Sunday June 14
15 June 08 - 21:12
Progress today! Jim was moved from ICU to another room on the same floor, room 408. At first they moved him to a room on the end of the hall & he could not be seen, even from the doorway. We rigged up a suction for his mouth & they put a special call light he could activate by moving his head, but I was a bit apprehensive. If his speaking valve should dislodge as it occasionally does & if the call apparatus was not in the proper place, he would not be able to make his needs known. As he cannot swallow properly, he has to have his mouth suctioned very frequently. I left early, before Josh & Monika arrived, as a trial run of being alone, with the intent of returning & staying the night. It is his utter dependance for the simplest things that is so heart rending. Monika called a short while later & said the Pulmonary doc had been in & was not satisfied with the room & they moved him adjacent to the nurses station so he is visible to them. Thank God for this!
The next step is beginning to wean him off the trach this week. They will swap the present trach for a smaller one & see how he does. He still requires 40% oxygen. The doc would not talk about lowering that. Also, I am trying to assist him as he coughs by pushing up hard on his diaphgram. This does make a difference in his coughing efforts. One of the things Jim will have to learn to do is "handle his own secretions". Pneumonia is a big potential problem for patients who are quadriplegic, along with the ulcers, recurrent urinary tract infections & other issues.
Jim & Miles had a Bible study & prayer time together this morning. Miles was there as I arrived from the airport at about 8:45 or so. I believe the Lord had him be there at that time as he was getting out of his truck as I was leaving my car to go inside. I was pretty blue & teary as I had just dropped off Jimmy & Mom. Jim's oldest son, Jim 2 arrives Tuesday & this will help the transtition also.
Please pray that Jim continues to show progress, that his swallowing abilities return, that the coughing makes progress. Jim is very anxious to make progress each day. I will be returning to work a bit each day, so another change for me. Pray I can focus my thoughts & make sound decisions.
I intended to begin writing Thank You notes while at the hospital, but that is not going to happen; Jim keeps me very busy while I am there. Please know I will be writing as I find the time. There are not adequate words to express our gratitude to all of you for your prayers & other acts of kindness towards Jim & I and also my Mom. How blessed we are & I am so glad to be a part of God's family.
One of the hardest things for me is having hope that Jim will improve but not sticking my head in the sand or the clouds & ignoring decisions that need to be made. We got a Notary - thank you Maria! - and that was a major step. Thanks, Cindy for the offer of your services.
Marilyn
four comments:
Hi Marilyn and Jim!
We continue to keep you in our prayers through all of this. We pray for your entire family. Your daily updates seem like short devotionals of faith. As we lift you up in prayer, you are lifting us up in faith.
On the way home from church this morning, Sammy piped up from the back seat and said, “Mama, we need to keep Jim Hersey in our pwayers.” What a precious sound coming from a little guy’s big heart!
Isaiah 41:10 is one of my favorite verses. May God use it to bless you, too.
We love you,
Lori Mathisen and family
Lori () - 15 06 08 - 22:42
The first thing I do in the morning is to check to see how Jim is doing and to pray for both of you. I pray for Jim’s healing and for your strength, Marilyn. God bless both of you.
Elaine Cook () - 16 06 08 - 07:52
Jim and Marilyn,
This is today’s devotion from Grace Mail at Calvary:
“Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. ‘You have so little faith,’ Jesus said. ‘Why did you doubt me?’ ” Matthew 14:31
Are you feeling a little short on faith today and too heavy with doubt?
I’m encouraged by what Dr. V. Raymond Edmond once shared:
“Faith is dead to doubt, dumb to discouragements, blind to impossibilities, knows nothing but success. Faith lifts its hands up through the threatening clouds, lays hold of Him who has all power in heaven and on earth. Faith makes the uplook good, the outlook bright, the inlook favorable, and the future glorious.”
Faith is trusting God even in the dark.
Psalm 106, verses 1-2, “Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise him enough?”
Our family prays for you guys everyday! We Love You!
The Still’s
April Still () - 16 06 08 - 08:32
Just thinking of you.Again.You all are in my prayers throughout each and every day. Love Twyla
Twyla () - 16 06 08 - 20:49
