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TJ will now see the kidney doc on July 1- at least it is a little earlier! No other changes to report at this point, except that I have made a couple of really good dinners with no salt at all!
His second book, Leading From the Sandbox, came out yesterday so that is very exciting.
MA
Last week we found out that TJ has pretty significant kidney failure. His creatinine levels were elevated while he was in the hospital, but have taken quite a jump. For you medical types, here are the numbers: Creatinine 2.68, BUN 39, and GFR 25. He can't get into see a nephrologist (kidney specialist) until July 9th, but from a bit a research I have done it looks like he is at stage 4 (out of 5) of kidney failure. stage 5 is where you start dialysis. The cause is probably from the lack of blood flow to his kidneys while he was in septic shock in December. We are taking a 2 prong approach. One is to start diet limitations of sodium, protein, and phosphorus to decrease the load on his kidneys. The other, and far more important approach is to storm heaven once again for COMPLETE healing. Hey, if the Father could repair his mitral valve miraculously, kidneys should be nothing!
1 Chronicles 5:20. "They were helped in fighting them, and God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him." We are crying out to God as the battle continues.
Other key factors are controlling blood sugar and blood pressure. His blood pressure is pretty well controlled and he gets an insulin pump tomorrow that will tighten his blood sugar control which has been pretty decent.
Please note, that we probably won't have much, if anything, to post here until we can see the kidney doc in July. However, if any of you have some great low sodium recipes please let me know!
On a similar, but less serious note, I have had a mold reaction from where I work that has not let up since April, and I have not been in the building since April. I am short of breath and very fatigued. I saw a lung doctor last week and had several tests but no results or plan as yet. We make quite the dynamo pair these days!
Jon is looking for work and recovering from a very strenuous school year. Steven is in the Boundary Water Canoe Area leading groups into the wilderness on canoe trips. It is through a ministry called Boundary Water Experience. Last year he had the privilege of leading a couple of kids to the Lord. It is the perfect summer for him.
We deeply love and appreciate all of you!
Mary Ann
http://www.tworiverschurch.org/resources/recentSermons.htm
It is the one titled "Living Dangerously".
Thank you to all who prayed for my trip to Hong Kong. I was amazed that I had the energy that I had even speaking twelve times with numerous meetings. I was very encouraged.
Yesterday I saw the neurosurgeon and it was decided that I did not need surgery on my pinched disk for now. PTL. I do have some abnormal kidney tests which will be retested on Wednesday. This has been an issue since I left the hospital.
I do have abnormal kidney funtion which is a concern to the doctors. This could be a result of septic shock which I had in the ICU. I have been referred to a kidney specialist to see what they can determine. We continue to ask God for complete recovery including this issue.
It is not my health that concerns me most right now but that of Mary Ann. When she went back to work after my hospitalization, she suffered a severe mold reaction and discovered that there had been a leak at the school in December which had not been remediated. Mary Ann has severe reactions to mold. Essentially she has been out of work (with a few exceptions) since then. She suffers from severe lack of breath, trouble breathing and so far the steroids and antibiotics have not resolved the issue. She will not be going back as a school nurse next year. Our concern now is that God would graciously restore her to full health. Please join me in praying toward this end.
Steven is heading up to the boundary waters in northern Minnesota where he will again be a guide for a Christian group that ministers to inner city kids. as an outdoors man he is in his element there. Jon is looking for a summer job and business internship. We made a contact yesterday with Medtronics (when I was being prepped for an insulin pump) and he would love to see that happen.
My book, Leading From the Sandbox: Develop, Empower and Release High Impact Ministry Teams should be available in about three weeks.
As you pray, please remember relief efforts we are involved in in Myanmar and China in the aftermath of the Cyclones and Earthquakes. There are massive human needs in both places and ReachGlobal will be partnering with national Christians and ministries to do long term relief, development and church planting in these needy areas.
This weekend I will be in Knoxville, TN for meetings and will be preaching on Sunday.
Thank you for your love and prayers. If you have not done so, please check out my new leadership blog at www.LeadingFromTheSandbox.blogspot.com.
Gratefully, TJ for Mary Ann and the boys
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