Prayer requests

Quick update

Anne has been so agitated today. She cried through her therapy and her nap. We have been told that heightened emotions are a phase some will go through.

HUGE praise – Anne initiated a step with her right leg!! She also cleared a swallowing test – meaning that we can attempt much more food now.

Kathryn’s prayer requests yesterday were exactly where we are. Please pray:

  1. For God to preserve Anne’s cognitive abilities and ultimately, for her to speak,
  2. For Anne to gain greater control over her eyes,
  3. For Anne’s tremors to decrease so she can have more control using her hands, and
  4. For Anne’s character to be molded into Christlikeness as she perseveres through all her therapy sessions.

Hoping for a little rest tonight :-)

-eric

A little more from Anne

Every day we see a little more from Anne… She’s sitting better and eating better (she ate ice cream today). Her eyes are brighter and more focused and overall she seems more responsive. For example, in addition to smiling more, she laughed out loud for the first time today.

The Speech Therapist and I both think Anne tried to say, “uh huh” when asked if she wanted more ice cream. I just sat and cried, thinking about how thankful I was to hear my sweet girl try to speak.

Please pray:

  1. For God to preserve Anne’s cognitive abilities and ultimately, for her to speak,
  2. For Anne to gain greater control over her eyes,
  3. For Anne’s tremors to decrease so she can have more control using her hands, and
  4. For Anne’s character to be molded into Christlikeness as she perseveres through all her therapy sessions.

Tired but thankful, -kathryn

Working hard…

Another tough, but wonderful day in rehab. Little Anne worked really hard to open her mouth for some popsicle – and she opened a little wider today! She also was able to push a down on a button with her right hand which was a huge thing for her. Anne sat up in her wheelchair longer today than any other previous day, and we went outside for some sunshine – the warm sun on her little body immediately calmed her – i think she really liked being outside. She also had lots of family interaction – and she seems a tiny bit more responsive with her few smiles.

George Wallace gave us John 11:4 today: But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” What a great story to be reminded of – God’s timing and his plans are often very different than our own!! But they are always GOOD plans!

Praise God for the miracles he has already provided. Pray that Anne will one day soon be able to speak!!

-eric

Three Words…

ANNE’S IN REHAB!

Praise God: 

  1. That she is ALIVE
  2. That she is making progress – little by little :-)

Please pray: 

  1. That Anne will continue to progres – little by little.
  2. I just talked with Eric, and she is very upset – crying and tremoring. Pray that she will relax and sleep well tonight. Eric needs sleep :-)
  3. That by God’s grace, we will wait on His good plan for Anne to unveil – little by little.

Expecting a good day in rehab tomorrow :-) -kathryn

Quiet day

Because Anne was up most of last night (poor Eric…) she rested most of today. Her therapists let her rest, so it was a quiet day.

The neurosurgeon said today, “There is an excellent chance that the drain will come out tomorrow.” So we’re hopeful! If the drain truly does come out tomorrow, she could be in rehab as early as Friday – but we’ll wait and see.

I have one funny story to share. Tonight, Eric’s cousin Susan visited. Anne had just had a HUGE bowel movement (yeah!) so the conversation moved to poop. Now – the kids are not allowed to say “bathroom talk” outside the bathroom. They can talk about poopy and tee-tee all they want inside the bathroom – but not outside… So, when I realized that Susan and I were using bathroom talk – I said to Anne (with a mischievious look), “Anne, do you hear us using bathroom talk outside the bathroom? Do you want to do it too?” Then I started singing, “Poopy, poopy, poopy!!!!”

And she smiled – the biggest smile yet. Susan’s husband, Alan, came in and we were all talking about “poopy” and Anne smiled a few more times.

Anne clearly enjoyed breaking the rules tonight :-)

Please pray:

  1. The drain would be removed tomorrow so that we can move to rehab.
  2. Since Canon will be with me at the hospital all day tomorrow, please pray that God encourages him in a special way, and that he will be an encouragement to Anne as well.
  3. That Anne will respond well to rehab (when she gets there).

Gratefully, kathryn

Restful Night

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

“Please make her good.”

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

Removing Anne’s ventilator

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:

  1. Anne is alive! The first night we did not know whether she would make it.
  2.  Anne woke up! The doctors did not know if she would ever regain consciousness.
  3. The swelling in Anne’s brain has dramtically reduced
  4. Anne’s sedation continues to be reduced and she is responded well to it.
  5. Because of your guestbook entries, those scriptures help Kathryn and me know what to pray.

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

Thank you!

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

Evidence of God’s grace…

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