Dan
Day 85 of GBS
We still have some substantial challenges with caring for Dan, but in so many ways he is ENORMOUSLY better. I’d like to list some of them and give God the praise and honor for His guarding Dan. We do feel that God has guarded him, for, considering all the dire warnings I have been given during the last almost three months, Dan’s health shows the hand of God upon him. 1. Dan is sitting up for two hours twice a day, in a chair. This is improving his lung function. 2. He has been off the respirator for seven days now, breathing...
read moreThe Lords of History
From Latayne: Status report on Dan: In a paradoxical way, as Dan’s body begins to regain some of its functions, the very operation of those functions (deeper breathing, use of neck and shoulder and upper arm muscles, interaction through speech) cause him to be extremely fatigued. So one of the manifestations of his improvement is that he is sleeping as much as, or perhaps more than, in the previous few weeks. He is struggling to deal with the realities of his situation and that is very challenging for him. I have taken down all the cards...
read morePackages and Pillows
First of all, let me thank so many of you for ordering books! It took me several days to package up all the orders. I am mailing a large basket of parcels tomorrow. I am grateful to you all and pray that the information in the books will bless you as you have blessed me. If any of the books arrive in less than perfect condition please let me know and I will send you a replacement. Others of you — and you know who you are — have blessed our family in other ways. We are very, very grateful. Last night the respiratory therapist made a...
read moreBreathing a sigh of relief…. and speech
From Latayne, This has been a very busy time since Dan’s surgery two days ago. Although I posted that he would be spending the night and the next day at Presbyterian Hospital where his procedure took place, as it turned out, he spent several hours in the post-op area because there was not a bed for him at the hospital. Since he had to be in a room with a ventilator, they made the decision at about ten that night to return him to the Long Term Acute Care facility, Specialty. I spent the night with him here. His brother Halbert and wife...
read moreA brief update
Praise be to God that Dan tolerated the ride over and the surgical procedure in which a stent was removed and at least one stone blasted apart and flushed out. He is spending the night in Presbyterian Hospital, but although his surgery was finished a couple of hours ago he is still in the recovery room because there is not a bed for a ventilator patient available. Everyone is apologizing to me but I am content because he is being taken care of and I am nearby. So I’m just happy to be here. Thank you for your prayers and concern....
read moreHow Can You Help?
Celeste speaking. :) Many people have asked about or offered fundraisers or similar things to help my Mom and Dad during this time. But, I think my Mom would like the dignity of earning money, if that is possible. She works hard at writing and generally does not profit much from it because she gives so many of her books away. (How many of you are reading this column and have a book she gave you?) I’m going to be bold here . . . I realize that I’m a proud daughter and I cannot imagine the world with out my mom’s words; but...
read moreFriday February 3, 2012
When the doctors began warning me in early December that Dan’s struggle with GBS was going to be “a long haul,” they didn’t tell me (indeed I don’t think anyone suspected) that it would be a long haul pulling a wagon full of rocks that keep falling off. That’s happened in the last couple of days. People say, two steps forward, one step back, but it’s more accurate to say with Dan’s “fragile” health that it’s five steps forward, four steps back. He is running a fever again, white count up, urinary tract infection, possible...
read moreFebruary 1, 2012
It is now exactly two months since Dan was hospitalized. He is doing much better, and we are so grateful for your help and prayers. Here is another poem I wrote long ago, but it applies to this situation. THE WAITING I sit beside your sleeping form, and I wait. Like a sufferer who reclines in the Dark, looking for the dawn He knows will come, but Wondering how the darkness Can ever be overcome I sit beside your sleeping form, and I wait. Like the woman who rests her hand On her swelling abdomen and counts The bloodless months But who cannot...
read moreDan’s Room
Dan’s room must seem chaotic to him. For one thing, with all the machines and IV poles and other things he needs, it’s snug in there. He has so many physical challenges which must be addressed. Day and night being turned over every two hours (which can take up to ten minutes if he is not positioned comfortably considering his improving torticollis and ear issues), having his throat and/or lungs noisily and traumatically suctioned every hour (or more if he needs it), getting heparin and insulin injections and having his skin pricked...
read moreCharacter
Hi, it’s Ryan- You can tell a lot about a person’s character when things aren’t going well for them. Anybody can be a good sport and a gracious person when they win. How does that same person act when they lose? Do they throw tantrums? Blame others? Cuss and throw things? I am sorry to use the (poor writer’s) crutch of sports analogies, but I am a poor writer, so please humor me: I feel that the best way to find out the character of a man is to play a sport with him. Does he make his teammates better? Does he cheat or cut corners? Is...
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