Tonight we are in Rachael's room, attired in our vestments for 'Enhanced Contact Precautions'. A paper thin, but highly suffocating gown and latex gloves are worn if you are to come close to or touch Rachael. Attached to the exterior side of Racheal's door is a collection of plastic pockets that contain the gowns, gloves and other items that should only come in contact with her once and then with nothing else.
The problem is with spores, we recently learned of them in the 3rd Grade. They are tiny cells of a microorganism. You can't see them without the aid of a microscope. Little tiny devils kept in check in your gut by a multitude of probiotics - the good guys. Let the little buggers out number the good guys and you have a highly uncomfortable and dangerous infection. Touch even one of the microscopic spores and let it sit and dry on a door handle, bed rail or other common surface and you have been used to propagate an infection. Folks at risk are those of compromised health and those that have been on a regine of "broad spectrum" antibiotics. Broad Spectrum Antibiotics pretty much destroy all the bacteria, good and bad. That is the best opportunity for this little devil to grow. It is known as C. Diff. which is short of Clostridium difficile It is messy and painful. That is the first problem and opportunity for prayer.
Earlier this evening, while being tended to by a care giver, Rachael's Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG Tube) popped out of her belly. She dispises having ot be fed through it so you can well imagine her joy at hearing it popped out. She was laughing quite a bit about it. There is no pain associated with it popping out and it will be replaced in the morning but it is an added day in the hospital timeline.
It is also an interruption to her food intake but she is going into this procedure much stronger than she has been in the past 6 weeks of her dealing with her illness. This is another opportunity for prayer.
Rachael has had a fever for the past several days and it has not been pinpointed as to what may be causing it. At first we thought it to be a regulatory issue manifested from her brain damage and stirred by the surgery. Since peeking over 101.2, they have decided to investigate further. She has had blood drawn tonight for an extensive search as to the cause.
It is not believed that the C. Diff. is the cause. The doctors and the lab need prayer for the resolve to this hidden dilemma. Thus you have a third opportunity for prayer.
Due to the results of her colocntomy she has been eliminating acids while on her back side. Combined with the pressure of being on her back most of the time, a serious bed sore has developed. Wound care has been stepped up to take care of this but the breakdown is worsening. Getting her home on her own circulating bed will help to get rid of this sore. We need to get her home. The bedsore is one of the biggest problems that people that are not mobile have. They can kill. So, this is opportunity four to pray on.
So Nancy and I are camped here at SMH to see this through.
We had hoped to get Rachael back home on Monday but that never panned out. It has been a stresser. We have been dealing with this eveny for 6 weeks while maintaining ministry at Calvary Chapel School. All is good and the family has no problem with God's sovereignty of this. Do we desire greatly and pray regularly for it to end, YES! However, this is where we are at this time and willing to stay the course that God has laid out for us. Rachael is above all the real trooper here. She has been through so much more than anyone. She is fit to be tied yet held by the reigns of the Holy Spirit. She does get very frustrated, yet, once we talk and pray, she is ok. Due to the trial we are under, we have not been able to make it to church. We need church! If anyone wants to come by and do church, please do! Call to make sure we are not on an errand at 941-Five Four Five-0713. Nancy was able to pop into a nearby church this evening and was blessed with prayer extraordinaire! Thanks Ladies! I hunger for the gathering of belivers. We did visit my friends church here in SRQ, but missed worship. We did get to hear a great sermon. We miss Grace Community Bible Church in Venice. Praise God that Tony's messages are online! Thanks John for the effort to get it on. So this is prayer number 5. For the family. We REALLY need it. This week tempers flew a bit unchecked with the stress hitting hard. All is ok now. Just those moments that seem innocuous, stir anger and take our eyes off the Lord. So Prayer Opportunity #5, for the Family. Through all of this, Hanna got a 100 on a History Test while sick with a bad cold! Thanks to her brother Daniel for studying with her in our absence.
We remember that we need to treat this as discipline and training up. We are so thankful for a God that can make things better quick but wants us to learn as we go through these things to rely upon him. There is much to be gained through trial. Wisdom, peaceful fruit of rightousness and most importantly in sharing in God's holiness! Wow! Yes, it is for discipline that we endure the hardships that face us.
We can endurre but we need your prayer. Please pray now for the 5 ponits above.
Blessings,
The Wizeman-Hinkle gang.
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