11/30/03, Sunday, 11:58pm
"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done is secret, will reward you." Matt 6:6
"Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving", Col. 4:2
IT'S REWARD and THANKSGIVING TIME!!!
Saturday night, the respirator was providing 10 breaths / minute for Mom, down from 16 last Wednesday. As of 9am, Sunday, Mom was pretty much breathing on her own with just a little help providing some pressure for the lungs! The head ICU doctor is considering skipping the tracheonomy all together and seeing if she might be able to forego the respirator Monday or Tuesday. This would be great minimizing infection or pnemonia by not doing the tracheonomy. There's more! The morphine has been reduced by 2/3. Mom has been even more respondant with her eyelids responding to commands and showing awareness of what's going on around her. I was sharing with Mom some of the emails and answers to prayers regarding others that have begun to turn their hearts to God as a result of all this. She shed some tears. There is no doubt in my mind that she comprehends what is said to her. Once off the respirator and not so dependent on the morphine, we will have a better gage as to what motor skills she has retained and those lost.
The feeding tube will soon go directly to her stomach to minimize any stomach reflux and causing issues with the lungs until she clearly shows that she has the capability to swallow.
Once off the respirator, they will look to put the halo on to provide more stability to the neck area.
Please focus your prayers the next couple days that Mom will respond well to coming off the respirator with no complications.
Concern: There was some eradict heart rate early Friday morning where it ranged from low 40's to 140. Early this morning it did dip down to the 40's but not long. A group of cardiologists did look at Mom this morning but were not too exercised about the manner. No heart attack occured, I'm told.
Thank you all again for your prayers, concerns, cards and assistance. To my knowledge, there are now some 1500+ people that receive this email. I know many of you then call those without internet access. I hope to have the website up Monday. Thank you again and may our sovereign Father, one who delights in protecting, providing and loving his children, pour out special blessings to you and your familiies.