He's Home!

Tim was discharged this morning after a good night's sleep!  He is now snoozing on the couch.  The next few days will bring learning the next phase of the diet (full liquids), and increasing activity and exercise.  The diet has to be limited in volume, high in protein, low in calories, no seeds or skins that could get hung up in the stomach right now.  Things gradually loosen up over time.  The challenge for this phase is to get enough fluid and protein in, and manage shifting blood sugars.

We trust that things will continue to go smoothly.  We are so grateful for your prayer.  Please continue to pray for an accelerated recovery, complete adjustment to the new program of a new way of eating and exercising, and no infections.

Blessings to each of you!

TJ's recovery has been remarkable thus far.  All IVs are out, pain has been minimal, and he is tolerating fluids with no nausea or vomiting.  Up walking without difficulty.  The only fly in the ointment is that his blood sugars have been fluctuating widely.  He could have gone home today if not for that!  Prayer  requests would be for continued excellent recovery, protection from infections, stable blood sugars , and discharge tomorrow!

We have been asked what is up with me (Mary Ann).  I have multiple joint tendon dysfunction so my joints are often painful and sometime it can be difficult to walk.  However,  I am planning on our Heavenly Father to heal that as well!

We are very grateful for your prayer and support! 

Thank you for your prayer!  God has demonstrated his hand in smoothing every detail.  Dr. Rupp was able to use the laparascope for the full surgery. TJ has six little incisions, the largest about 2 inches long.

Yesterday afternoon TJs evening shift nurse was a very good friend of mine who had been at our house on Monday evening to pray for him with the other women in my prayer group.  I was able to go home and go to bed early-which was needed!  TJ's blood sugars sugars were variable during the night, common after surgery, so they were checking his blood sugars every half hour.  That gets old in a hurry.

This morning he was sore and tired, but no nausea and vomiting as many post sleeve patients experience. On the fluid intake he will start with tablespoons at a time and has to get 64 ounces in- half ounce at a time.  He has been up and walking a few times as well.

Prayer requests are for:

• Protection from infection
• Ability to stay hydrated and good transition to eating (over several weeks)
• A restoration of full and active health. 

Several people who have been praying about the surgery have been sensing, "I will restore the years the locust have eaten."  Please declare with us that the season when both of us have been repeatedly hit with health issues is over.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, make his face shine upon you, and give you peace.
MA

Out of Surgery

The surgeon just came out and told us that everything went well!  Praise God!  After PAR he will go to a regular post op floor.

Surgery Tomorrow

Tomorrow TJ is having Bariatric surgery.  The weight gain was a side effect of the first time he was so sick- NO muscles left to stay in shape.  I will paste in the prayer update he sent out today at the end.

The specific prayer requests this time would be for:

• Not needing to update this blog very much!  It has been a lifeline, but it would be nice not to need life lines this time.
• Protection from hospital acquired infections, and pneumonia.
• MA has had a lot of foot, ankle, and knee problems.  Please pray that she is pain-free during this time and can get around the hospital easily.

They did a mega heart and lung work-up prior to scheduling this surgery. Everything, literally, everything is perfect.  Not even scar tissue in his lungs after 3 rounds of ARDS!  God's healing was complete!

Blessings!

Thank you for praying. God is at work.

Addington Prayer update Please do not post to the web Dear Friends: Many of you know that on December 4, 2007 I went to the hospital with a very serious condition that should have taken my life. In the aftermath of that 45 day stay (31 days in the ICU and most of those in a coma) I struggled to get back to full health. A year later I had another similar stay in an ICU in Thailand and then a third stay in an ICU in Montana this summer. After my first long stay, I put on a fair amount of weight which my doctor says is a life threatening condition because of my propensity for lung issues and three episodes of pulmonary failure. Thus, this coming Tuesday I will have bariatric surgery to resolve the weight issue (hopefully my insulin dependency) and get back to full health. It will be a procedure where they simply remove about three fourths of the stomach. I would covet your prayers for successful surgery and a quick recovery. I would love to be back in a position of robust health for the work I do domestically and internationally. I thank you in advance for your prayers. For those who would like updates you may access those at this blog address which was used for all three previous hospital stays:www.reachTJ.com. I expect to be home for about two weeks after the surgery and hopefully be able to work from home during much of that time. Mary Ann has done a fabulous job of preparing for my new diet – especially for the first months after the procedure. I am very much looking forward to this surgery and the potential health improvements it will bring. We would appreciate your prayers for a successful surgery and a fast recovery.   Timothy J. Addington Senior Vice President, EFCA Leader, ReachGlobal

July 15, 2014

 What a day in Bozeman will do to a guy!

The PA was satisfied with what he saw yesterday.  Lungs clear, oxygen sats good while on O2. Haven't heard about labs yet.  He also liked how we were managing Lasix and potassium.  Nice reassurance.  After the doc we had lunch and I dropped TJ and his oxygen tanks off and Barnes and Nobles and did some grocery and sundry shopping (also got side tracked at Coldwater Creek- the store in Bozeman still has lots of stock).  Tim had a consult online in the evening.  We were done in by the end of the day.  I donned all my ankle and knee contraptions to bring up the groceries,after sending Tim to rest over his objections, and am not overly sore today!  Go stiff nylon and Velcro!
Thank you for your continued prayer as we continue to climb back to health.
Blessings and Gratitude,
Mary Ann

July 14, 2014

Tim continues to be super fatigued and quickly gets short of breath.  He will do a long phone or skype call with  someone then basically sleep the rest of the day.  He was coughing more again over the weekend- could just be the extremely high pollen count.  Still on O2 and we are so thankful that we have that.
Today he goes to see the Internal Med PA again.  It feels like good timing.  I am grateful that I am not trying to figure everything out with my "x-ray eyes".  They don' really do it so good.
My joints are getting less painful and I am less tired- but still in pain and tired.  I have had some wonderful times of listening to worship music on the deck overlooking the mountains.  "By the streams of still water, restoring my soul."
Prayer items:
Safe and helpful visit to the PA.  A long drive up the canyon with road construction to get there.
That the portable oxygen concentrator and supplies get to HERE.  Addresses and the post office are weird out here so there is a good potential for misdelivery.
Continued improvement for both of us.
That we would not miss what Papa God wants to whisper to us in the midst of trying to cope and recover.

Much Gratitude and blessings!
Mary Ann

July 11, 2014

It seems a relief to be responding every few days with updates and changes verses every few hours because the needs were so urgent and great.  We are continuing the "upward trend" but it is in the "slow and steady" pace verses the "fast and furious"  (tortoise and the hare).  Indeed, we are thankful for that "slow and steady" because the "fast and furious" can lead to lots of iradic turns, ups and downs, and wasted energy.

Bullet Points of our Faithful Father hearing our prayers:

• Allina Medical, our Minnesota medical supply company overnighted a loaner CPAP for Tim with all his correct settings.  When we return home they will take a look at his CPAP and assess it for repair. This cpap has been around the world a couple of times.  Excellent service, thank you Allina Medical!  
• Through our network of friends, we have seen first hand how the Holy Spirit guides and directs the body of Christ.  A gigantic prayer request was what to do re: an Oxygenator (a machine that makes concentrated O2 from room air...and that is portable...and FAA certified, etc).  These machines run about $4,000.  Soon after we reached out, we got a message from a friend of a friend who had a gently used portable oxygenator.  The tenderness of this story is that it was used by my friend's husband in his battle of mesothelioma. But, even more so is the fact that he gave his life to the Lord as an adult, went back to school & seminary, and then worked as a missionary in Haiti for five years and then in Kenya for 15 years.  His journey on this earth ended and he is getting a head start in eternity with Jesus! Thank you to this new friend for sharing a piece of equipment that supplied the sacred breath of a life well lived.  May you tenderly feel the touch of the Lord as we have.
• Sacred friends are arranging their return from Montana to the midwest so they can drive us and the required medical supplies home. No small task since we seem to have enough to start mobile clinic!

Life in the little details.  My joints are still pretty painful but the less I have to go up and down the stairs or haul things the better. I was able to do water exercises at the pool today and had the whole beautiful pool to myself and Jesus.

Tim is three steps forward and two steps back.  He was pretty shot today. Good news is that his lungs are clear.  But, he still he needs the O2 although SATS are not dropping as far.  The encouraging news is that he can do a long consulting call before he crashes.  I am encouraging him to keep the oxygen turned up because I am sure all his cells were in deficit after a recent call.  No reason to push it.  It would also be good to increase the O2 to hopefully decrease the 'bounce back' time needed.  Tim's arm continues to really hurt him.

We see our PA in Bozeman on Monday for follow up.  He is very sharp and will help us navigate/coordinate the future plan home ward.  I don't think Tim will be on oxygen long term but I also don't want to be in the middle of North Dakota and discover the need for it.

Papa God has been faithful in working out all the details.  Thank you for your continued faithfulness in prayer.  Please pray the next days would be added to recovery of long term health and stamina.  I purchased a stethoscope and oximeter out here for the just in case...and have used it much more than planned!  But, He knows our needs even sometimes before we do.

Our parting kiss...enjoy this song by Hillsong United called "Oceans".

Thank you for your support and prayer!
Mary Ann...maegan

  

 

July 7, 2014

Today could I ask you to pray about a couple of things?

• TJ's cpap (sleeping machine that helps manage breathing) gave up the fight.  We have an appointment today in Bozeman to get a check up or a new machine.  Could you pray for good conversations with the insurance company?  These machines are not cheap and sometimes even if they are covered it is a loooooong authorization process.  This is a piece of equipment that is so important for TJ's rest and healing on a daily basis.  It really is not something that he can wait a month for a replacement.  
• In re: to medical equipment.  We are still trying to determine what to do with O2.  When we go in to the medical supply place, pray that there will be someone that could discuss options with us and help us navigate insurance.  Another option of buying a used machine has come up, pray that we would be wise in what to do. These machines are very expensive as well.
• And, as always, pray for travel.  If you have ever been to Montana you know that "running into town" could very well take the day.  Pray for stamina for both of us.  

Praise the Lord, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 117:1-2

In gratitude,
Mary Ann...maegan

4th of July

Greetings Praying friends and family!

Tim had a doctor appt. in Bozeman Wednesday.  We saw an internal medicine PA who was REALLY sharp.  He thought that Tim looked good-actually a bit surprised because of how sick he had been.  His lungs sounded clear and his vs were good.  Ted (the PA) thought that Tim would be on oxygen for several more weeks.  We have a follow up appointment with him on Monday, July 14, to check progress and  if needed, start the process to arrange oxygen for the trip home.  It is a very onerous process to fly with o2 so we may consider driving back. He also checked kidney function and hemoglobin but we do not have those results.  He said that Tim is a very complex patient. (Insert Tj's little smirk). Another issue that has really been a problem is Tim's right arm.  Ted examined that but said the only way to really know what is going on is an MRI and it did not make sense to start that process out here (we had already decided that).  He did order pain medication for it- it is really very painful. It has been hard for Tim to use it even for typing so while we were in Bozeman we picked up an inexpensive typing table that makes typing possible because of his arm position.  He still has profound fatigue which is not unexpected after a severe pneumonia, but is frustrating.

My joints (feet, ankles, knees, back) did not appreciate the hard floors at the hospital and have remained very painful- hard to walk and stay cheerful (Sure honey, I will be glad to get that for you since you can't breath well or use your arm).

Prayer items:

• Continued and full recovery from pneumonia
• The Father's plan for Tim's arm- as you pray if you feel that God is urging you to pray for miraculous healing speak up and lets see if others are hearing the same.
• Understanding from The Father this event (is it an opportunity to see his mighty healing power again, is there a course change that he desires, is it an attack from the evil one?)
• Pain relief for Tim's shoulder and arm.
• Pain relief for my joints.
• A restful vacation in spite of the exhausting start.
• Clear plan for going home

Lone Star Mountain in the view

A song that has come up a couple times. One Thing Remains by Jesus Culture
(click the link)

Please listen to the above song and know that we appreciate your prayer faithfulness to the One that knows us and loves us deeply.

with ever gratefulness,
Mary Ann...maegan

Thursday, June 26

Thursday, June 26

Thank you for traveling this journey with us with prayers and petitions.  

Be encouraged with these answers to your prayers.

• When I was heading up to  Bozeman yesterday to get Tim there was a line of southbound traffic at least one mile long at the road constriction site.  When we were heading home to the cabin last evening we were THE LAST CAR TO GET THROUGH before the road crew stopped traffic to allow the northbound vehicles to use the single open lane!  That was the hand of God!  Thank you for praying about that.
• TJ & I both slept soundly with one productive coughing spell (music to a nurse's ears) during the night and then right back to sweet sleep.  (Rest is one of the most essential things to healing.)
• TJ was released with Oxygen, thankfully, and his Oxygen SATS have been in the 90's.  He has been stable between 3-5 liters depending on activity.  We are very thankful that the supporting health care company is willing to help where ever is needed.   TJ has a home concentrator, six canisters of O2 for times when we can get out, and a large tank in case of power outage.  (It is rural Montana ;)

Please continue to join in prayer for the complete and total healing.

Our cell coverage is not great here in the mountains.  We have access to a phone in case of emergency but we sometimes do not receive calls.  We are embracing our silence as encouragement to sabbath. 

We are grateful for the beauty of the mountains, for a fire accompanying me as I sit and drink tea, for dear friends and for TJ experiencing your healing touch.  

~Mary Ann...maegan

WE ARE OUTTA HERE!!

Well, my friends,

How exciting it is to tell you that WE ARE OUTTA HERE!  TJ is discharged from the hospital!

Please join us in continuing to pray:

• There is a great deal of construction between Bozeman and our cabin.  Sometimes the waits in allowing traffic have been up to 45 minutes long.  It would be great if it would be a short and seamless transition to the cabin.
• TJ's transition to the cabin and the higher altitude air.
• Continued good and FULL recovery.  

Grateful for your support. 

In Jesus' Name,

Mary Ann...maegan

6/25

If Tim can walk down the hallway without a significant drop in oxygen he will be discard later today!  Please pray that the walk "works" and all the discharge process goes well.

6/24 Slow and steady wins the race

I finally was able to speak with TJ's nurse this afternoon.  He is doing well.  His chest x-ray was stable from yesterday, catheter pulled and is weaning off of the oxygen.  He is very fatigued.  And does not want to see anyone today.  Our hope is that with rest he will be ready for discharge tomorrow.

Prayers requests:

• Continued on the healing trajectory.
• Smooth discharge planning.  Could you ask for favor in my direction in the discharge planning?  (I am a nurse :) )  I would like TJ to be discharged with Oxygen due to the altitude difference in the mountains from our usual low midwestern altitude.  
• No gut side effects from the massive doses of antibiotics.  

We are so grateful for you joining with us in this battle.  Your prayers on TJ's behalf have played a critical part in this journey.  

One of the blessings of being surrounded by people who pray is also hearing how the Lord has spoken to them on our behalf.  

Below is a tender message I received today from my friend B:

"I was just cutting the lawn at the farm and the wind started and I again knew I was in GOD'S presence.  Then you and TJ came to mind and I felt you stepped into a new level of His Presence.   That wind on the Bridge your were on has stopped.  

Here is what the bridge looked like:

You are on the other side now.  I sense Peace and Knowing."

We are so grateful, 

Mary Ann...maegan

6/23 Good night and good news!

Go Team, Go!  Keep up the prayers as the Lord leads you.  

Today was a day of remarkable progress.  As you know from previous posts, TJ was moved from ICU to a regular room.  Our hope is that translates to more opportunities for rest, which is essential for healing.  When I left TJ today he was settled into his new digs and was reading.  Yesterday he was too tired for reading or even to stay awake for a conversation.  The Lord has done great things!

Our hope is to discharge from the hospital late tomorrow or on Wednesday if there are no hiccups.  

Please pray in specific:

• Straight forward and steady trajectory towards health and complete healing.  
• No infections or "hiccups" like c.diff gut infection which can come as a side effect to all the antibiotics.
• Good night of rest for both TJ and myself.  
• Discharge tomorrow.  

We know that recovery could take some time but have been blown away (in a good way) by the path this time.  "God is good all the time, all the time God is good."  Rest would be so much more pleasant in the sunshine of Montana on a mountain being cared for by your wife and treasured friends, right?  We are hopeful.  

Thank you for your investment once again.

Good night, 

MaryAnn...maegan

Moving! 6/23 4pm

Transferring to a regular floor as soon as his new nurse calls to get report!

6/23 afternoon

Dear Ones,

I am back in the ICU with TJ where things are definitely looking up.  Hopes are that TJ will be transferred out of the ICU to a regular floor/room today when a bed becomes available.

Measurable Progress:  
TJ is off the insulin drip and doing his own diabetes management.
Oxygen SATS are at 97% on nasal cannula for oxygen and no Bipap.  TJ's breathing is much less labored.  All excellent and amazing progress.  It is especially amazing considering it was only yesterday that the doctors were considering intubation and being put on a ventilator.

TJ's cousin, Gary, was in Saturday and once again today.  He affirms that TJ look A LOT better!

Another lady in the waiting room was commenting on the quality of staff at the Bozeman Hospital.  She said, "They are on it before it even happens!"  That sums up the care that TJ received yesterday which allowed him to dodge being put on a ventilator.  (Remember, he has played that game a few too many times already in his life!)

TJ is getting up to the chair now.  Sitting up and having additional doses of Lasix is helping to stay ahead of the excess fluid.

Continue to pray!  TJ was encouraged that our Good Shepherd has been awakening some of you to pray even during the middle of the night.  It is a great comfort to know that he is being cared for in such tender ways both physically and also spiritually.

Stay the course.  Pray for:
Continue ease in breathing and healthy transfer of oxygen.
Fluid reduction.
Transfer to a regular room.
Rest. Rest. Rest.
...and for me as I to head to the mountain to pick up some things.

What a pleasure it is to bring you such great news.  Encourage one another.  Pray without ceasing.
~MaryAnn...maegan

6/23 am Press in for Progress

Good morning, faithful friends and family,

Today's theme:  Press in (to Jesus in the power of the Spirit) for Progress

Just a quick update this morning so far:
Praise:  Mary Ann was able to talk with TJ on the phone.  Praise that he has enough breath to talk.
Prayer:  TJ said the night was marginal.  As many of you know, ICU is not known for its optimal sleeping conditions.  TJ had very little sleep.
Would you pray for a day of rapid progress so TJ can transition to a regular room, discharge and then to the mountain for sunshine and healing?

The doc's have not been in for rounds as of yet.
with great gratitude to God,
Mary Ann, maegan

God at Work

Below are the observations of a friend who has been with TJ.  Mark it.  Your prayers are effective.

Mary Ann,
We spoke about this, but I want to memorialize my belief that God specifically intervened at least twiceyesterday and today. Yesterday, when Tim's bp levels were low and the Dr. decided to put a port in Tim's jugular, somehow it would not take the wire so the Dr. withdrew. The result was that Tim's bp jumped 20 pts from the trama but retreated only ten which was then the beginning of a steady rise throughout the night. So why did that happen?
Today, as the Dr. was prepared to insert the dreaded vent tube, the lasix kicked in at just the last moment. Isn't that an interesting development.
From my perspective, God simply answered the prayers of those that love him. And why are we astonished?
Grant

6/22 6pm

Keep praying!  Be encouraged.  

Tim is up in a chair.  He has been wearing a bipap most of the afternoon because he prefers it.  His blood oxygen, blood pressure and fluid management are all good.  

Pray for TJ, 6/21 Bozeman, MT

Dear Family and Friends,

It is time to rally the faithful for praying for TJ’s health.   As in times past, this blog has been a battle cry in the heavenlies that we have seen over and over again change the trajectory in these situations.  There is a huge component of spiritual warfare to this. 

TJ is in Montana.  It is a place that allows him to think, reconnect and recharge.  However, he is in the battle for his health currently instead of swinging the rhythm of the fly rod.

Yesterday, TJ was admitted to ICU in Bozeman with an acute pneumonia.  Given his history with such conditions going down hill fast the doctors are hitting it with about four big gun antibiotics. 

TJ’s health is in a very fragile position and he is very sick.  This morning there was a time where he was in “flash pulmonary edema”.  His lungs suddenly stared to fill with fluid.  He could not breath, vital signs became unsteady and he was not moving oxygen.  The doctors put him on bipap and a good dose of Lasix that helped him put out a lot of fluid which turned things around.  The pulmonologist thinks that yesterday he was in septic shock and they had to give him many liters of fluid to keep his blood pressure up.  Today that fluid was just looking for a place to go as the antibiotics started to kick in and the shock resolved. He currently is on a nasal cannula oxygen and may switch back to bipap when moving to a chair or other things that may stress his system. 

Please pray:

• ·      Resolution of the pulmonary edema.
• ·      Pneumonia would respond to the antibiotics.
• ·      Sepsis would completely resolve.
• ·      Kidney function would remain high and responsive.
• ·      That oxygen transfer in his lungs would happen with ease.
• ·      That he would be able to transfer from the ICU within 1-2 days, and then make a fast pace towards discharge to recuperate on his mountain. 

Mary Ann is doing well.  She is having assistance with communication.   Please know that she values your prayers more than anything.  She will not be able to communicate directly with each of you at this time.  She is at TJ’s side with limited cell coverage.  As you pray, could you ask for relief of the soreness in her feet? 

Feel free to post in the comments.  Your communication and prayer is of great worth and value.  The family appreciates it so much and will review often. 

~praying through Ephesians 6:10-20

with gratitude,

maegan for Mary Ann & TJ