Today was both uneventful but exciting. The nurse practitioner from the Pulmonology group said SHE COULD NOT HEAR A MURMUR!!! (murmurs=leakage). I did not see the cardiologist, but in his note he indicated that his only plan right now is to do a TEE as an outpatient to follow up on the mitral valve! It feels like the docs are all being cautious because the evidence was very clear for mitral valve damage that could only be repaired with surgery, and they are not too sure what happened. Keep praying and when the outpatient TEE confirms that healing has happened you will hear us yelling all the way in Hong Kong!
TJ was pretty exhausted today after pushing himself hard yesterday. Pulmonology, Neurology, and I think Cardiology all signed off (meaning they will no longer follow him in the hospital). A Rehab doctor evaluated him for rehab and said that he should be able to move to the rehab floor tomorrow. Most patients spend 5-10 days on the rehab floor to work on strength and activities of daily living. Among other things, he has to be able to do stairs before he can go home. It will be a very intense therapy schedule with PT, OT, and speech for swallowing and complex memory. His goal, of course, is to be home by the end of the week. (What's that quote? "Never underestimate the power of our determination..."?)
TJ will have another video swallowing study tomorrow or Wednesday. He got a diet coke today by mistake- he should not have thin liquids until they know that it all is going down the right pipe. That's OK by me- I really do not want to TJ to experience another pneumonia. However, there is a six pack of diet coke in the fridge next door to his room when he has clearance! He has moved up a step on the diet from pureed to very soft.
He is trying to grasp what has happened to himself. How do you comprehend thousands pf people worldwide praying for you and doctors telling you there is no reasonable explanation for your survival?
Specific prayer requests would be for continued progress in recovery and for protection from anxiety as the reality of how close he was to dying sinks in. Also please pray for God's continued work outside of TJ through his experience.
Blessings and great gratitude,
Mary Ann
Monday, January 7, 2008
Monday Update-BIG NEWS on Mitral Valve
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15 comments:
We so appreciate all your updates, and our family continues to pray for TJ and for all of you. I am reminded of Psalm 41:1-3 which so many of us have claimed and continue to claim for TJ:
"...The Lord will protect him and keep him alive, and he shall be called blessed upon the earth...in his illness Thou dost restore him to health". Praise God for His great power and mercies.
REJOICING with you as the wonderful reports of all the Lord has done are posted! Will persevere in prayer for TJ, asking that his understanding, response and recovery be enveloped in peace and for rest and strength for your family as rehab begins.
This news is completely awesome! I have been following this blog daily and have been praying for him daily. I am very happy for him and for all the family and close friends. Will continue to pray for strength for TJ. Thanks for keeping the world updated!
This sounds quite encouraging. The Lord has done grest things! His great work never ceases to amaze me and yet everytime I read the Bible I realize He tells us all that He is able to do. May TJ rest well and prepare for the rigors of Rehab. I think you will have him back home again very soon, MA. Prayers are definitely being answered. No surprise! Thank the Lord!
CP
Dear Mary Ann, TJ, and family,
Tonight, the small group we host in our home had ten of us studying, discussing and praying over Philippians 4: 7-9, on guarding our peace and the God of peace or our Guard of peace. It was a precious night and we spent much time on our knees in prayer.
Five months ago, my wife and I, empty nesters from our seven children and 12 grandchildren, took in a single mom without a home. She gave birth to twin boys, Quintin and Austin. They sat in on our discussion about peace without a peep. The God of peace kept them content. I am penning this line to you now with little Quintin in my arms while Morgan, his Mom, is getting Austin ready for bed. Guarding our peace is a lot like holding onto it tightly as I am holding Quintin in my arms and lap. You are guarding your peace so well. All of us are noticing the way you take the good news and bad news and never let go of the God of peace.
But TJ, the God of peace and the Guard or Guardian of your peace is holding you most tightly. We hold God's hand, but Jesus promises,
"No one is able to pluck you out of My hand. I and My Father are one." He has you, TJ held tightly in His loving arms. You are secure in Him. I rejoice in each of your steps forward. What a mighty God we serve. Sleep well. Loving you all and continuing to pray,
Pastor Rich Carlson, Supt. IWD
This is God amazing. Such a wonderful report and how much improvement in such a short span of time. Yeah God, and go TJ. Praying for all of you and especially your requests. I pray the peace and hope that only God can provide will cover your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
CL
Dear TJ, Mary Ann, Jon and Steven,
It has been amazing to pray and follow this journey with you...what a privilege to be part of a work of God...very cool! As I have been reading through some of the stories of Jesus miraculous healings in the Bible, they never have a recovery time, paralytics immediately have strength in the muscles, Peter's mother-in-law immediately got up and starting serving. I am praying that God would not only totally heal TJ, but that his recovery would be miraculous as well. The power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead can restore immediately the ability for the body to function...how cool would that be? You are all continually in our thoughts and prayers.
God is so good. So much happening in a short time. We are so thrilled for you and really for all of us. It is so encouraging to see God at work in our lives and the lives of our friends. This has been an amazing experience for the body of Christ. I'm getting ready for 4 old friends from Trinity days to come and spend a few days in sunny FL (including Rich C's wife, Jinny and Adele G from St Paul). Both have been following the blogg. Should be a great time of fellowship. I hope Chip is feeling better and that you are all getting more rest. Will keep praying. Love, Joni
Mary Ann and family - Michael and I have now relocated from Accra to Cape Town, but continue to check the blog daily and pray throughout the day and night for you all. Thank you for continuing to keep us informed in how to pray. Yea God for what He's doing in the midst of all of this. We're with you - world wide! Pamela & Michael Hudson
Wow! God is so awesome and good. To see his miraculous hand of healing in TJ's recovery these past few weeks not only refreshes my faith, but I'm confident is refreshing to all who have been reading this blog. We serve a magnificent God who will use the last month in all of your lives to bless and advance ministry worldwide. Blessings to you all! Rachelle Holm
Was just praying that God would make it VERY clear that this was a complete miracle (healed mitral valve) and that He would get all the glory, even from the doctors.
Love,
Rhonda Reynard
I have not been able to keep up with the comments on the blog due to traveling and ministry, but all of this reminds me of what John Piper often has said: "God is always doing a thousand things with one thing". Thank you, Lord, for the myriads of myriads of things you have been doing in the life of TJ, his family, our mission, His Church and in the hearts of each one of us as we have been praying together! May all of this increase our determination to depend more on YOU and give you all the glory in this new year!
Yeah!! Still praying!!!!!!!!!!!
We're still praying on the other side of the world. May God completely heal the mitral valve, and bring him back to full health in His time. May God give him strength and patience for the journey of recovery.
"Never question my resolve!" -TJ
TJ you are the best, we continue praying for your full recovery, we are seeing the update eveyday and we are happy for the improvements. Blessings
Nicolas, Noha and the Ayoub Family
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