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
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Wow!
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!!!
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
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
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
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
One thing at a time
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
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
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Where we stand now
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
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
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Dad's doing better
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
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
Thursday, March 26, 2009
It's time to pray people
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 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
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