that his breathing was really labored and sort of wheezy. I asked him about it and he said he felt fine. I told the nurse and left it alone.

This last week more of the same, but he's been putting on a lot of weight and doing it really fast. Now, if he were fully mobile and eating like he used to, we wouldn't be concerned... but since his diet is so regulated and they keep track, they noticed that he's not eating what an 18month old eats, and still he's putting on all this weight.

So they called in the troups, aka the nephrologist (kidney specialist). This happens to be the same doctor he's been seeing since March. (the original episode) She's seen the good and the bad and the very ugly. She knows all the history and was so proud of all the progress dad had been making.

However, after visiting with dad this morning, she was very concerned. She put him on a massive amount of the water pill and said that he needs to lose a lot of weight and lose it fast. (They are convinced that the weight gain is because the kidneys are not working properly) If he does not lose this weight (1 -3lbs a day) then he will be taken back to the hospital for dialysis... and it more than likely will become a permanent part of his life.

So that's the update... not fun, in fact it's scary again. But please pray that our Abba heals yet again. The Great Physician has flustered so many doctors already when it comes to dad, it would be great if HE did it again.

I want my dad to come home, I want him to be released from all this pain, trouble and be back to the man i remember- one who loved to try and kick my butt at cribbage, yes, i said try :). (He hasn't played like that in a long time)

Thank you for praying and I'll try and keep you updated as we learn more.

Blessings and thanks,
Megan

It's been a while...

2009-08-20T06:52:00.001-07:00

Hey,

It's been a long time since I last updated you on our family. A lot has happened this Summer and I can't wait to tell you all about it.

First things first. Dad is doing really well and is determined to come home. Which, if you will remember, is a huge improvement over the last time I updated. In fact I believe my last update ended with something about a heavy heart because of dad's complete apathy to life. I can safely say that this is no longer the case.

At the end of June I was preparing to go on vacation to Europe- which was AMAZING- and I got a call at work... "Dad's had a stroke and they are taking him to the hospital." I was prepared to cancel everything if this was it for dad... and considering everything that he has been through this year- I thought it was.

Turns out, it was minor. Be prepared if you talk to him anytime soon that there are some minor changes. Like: 1. His mouth muscles are a little off so his mouth doesn't work like it's supposed to. 2. His speech is off too. He makes sense- when you can get him to speak slow enough to concentrate on how he's saying things.

However, this stroke seemed to wake him up. I know it sounds backwards, but when I left for Europe this man barely cared that he woke up everyday. And when I came back he was the one pushing PT. He bragged about taking 5 steps... we told him walk 20 and we'll have you home for dinner. That very week he walked 25 just to prove a point and said that "I'm coming home, what are we having for dinner?"

The funny thing on this one was, I tried to protest and get out of doing it because of the new changes in my life (which I'll get to in a minute) and he said that it was a lousy excuse and that family had to get together to be healthy. And it was time to have everyone together for dinner again. Basically, what I'm excited to report is that dad is coming back.

Not the dad of just before March, but the dad of 5-6 years or more ago. One with spitfire and humor... and a little demanding. All of which leads me to praise God!
He's pushing hard and telling us he's going to be home by Labor Day. To us it seems a little far fetched as he has so far to go- but we are also not telling him no. If he wants to push for that... then so be it.

Mom is doing pretty good, not as tired as she has been. In fact this week we refinished a dresser together... that was a lot of fun. We turned a piece of junk into a beautiful piece of furniture! But it's evidence that she is working through the fatigue and other stuff going on.

Matthew and Ashley have the ability to write their own updates on here, but I'll just fill in the smallest detail- they are both going to be working and going to school this fall. I think that they are trying to be impossible to catch on the phone :) But I am incredibly proud of them and the fact that they are working so hard to become the people that God wants them to be.

Marissa (can also update on here) is kind of like me... so much going on that it's hard to speak on her behalf... so I won't other than to mention that she needs prayer for the decisions she has to make and the fact that she is still working to go full time at Camp Beechpoint and needs only to raise 25% more of her salary in order to do so (this won't bring her to 100% but it will be enough to be working according to camp policy). Please pray that as she follows God's heart that she won't become discouraged but encouraged to see God filling in that gap.

As for me... well life is nuts. I'm sure if you've looked on my facebook account recently you've seen me comment on being tired, stressed, worn out, etc. But the thing is- while all that is true- I'm also very happy. I feel more at peace than I have in years. And it makes absolutely no sense.

This summer has been the definition of crazy busy, but in truth the craziness started in Spring. As I was praying through the vision that God gave me many years ago, I finally felt God giving me permission to proceed with the next step in it. That step was to become a foster mom. So, I took the classes (30 hours of training) in May.

Then Summer started...

It started off with me going to a 3 day concert in northern Michigan with some friends, and it was a fabulous time! Earlier that week though, I got a call from Bethany Christian Services (BCS). Now, for those of you who don't know, the foster care licensing can take up to 9 months here in Michigan- depending. But that week they called me and asked if I'd be willing to take a child that they couldn't place, I could meet him that next Monday and then see. Even though my license wasn't complete- they had ways of making it work.

I have to tell you- this was way ahead of any schedule I had in my head. I thought the earliest I would have a kid in my home would be September. But they were talking of me taking him (we'll call him B) as soon as I got back from vacation. This was slightly overwhelming.

Then I went on a 2+ week vacation to Europe. I have to say that this was a trip like non other I have ever taken. It was relaxing, fun, powerful, life changing (in the way that meeting new friends and seeing incredible things is life changing) and did I mention fantastic?!

As soon as I got back I called BCS and found out that they had someone that could take B for part of the time until my license was complete. Which is good... but would I be willing to take him for the rest of the time? So I said yes.

Something else that was immediate upon my return- a promotion at work. I am now the Marketing Director for my company. And I really like it- but it so far has been a lot more hours than my old position. So, it's proving to be interesting- work crazy long hours during the week and have B on the weekends (at least during the summer- when school starts it looks like I'll have him through the week- until license is complete- then full time)

Now for the icing. I am moving Labor Day Weekend. I will be moving to a 3 bedroom house in Grand Rapids, just like I've been praying for, for years! I'm so excited- nervous and waiting in anticipation.

Life is very crazy- but God is GOOD! These things are all things that I've been praying for and wanting for YEARS and now it seems that God is granting me the desires of my heart. I just find it humorous that He's doing it all at once!

The Smith family has tons going on... we may not all mention it at the same time- but we know that God is working like crazy in our family and we are excited and waiting for more. (I know that this might seem lacking for a closing- but I have to go to my last softball game of the season and I'm excited, if we win- we take 3rd in the league!)

Like I said... life is nuts!

Blessings to you all and may you feel God's presence in your life today!
Megan

Dad's Recovery

2009-06-01T09:25:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,
It's been a while since I put anything up on here. And I wanted to give an update on how dad is doing.

When I went to go visit him the other day, I left with a heavy heart. It's heavy because I still don't see the man that I know as my father. I see a man that has given up on life, a heart that just doesn't care and a body that is literally wasting away. He's lost (and not that it's all a bad thing) over 120 plus pounds since being taken to the hospital in March.

My heart cries with the acknowledgement that it is a hard journey for him to be on, yet it is also one that he needs to be willing to fight. And he's not.

I'm asking that you would pray with us some more, as we know that God saved his life for a purpose, but at this point... I can't even see dad leaving the nursing home. Dad is acting like he doesn't want to leave. Besides financial issues, the need for him to be home is great... we as a family miss his smile, stern look and funny and corny jokes at the table. Not to mention his hugs on a bad day.

Specifically pray for:
1. That God would continue to heal and finish the work began a few months ago. Spiritually, physically and emotionally.
2. That Dad would wake up. My real father has been sleeping for months and I want him back.
3. That our family would not give up in praying for him either... I think all of us are more weary than even we know.
4. That God would be glorified and His NAME magnified by the results.

Thank you for supporting us and loving us... please don't stop.

I am blessed and broken,
Megan

Frustration abounds

2009-04-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

I know that not everything can be perfect... in fact little in life is ever perfect. But the frustration I'm feeling right now is anything but perfect.

Dad is having problems. He says he's trying hard to work his body, but at this point, he still can't get out of bed himself, walk or otherwise. Problem is that although Dad really wants to get out, they (the rehab place) don't seem to care how long the recovery takes.

It's not that we want dad dancing, we just need him to be able to leave before 60 days is up. That's the Medicaid cutoff. Doesn't seem like much- but after 60 days the nursing home is capable to go after the disability money- and that leaves no money for bills etc. for mom.

Please be praying- the truth is we're running out of time... money and apparently dad is still out of strength. He cannot do this on his own, and even though the staff is nice, the rehab is too slow. Please pray that God helps us figure this out.

Mom is meeting with Dad and the case manager on Thursday at 12:30PM please pray that things get taken care of.

With a frustrated, broken heart,
Megan

Rehab

2009-04-17T05:36:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Things are different with dad in rehab. Different like: I don't get to see him everyday, and it is more difficult to assess his progress. So I haven't updated in a while because- well I'm not sure what to say.

He's talking more clearly and I think he understands the need to work hard to be able to leave the nursing home. In fact yesterday he worked so hard at Physical Therapy (from here on to be called PT) that he collapsed and was really weak the rest of the day. He did however stand up for the first time on Wednesday! And then on Friday he was very proud to announce that he stood up 3 times!!

Progress is being made, they moved him from the nursing home side to the rehab side and he seems to be thriving there. He's calling me out of the blue- just to say hi. He's making promises of trying hard, and understands the goals to be able to go home.

Tomorrow (4/22) marks 6 weeks that he's been in the hospital/ recovering. We are all weary of the journey. But you know, after all that we've been through, the tears, the fear, and the agony of waiting through it all- I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I've learned a few things, and I hope the lessons stick. What did I learn? Well, I've learned that the only thing worth holding onto is Jesus. You would think that an elementary lesson, but after this- the things of this world are stupid and family and Jesus are so much more important. I've learned that feeling emotions through tragedy is important. Again, elementary- but let's just say I'm behind on a few things. I've also learned that prayer is more foundational than anything I could ever express.

God's been teaching me that last one for a couple of years- but this was so powerful at times I was literally pushed to my knees in prayer and in awe at what God has/ and is doing for my family. Prayer is not just a trite part of a relationship with God, a checklist item, but a moving and powerful experience. To be welcomed into the throne room of the Most High God and falling at his feet in worship and to be allowed to have a conversation with Him- and He listens to you... this is cause for the world to stop and take notice! Power, peace, joy, hope and healing are found there and to think about it is overwhelming. I am so blessed to be allowed to participate in something so wonderful!

Yes, this is and has been a real time of trial, but a time of so much more than that too.

Rehab is harder to identify and much harder for updates, but I am grateful for it. I'm grateful to say that my dad is doing better, that he's trying to recover and hopefully this leg of the journey will be over soon.

Many blessings to you all,
Megan

Moving Forward and Good News!

2009-04-09T07:09:00.000-07:00

Good news doesn't always happen. Good news actually seems to be the unnatural. But today, I get to tell you some good news. :)

Today marks the beginning of the 5th week that Dad has been in the hospital. It seems that time has flown by, because when mom and I were talking about it last night it seemed impossible that it has been that long, and yet the other side says- it's only been 4 weeks?

On this journey we've been told many things: "He's in really rough shape, it will be a miracle if he pulls out of this", "Because of everything he has wrong, we're not sure he's going to make it", "We can't get the bleeding to stop, if we can't get it to stop with this next procedure, we are pretty sure he won't make it", and "Because of the extent of the damage to his kidneys, it looks like he will be on dialysis for the rest of his life"

I bring these up because last night I was recapping them with dad, I was trying to help him see how God has been walking through this fire pit with him. What I found humorous was that everyone of these quotes was wrong.

It was a miracle, he did pull out of it, the bleeding stopped, and he no longer needs dialysis. They took the port out earlier this week. And they moved him to rehab yesterday. Yep, rehab. Dad is no longer in the hospital. :)

It's funny- all the doctors told us the worst. God proved them all wrong, and in the process kept reminding us WHO really is in charge!

Dad is at a nursing home rehab facility in Holland (for you locals- Hartland on 32nd). Granted it's not the one we were praying for, but there are positives. 1. Dad's roommate is, I believe, a Christian, he plays Cribbage, and he's a talker, it'll be good for dad to have someone to talk to. 2. It's closer to mom, so her seeing him isn't so hard. 3. They will push for him to recover, I hope, and it will allow him to come home sooner.

Anyway, the journey has been long, the lessons have been hard... but our God has been amazing, His grace sufficient and our hearts have been turned to Him. I can only pray that we cling to this lesson and our God from this point forward too.

Specific requests:
1. Please pray that Dad understands the need to PUSH forward and WORK HARD at recovery, and that he DOES it.
2. Pray that dad reaches out with understanding that God is chasing him. Recovery is impossible without God.
3. We as a family are praying for 3 things within dad- A. That he is restored to better health than he was before the hospital. B. That his mind is restored to clear functioning without the confusion/depression he's been fighting for over a year. C. That his heart is turned back into the heart of Jesus. For a long time dad has ignored his walk- I pray that my daddy remembers his DADDY and turns to him.
4. That recovery takes no longer than 3 weeks so that Medicaid will cover it all and not come after the disability money.
5. That we as a family will continue to find healing in the Master's Hand.

Thank you so much for praying, I can say with absolute conviction that it's because of your prayers that God intervened. I know that you played a part in everything that has happened so far. I pray that you are blessed for it.

The blessings are abundant so that I can say with assurance...

I am blessed and broken,
Megan

Wow!

2009-04-06T19:59:00.001-07:00

Just a little tidbit of the display of God's mighty hand... they removed the port for the dialysis today...

I'll just let that sink in for a minute...

Dad no longer needs dialysis... kidney's are functioning!

One organ down... 2 more to go...

God is soooo good!!!

Just a quick note

2009-04-06T05:42:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

It's been a couple of days, so I thought it was time to give an update. Dad's doing pretty well. Boy it feels good to say that :)

Specifically here is where things are-
1. He hasn't had dialysis since last Monday, and his conversation and thoughts are still clear. He was seeing the kidney specialist (Dr. Visser) today to see where they go from here.

2. He was able to beat me in Cribbage, granted by only a couple of points, but still- he beat me. :)

3. He had some blood in his stool on Saturday- which is cause for concern, but we don't know if it's hemorrhoids or if the ulcer is bleeding again. Our personal thought is the first one, at least that is what we are hoping.

4. His vitals still are stable- no changes that we know of- dad's Internal Medicines Doctor said that dad's vitals were such that it was very quiet and he liked it when patients left him with nothing to do.

5. He's incredibly lonely. He's awake most of the time now and spends a lot of time alone as Mom isn't able to spend the money to go to Grand Rapids every day. And we were forced to go back to work (this was both a blessing and a curse). My heart aches for him, and there isn't anything I can do about it.

Please pray that the kidneys keep functioning in such a way that the dialysis will no longer be needed.
Please pray that the blood found is an easy answer so that there will not be a need for further procedures- aka- danger to dad.
Please pray that Dad starts to search out God in the midst of this... dad needs Him more than us.
Please pray that his stats keep level and clear.

I'm tired and it's Monday, so I'm kinda grumpy about being at work again... but even in this our God is greater. (Which likely means- I just need an attitude adjustment)

Blessings and grace to you all- may you feel the love and peace of Jesus today,
Megan

One thing at a time

2009-04-01T06:29:00.000-07:00

Last we heard, all things looked negative. New word in- God is bigger, smarter, and stronger than doctors. (Isn't that reassuring?!)

When I was a young teenager (around 13 or so) there was this woman at church that was diagnosed with Leukemia. In fact she was only given a couple of weeks- maybe a month to live. So, our church started praying for her- really intensely- with real dedication etc. In a month she was still living, a year or so later she became pregnant(she was married before all this began), and now- last I heard had several kids and is still living a healthy life.

So what does this have to do with our family? Well, it was one of the many times where my heart, head and life was impacted by the power of prayer. I knew her, I knew her family and I knew what was ahead if God didn't heal her. And He did. Now, I'm sitting here thinking about it because of my dad... and what the power of prayer did here too.

No, he's not been released, and no, he's not walking around- yet. But the evidence of prayer is significant.

For instance- while meeting with the doctors yesterday we learned a few things. We learned that when they transferred him to Spectrum they were looking at him being on dialysis for the rest of his life- if he survived. (Yes, all the docs were convinced dad's last day on earth was last Thursday) We learned that the Internal Medicine doctor is shocked every day when he visits dad. He says "I like coming in here, because everyday I meet a different man". He left the room laughing yesterday at a joke dad cracked. Apparently his kidney function numbers are high enough to surprise the kidney doctor- and looks like dialysis will most definitely be a temporary thing. (Hallelujah!)

He also made the transition back to food yesterday. It was the first food he ate (on his own) in over 3 weeks. (he really didn't eat the 24 hours before he went into the hospital) He played both Matthew and I in Cribbage yesterday- it wasn't completely normal, but he could play- and that was AWESOME!

Everyday is another thing to celebrate- his quirky sense of humor is slowly returning, (he hung up on mom yesterday to "eat his peaches") and he's exercising so he can "GET OUT OF BED!". One thing conquered at a time... one praise more offered to heaven... one more breath of relief!

He still has a long way to go- but to be this far is something I can't even express... A miracle has taken place, and my family is the receiver of it.

May you be blessed for praying and for your concern and devotion to my family. And may all the GLORY be given to our FATHER in Heaven who heard our cry.

I am so blessed,
Megan

Where we stand now

2009-03-29T14:48:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

After a very long week we stand exhausted and yet completely amazed at the work God has done. For just a few examples: 1. all of us kids work at jobs that put family first.. and had no hesitation in releasing us to the family emergency. 2. From being told that dad had a very small chance of making it to being in a position to start rehab all in a period of 72 hours is extremely miraculous. 3. Uncle Ross being able to come in and spend time with us through it all. 4. Reestablishing relationships we all thought were long gone. 5. There are so many more things but these were at the top of my thoughts.

God is good, seems almost trivial after everything we've been through- but the truth of it is astronomical. We rest there, we live there, we are surviving there. He has provided a SHALOM in the midst of it all- none of us have lost any more sleep, all of us know WHO is in control and WHO is holding - not only dad in his hands- but us too.

Where we stand now is looking at the foothill of a mountain bigger than Mount Everest. For dad to come home he has to go through rehab, retain the control over his body and of course for there to be no more life threatening issues to deal with.

So, for those of you who like specifics... please pray for:
1. Continued stability in his vitals- especially his hemoglobin.
2. That the dialysis be temporary- it's already gone longer than they anticipated- now we need it to stop.
3. That his incontinence be fixed by the time he is released from all programs, so that jobs, and home life will be made easier.
4. For his confusion to dissappear. It's hard to watch the smartest man you know go on about a pet snake that you don't have.
5. Physical strength, after being in bed for 18 days it's hard for anyone, but dad has had even more than that to fight for the last 18 days and now is being told that he needs to be moving in the hallways by this Wednesday... seems like climbing a mountain.
6. For the rest of the family to figure out how to deal with dad being in Grand Rapids and balancing the schedule so that burnout is avoided and dad still has company and support through this process. Burnout is already setting in and we are at what appears to be the beginning of the process.

Thank you for your prayers and may God show his blessing on you like has been felt by all of us.

I am broken and blessed,
Megan

Dad's doing better

2009-03-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,
The update is quite miraculous actually... dad is not only still alive but he is doing really well.

On Thursday, we were not given a lot of hope in dad's surviving the day. He was rushed to Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, in the ICU department. They did a surgical procedure through an artery in his leg to get to the ulcer in his lower intestine. If it did not work they were going to have to go in through the stomach and that was where the danger laid.

My uncle rushed in from Washington, and the rest of the family was put on notice. We had not one clue as to what would happen- but we all had to face the worst in our own imaginations and even in our prayers.

It was really rough to see him in ICU, because they had to put a tube down his throat to empty his stomach so that the bile would not agitate the ulcer. They had to restrain his legs, his arms, they had a catheter in his leg- for the procedure- just in case they had to do it again. Then they had the other catheter in, and a whole bunch of other stuff going on- making it really difficult to be comfortable.

By last night, they moved him out of ICU, down to the 2nd floor, they have put him back on dialysis, and removed all the restraints. He is a little loopy, but a lot more comfortable.

They are now talking about making sure that he is stable and going back to conversations of rehab- GOD IS GOOD!

The miracle of prayer is so fantastic- the power of God is beyond our comprehension. We are all resting in the knowledge that all these things - have never caught HIM by surprise.

How we could ever thank you for praying or for being there for us- I just don't know. But thank you!!!

I am blessed beyond measure, and grateful too,
Megan

It's time to pray people

2009-03-26T05:35:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Dad has been diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer. Apparently this accounts for many things that they haven't been able to figure out with him.

This morning they are going to do a scope procedure to see if they can find/ stop the bleeding. If they cannot take care of it through the scope they will have to do surgery.

If they do surgery- there is only a 50% chance of survival. Please pray that they can fix it during the scope!!! It's at 9AM Eastern today!

I am so broken!
Megan

Dad's recent Update (and some history)

2009-03-25T08:33:00.000-07:00

This month has been an interesting one for all of us. As Dad (aka Mike) has been struggling with bigger health issues than any of us know what to do with. If you haven't read/ seen the story, I've attached it below- it goes through today. Thanks for praying and journeying with us. We love you all for it!

Blessed and broken am I,
Megan

Friday: March 13, 2009
My mind is tired and my body sore from hours of sitting and talking and thinking and praying about my dad.
Wednesday night, I got a call from my mom. Not a “Hey, how’s it going” kinda call, but a call where she’s practically screaming, while balling her eyes out, saying “I’m at the end of my rope. I’m physically exhausted, my mind is overwhelmed, I have no idea whether or not to take your father to the hospital, please if you are able, can you come and help me. Help me know if I should take him in against his will.”
I brought my dog along because he loves that stupid little mutt, and I decided that at least it would be a simple way to see my parents for the week. When we got there dad got excited (Mom said for the first time that day.) he wanted to get dressed to come out and see me and Gauge. So she went and got him some pants and some other things to get dressed. A few minutes later she came back in to talk with me as we waited for him to come out.

We heard a thump… and not a little one… we called out and said are you ok? Did you fall? Do you need help? “I’m fine, I didn’t fall”

5 minutes or so later when he hadn’t come out yet, mom went to check on him… he was in a pretzel shape on the floor caught between the bed and the wall. She didn’t tell me the position but to call Matthew and have him come and help dad up- he might have a broken leg.
After I called Matt, I went in to see (because mom had to cover him up before I could come in) and I saw what position he was in… he was so helpless looking that I almost cried out in fear for him… instead I made a judgement call that I can only call the Spirit. I called 911.

The first to arrive were two firemen- and I only know the name Mike because, well the obvious reason… Mike helped my dad Mike. They went right in and saw that Matthew and a couple young interns had already moved the bed and all the other stuff in the way and found dad barely able to breathe on the floor. They went to work right away finding a way for the bed support system to be cut so that they could get to dad easier and so that dad wouldn’t have a 2 x 4 stuck in his ribs.

It took about 12 men and women and my brother to figure out how to get him out safely, and then out the door... well, window. He didn't want to go to the hospital, but we all overrode that thought.

It was surreal to sit in the ER and hear the doctors say "He's had a heart attack". My dad who has had many other problems has never in his life had heart issues. I've since come to the conclusion that the fall may have saved his life.

Where things sit right now is this:
1. The heart attack did a LOT of damage to the left ventricle. They will have to do surgery, but...
2. Complete Renal Failure, Liver looks aweful- doctors said it looks like he's been an alcoholic for his entire life- when in reality, he's never touched it.. and his Kidneys are shot. He will more than likely start Dialysis this afternoon.
3. Infection. He has Cellulitis (sp?) traveling in his legs- although that's the only thing that looks as if it's improving.

The thing is... any one of these 3 things has the ability to kill any normal man. But my dad, by the miracle of our Heavenly Father's hands has survived thus far. Although all the doctors are not talking very positively.

We all know that our daddy is not on his own... and neither are we... Our Heavenly Daddy is looking out for us. We know you are praying, because we all are experiencing the "Peace that surpasses all understanding." His Spirit is ministering to our hearts and we rest securely there.

However, the doctors understand the severity of the situation and are constantly trying to make us understand. Although if you just look at dad you know... from their words things look really grim.

Prayer, prayer and prayer is really needed, welcomed and implored. My father G. Michael Smith is fighting for his life. Please pray with us that God will allow him to win.

I thank you for your friendship, for your prayers and for the fact that I can write this and know that you are responding even as I write.

I am blessed and am broken,
Megan

Saturday: March 14, 2009

Hey everyone,

Up until yesterday afternoon all of us were sitting here in the waiting room anticipating the worst. When we talked to the Kidney doctor and she told us that dialysis was going to make a big difference in our dad... we looked at her like she was talking a foreign language. We have had no prior experience with dialysis and we were scared because we thought that once you started you were on it for life.

Well, we gave them permission to start it and then waited some more.

Last night after it was done and everyone left I went in to say goodbye... I'd been here for a LOOONNNGGG time and needed to go home and rest. (It had been days since I'd really slept) As I was saying goodbye he gave me attitude... it was the first time in a long time since I'd received that from him. I went out and told the family and they all went in to talk to him... and he got upset when he realized we'd been here so long.

This is a marked sign of improvement... although it's so far from being done. There is still a big heart problem, and kidney problems, but the overall outlook is more positive than we've known yet this far.

Thank you for praying. The feeling of peace and the amount of normal is incredible in the waiting room.

We will keep you updated as we know more.

Thank you for blessing us with your prayers and concern,
Megan

Sunday: March 15, 2009

For days there really hasn't been much to update, but after last night- an update is due.

My greeting to the hospital yesterday was "You have to go see him, it's amazing!" I looked at my mom and she confirmed- "He is totally different" So I went in to see my dad, and greeted him by his least favorite greeting "Hey Pops" and he responded with rolled eyes and a "Hey Sweetheart".

His eyes are clear and his words made sense. He even laughed at other people and their conversations. He bragged about his "skinny feet" (The infection is going away and the water pill they have him on is taking away the swelling that has been there for months!). He smiled and laughed at my stupid humor (which we share in common) and wanted to hold my hand- which I love!

His heart and kidneys are still a major concern, but his body is fighting really hard. He was talking and teasing the techs, ate some dinner (real food for the first time since last Tuesday) and sleeping without struggling to breathe. Plus- he's not fighting the leads, IV's and other things like he was before.

Although he was a little concerned about how he got to the hospital, he knew that he had been there for a while (a week today). I do think though that the concern was because it was close to bedtime and he was getting a little loopy again.

We all thank you so much for praying- we feel it and are beyond grateful...
Specific requests now:
1. That his kidneys would come back to full function so that he will not have to be on dialysis permanently.
2. That he will be approved for Medicaid, he has medical disability without Medicaid - making things incredibly difficult.
3. Finances and things for mom, everyday all day at the hospital is tiring, expensive and painful (my joints hurt from sitting and such- hers are worse.)
4. That he gets the message - he has to change his ways or else he will die.

I am blessed beyond measure!
Megan

Today, Wednesday: March 25, 2009- 2 weeks since he went into the hospital
Hey Everyone,
Your notes of encouragement have meant an awful lot to all of us, and to know that around the world people are praying- it means even more.

There are just a few things to let you all know.

1. They finally did the port for the dialysis yesterday and immediately did dialysis yesterday afternoon. Last night he was talking again, clear with understanding and alert to what was going on with him. I even asked him if the dialysis felt weird and he said no.

2. This morning his hemoglobin dropped another point. If you are like me and this means nothing to you, well copied direct from Wikipedia.com: hemoglobin is the iron-containing oxygen-transport metalloprotein in the red blood cells of vertebrates. . In mammals, the protein makes up about 97% of the red cell’s dry content, and around 35% of the total content (including water). Also, known as a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. It's normal to have a count of 14 in your body- dad's dropped to 7 this morning so they are doing a blood transfusion and are hoping that will be enough to bring it back to what it's supposed to be.

3. They now think he has a bleeding ulcer in his stomach. I don't know what they'll do if he really does have one.

4. He is going to end up going through a rehab program for a minimum of 6 weeks. At this point there are only 2 options of where- 1. Metro Health in Wyoming, MI or 2. A nursing home in Holland, MI. At this point- from what we hear the nursing home is NOT a good option. I am praying specifically for him to go to Metro. There is a condition for him - he has to be able to sit in a chair by himself, for an hour. At this point, because of all that he's had going on sitting up in bed has been a feat. Please pray that he will gain the strength needed to complete this task and go to Metro.

I'm laughing a very cynical laugh- and wondering how in the world my dad is still alive. I know that it is only by the grace and love of our Heavenly Father that he is. Any one of the many things he's been diagnosed with are enough to kill a man... and here he is acting as if he's fine. I wonder how different his life will be when he's been healed of all these things?

Please continue to pray for strength, healing, peace and grace for us and those around us.