Little Anne had a restful night. At times she seems to be trying to focus her eyes on me if i am in her field of vision.
i am praying she will know us and be able to speak. Most of all, i am praying that God will be close to little Anne, that she will continue her budding relationship with Him, and be able to experience his presence.
May i rejoice in Him and His joys today. i have never been able to spend such concentrated time with Anne, may i use it wisely.
-eric
Anne had a good day today. An x-ray was done on her neck and it was determined the neck brace could be removed. Her anti-withdrawal med was reduced a bit more today and she had more periods of wakefulness. She seems to be moving her mouth a little and seems to swallow at times. Her eyes now can open wide. The rehab docs told us to move into her field of vision (since she can’t yet train her eyes on us), then let her attempt to focus. Next to move to one side to her her begin to follow us with her eyes. This will help to train her brain to use her eyes.
-eric
Anne is stabilizing. Now that she is off the ventilator and breathing well on her own, their next goal is to increase her feeds to what she needs for her weight. If she can tolerate the increased feeds, she can then be moved to rehab – hopefully by the end of this week…
Rehab is where they will begin the slow process of retraining Anne’s brain. We pray that she learns to swallow, use her eyes, limbs and voice. There are a lot of unknowns. All the doctors will say is that with this severe of a brain injury, there will be some deficit – to what extent, they don’t know. Every child is different.
Please pray for Anne’s healing and for us and Canon and Kate to deal with the sadness of Anne not being with us at home. Also for all of us to take one day at a time as we wait for God’s plan for Anne and our family to unveil.
Last night, Canon prayed, “Lord, we’re not asking you to make Anne perfect, but please make her good.”
-kathryn
Little Anne is sleeping quietly this morning. She is now off all sedation!! She is having some trouble breathing without the ventilator, but it may be because her throat is swollen, and due to fluid in her lungs. She seems to be having fewer tremors and is requiring less withdrawal meds.
We are so blessed by all of the prayers that are lifted up for little Anne, and all the people that have connected with us. We have great hope when we stay in the present and rely on God, but can despair when speculating on the future. May we rejoice in God’s goodness today.
-eric
To see Anne breathing on her own is a miraculous gift. We are so grateful. Tomorrow – and all of its challenges – will come. But today, I have seen God’s goodness in the land of the living!!! This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!!
Happy Sunday everyone :-)
-kathryn
This morning the nurses are working to remove the ventilator.
Right after the ventilator came out of her, the words i heard on the praise music CD playing in Anne’s room: “This is the air I breath – your holy spirit living in me”. God supplies all we need!
God has answered the following specific prayers:
It is hard to tell if little Anne recognizes us yet. I think she may respond to Kathryn’s voice at times. She opens her eyes, but she doesn’t seem to be able to focus on us. This is very hard to see. I so want my little girl to be able to run and play and dance. . . . but i most want God’s plan for her, whatever that may be.
We pray that her brain will heal. I know God will take care of my little girl in His way, and in his timing.
Still reading through and praying over Mark 5 and Luke 8.
-eric
I simply cannot express the joy, hope, and encouragement that your “guestbook” entries mean to Kathryn and me. I often read them multiple times and the scripture really helps me know what to pray.
The docs have a goal to wean Anne totally from the sedation and the ventilator by tomorrow evening. We should pray that will go well. Also pray that she will tolerate her nutrition because she so needs it. Today marks 11 days of heavy sedation. Pray she is able to come off the narcotics with minimal withdrawal.
Anne still has so much healing she needs to do; it is hard to see her opening her eyes, but not being sure if she is recognizing us. Pray God will heal Anne’s brain so that she may know God’s joy!
-eric
Today was a difficult day for me personally. It’s painful to watch her tremor. She tremors when she’s agitated… either from her breathing tube or being moved – just anything that might over-stimulate her.
Even though the day was painful, God’s grace was evident…
Anne’s neurologist held a bright red Elmo doll close to Anne’s face and moved it. Anne tracked the doll with her eyes. That was very encouraging.
I was also able to calm her enough to stop her tremors a few times – just by being close and talking gently to her. Her eyes would lock onto mine and slowly, she would still. Though her eyes are dull and distant – she’s still my precious Anne.
God has bolstered Eric up, for he was amazing today – encouraging me with God’s sovereignty and mercy, assuring me that Anne was in His good hand. Eric is helping me hang on to the promise that God will work everything out for good. I love that man!
Please continue to pray for Anne. Pray that she would progress enough to remove her breathing tube – soon! (It causes her so much angst.) Pray for God to work out his good plan for Anne and our family – and most of all – that Anne would experience the fullness of God’s joy on this earth.
Gratefully, kathryn
Little Anne’s day was very active, but also difficult for her. Her sedation meds are now down to 1 med which caused her to awake a little more today. Anne’s muscle tremors and spasms were a little scary, but suggested that she is moving forward. She probably became a little too stimulated and it caused her to vomit twice. LORD, please be close to our little Anne and heal her.
-eric
Anne is much more active this morning. Even without reducing the sedation meds, she was opening her eyes about 1/4 instead of 1/8 yesterday. She is also tensing her muscles in her arms and legs and shivering. The movement could be a reaction from the meds and from the brain trauma. The docs say these are good signs and they plan to reduce her sedation meds again today to see how things go. I am not sure that the movements are purposeful. We should keep praying that God will heal her brain.
-eric
Crayons In My Water 