Goodbyes

Rachael is not responding to the Meds and she and we have chosen to take her off  them.  She will be going home soon.

Exodus 14: 1-3

'...the wilderness has shut them in.'

Rachael's blood pressure is very low.  To increase takes harsh drugs that will cause damage to smaller veins in the arms and other sites normally used for an IV.  So a Central Line is placed via the jugular vein to down near the heart so that blood samples can be drawn and drugs given without hurting smaller veins.  With the low bp, it is not possible to get blood samples via an iv.   The IO is not in a place to allow drugs to go.  It is good for hydration.  So here is where she is at:

1. The Central Line failed as the line hit some type of an obstruction, blocking the pathway.  Probably a contracted muscle or scar tissue.
2. The next step is through the femoral artery in one of her legs.  It was found that she has one blood clot in each leg blocking that option. 
3. A third option is to go in under the clavicle, but given her condition and blood history, they decided to not take that option.

So she needs the drug to raise her BP but all  3 options are not feasible. 

Prayer - That her B P raises on its own or they get one of the options to work.

Right now, like Israel in the wilderness, she is out of options.  We ask for prayer that God will part a small sea and provide a way to get the line in.

Burt

Rachael Headed to ICU

Rachael has fallen into septic shock.   This is a severe infection.  You can read up on it  Here. 
Earlier this morning she vomited and had 2 more events during the day.  We were not able to get accurate vitals from her once she became diapheretic at which time we called 911.  In the ambulance her heart rate had jumped to 180 and her BP was in the 60's and dropping.  Breathing became shallow and rapid as the EMS guys dillegently worked to stabilize her.  They were unable to get an iv in so they resorted to an IO which is a radical method of placing an iv directly into the bone.
She is being given anti-biotics and fluids and is in and out of consciousness.  She is headed to the ICU and will remain there for an indefinite period. 

She has never been in more danger since the accident and we ask for your fervent prayer. There is so much for all of us to be praying for at this time with the loved ones in several families in the local body suffering severe and deadly illnesses.  Please add us to the incense of petition from the saints to our Lord of all those facing these medical trials.

Can you imagine doing this without Christ?  When we are weak he is strong for us.  We are weak.  We pray for Jesus to be glorified and thank Him for His strength.

One Step Up Two Steps Back – Gotta Remember

This round stinks. Tonight, while speaking with Hanna, she stated that she is not worried, God has pulled Rachael through other hard times and he will do it again. That was encouraging to hear. Through all of this we need to remember, Jesus is Lord. He is in charge of it all.
Rachael had shown improvement later yesterday and into the night. She was put on a full liquid diet which includes colored liquids, yogurts, soups and puddings. She ate 2 small containers of chocolate pudding last night. This morning, upon getting her first sip of coffee, she stopped sipping and vomited. It looked as though the pudding did not get digested. Since this morning she has only had 8 oz. of broth. She is not hungry. Later this evening she spiked a 102 fever.

It is not a good scene here. Rachael is being fed via a PIC line with nutrients supplied to her in a bag. They have to check her blood sugar twice a day and also check blood chemistry to assure us all that the nutrients are sufficient for nourishment. She has not had even a small meal in 12 days. She now is yelling out with what is left of her vocal strength. She has been given valium which did nothing for her and now diladid. The diladid did seem to calm her down. Nancy is a wreck and does not want to go home. It was quite a blow as we thought last night that she was on her way to getting back to the new normal. Then she was sick this morning.

April was a whirlwind. Rachael had been in the hospital following a severe blockage. She returned home and within a few days, Nancy accompanied Hanna's class on a great missions trip to North Carolina. It was an incredible blessing and a refreshing time for both of them. They were in the mountains for a week working with homeless adults and disabled kids with their families. The Lord blessed that window of time for the 2 of them to have a respite from these past 9 months of near monthly hospital crisis. The day they returned, Rachael took ill.

Since August 11^th, Rachael has not been out of the hospital for more than a month at a time! She has been through so much: Subtotal colectomy, separate surgeries on her thighs for contracture release, a girdle stone surgery, before she would be over one procedure, she would be slammed with another. Yes it takes its toll on her and all of us. It is just not easy. Yet, it is very true, our God sustains us. Jesus is alive and His word gives us a hope, not in the situation with Rachael, just a sense of hope for a better time. We do know that is coming for all of us that believe in His name. During times such as these we need to remember who we are in Christ and what we are in Christ.

His ^ddivine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him ^ewho called us by glory and virtue, ^4 fby which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be ^gpartakers of the divine nature, having escaped the ³corruption that is in the world through lust.

2 Peter 1:3-4

Ever find something and say "I forgot I had that!" That can easily happen with the promises of God if we allow the enemy to pull us away by creating circumstances to take our focus. We need to always remember what we have in Christ. We are His kids, adopted by Him, a plan laid out for us by Jesus Christ, the creator of all things. Even when our "eyelids are being held open" and there is no escape from grief, we need to remember…

And I said, "This is my ³anguish;

But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High."

¹¹    I will remember the works of the Lord;

Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.

¹²    I will also meditate on all Your work,

And talk of Your deeds.

¹³    Your way, O God, is in ⁴the ^csanctuary;

Who is so great a God as our God?

¹⁴    You are the God who does wonders;

You have declared Your strength among the peoples.

¹⁵    You have with Your arm redeemed Your people,

The sons of Jacob and Joseph.

                        Psalm 77

    

I think it was Pastor Chuck Smith that had basically said that when you fall upon what you don't know, go back to what you do know. Good advice! 'Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work.' Yes the going is weird and when the going gets weird, the weird remember God. Mediate on what our Lord has done. We can find strength in what Jesus has done in our lives and the promises of what he will continue to do. 

Hanna was so simple in her response tonight when I asked if she was handling this ok. Straight up remembering God's work so far with Rachael and banking on what is going to happen. Yet, whatever is in store, we are willing to walk the walk. It is not easy, we are going nuts, the stress is high. It has been a long hard slog these past 9 months. I lose it on the staff on occasion and feel such the idiot for doing so. We make up and move on. 

Gotta remember. All the magnificent things our Lord has done. All the lost that do not know what is there for them. Gotta remember. All the people we have met through Rachael, some coming to Christ by a seed planted from meeting us. Gotta remember. All the folks that have said what an encouragement they feel seeing us through this season. Gotta remember His works, His mighty hand! He is the God who does wonders. Gotta remember that when we are at our weakest, we are strong without trying. 
Continue to pray, please pray much. 

Blessings,
Burt and Nancy

 

 

Looking Better

Rachael started the day out being sick and ended feeling much better.  Earlier today she was given erythromycin to stimulate her bowel.  It worked.  She has not had more than a few spoon fulls of food for 10 days but the results this evening were much more than that.

Sorry if it is a bit disturbing but 'round here'  poopin' is a matter of life and cause for celebration!  

She was much more alert today and more vocal in her responses.  She is back to saying several words in a series and looks much better.  Nutrition is coming from a PIC line and dinner is in a drip bag.

She is still battling C-Diff and was taken off all drugs with the exception of an anti-nausea agent and Eryhromycin.  Yet, it looks like her body might fighting back as some symptoms appear to be on the decline.

We are exhausted and appreciate all your prayers, keep them up!  

 

Update

Well as we narrowed down the symptoms to try to find a resolve to Rachael's problem, we have found it will not currently require surgery. This made us very happy. However, she still has problems with her stomach bile. So they are going to put in a PIC line to be able to give her the proper nutrition that she needs and in so doing , buy time to figure out what the problem is. It could be a simple intestinal infection. Once we have eliminated that; hopefully that will resolve the issue, but if not then we can move on to other areas of research. So please pray that this is simply an intestinal infection to be cleared up with antibiotics. Nancy, Hanna and myself ask you to pray for us.

Imaging Results So Far

It looks like there is at the least a slow down in her upper GI and possibly a partial blockage.  More tests need to be done but the current series of Xrays are not yet finished.  In all it could to take up to 2 more hours.
Rachael slept through the Xrays.  Pray that this can be easily taken care of.

Burt