Medical Updates

(Previous updates through June 14)
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David is currently in a coma due to the damage to the right side of his brain. He is breathing on his own through a trachiostomy in his throat. His heart rate and blood pressure are good and the doctors and nurses are monitoring his condition 24 hours a day. He has experienced temperature fluctuations and electrolyte imbalances, but the medical staff seem to be able to handle those effectively. He has some type of infection which they are treating with four antibiotics. David responds "reflexively" to stimulus but we are waiting for a purposeful response. We received some good news on Thursday, May 29, when the eye surgeon told us that he would not have to remove David's right eye (the one damaged in the wreck) - though we don't know how much internal damage the eye has experienced. Please pray with us that God will bring him out of this deep coma.

JUNE 2 UPDATE David continues in a coma but is breathing on his own with some supplemental oxygen. He continues to have a strong heart rate and pressure. He does not have a blood infection but does have a slight case of pneumonia, which they believe is curable with antibiotics. They have increased his "food" (I call it "green gunk" = it is a cocktail of protein, carbs, and fats with vitamins and minerals) to 70 milliliters per hour (about 2.5 oz. per hour) That should be enough to sustain him. David also appears to have some damage to his brain stem which we did not know about before. This injury really concerns the doctors. Please pray for us as we meet with the doctors tomorrow about future surgery for David - pray for wisdom and pray for David's safety and recovery. Thank you all!!! Praise God for all He does for us.

JUNE 3 UPDATE

Today was a good day. The Neurosurgeon met with us early this morning and told us he will assemble a team of surgeons and doctors to do some extensive surgery to reconstruct David's eye socket and skull. This will hopefully prevent infection at that site and allow his spinal fluid to return to normal. The Neurosurgeon also told us that he felt the brain swelling was gone and David was making slow but steady progress. His pulse and blood pressure remain good and his "food" was increased today to 80 ml/hour (the target rate). The nurses continue to monitor his urine output carefully which is good and steady most of the time but randomly increases to very high rates which can cause problems with his electrolytes. He has a mild case of pneumonia which the doctors are treating aggressively with four antibiotics. THE BEST NEWS OF THE DAY: JENNY AND THE NURSES AND DOCTORS BELIEVE THEY SAW THE FIRST VERY SMALL SIGNS OF COGNITIVE ACTIVITY - RESPONSIVE ACTIVITY TO VERBAL AND TACTILE STIMULUS.

Please pray for:

• (1) the cure of the pneumonia,
• (2) stabilization of his urine output,
• (3) continued improvement in his cognitive abilities,
• (4) wisdom and skill for the surgical team and other physicians and nurses that care for David,
• (5) the peace of Christ for Robert, Jenny, Daniel, Katie, Rebekah, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, and many, many friends,
• (6) the ministry of the Holy Spirit to David in his spirit.

JUNE 4 UPDATE

Today was another day of grace. David looks so much better than he did a week ago. The swelling in his face and neck are gone (the neurosurgeon said his brain swelling as well) and he looks like himself. His vital signs remain strong, his feeding continues at 80 ml/hr, and he continues to breathe on his own with a slight oxygen boost (40% for you medical types). He still has pneumonia but the Infectious Disease Specialist (Dr. Bill Kelly) says that his white blood cell count has come down from 30,000 to 10,000 in the past few days (that's good for you non-medical types). We met with the neurosurgeon today and he and the plastic surgeon want to wait for the reconstructive surgery until David is completely over the pneumonia. Both doctors are going on vacation next week so they want the surgery to be scheduled the following week. This is fine with us because (a) they will be rested and refreshed and (b) David will remain in Trauma ICU for at least 12-14 more days where he receives excellent, 24/7 one-on-one nursing care. THE BEST NEWS: DAVID CONTINUES TO MAKE "PRE-COGNITIVE" MOVEMENTS THAT ARE SEEN BY DOCTORS, NURSES AND US. This is very encouraging and the neurosurgeon said as much. We are very tired but encouraged and thankful for all those who visit, write, call, and help us in many ways. We are most thankful for the prayers of Christ's Church. Please keep praying - the prayer requests remain the same as yesterday.

JUNE 5 UPDATE

BIG NEWS!!! DAVID MADE HIS FIRST "COGNITIVE" MOVEMENTS TODAY!!! WHEN ASKED BY HIS NURSE, HE RAISED 2 FINGERS AND THEN, WHEN ASKED, RAISED HIS THUMB!!! HE ALSO TRIED TO GRAB THE NURSES HAND WHEN SHE WAS WORKING AROUND HIS MOUTH. These are "HUGE" steps for David. Please give thanks to our Lord for His great mercies to us!! More good news: His pulmonologist says David's lungs are clearing from the pneumonia. An Endocrinologist (hormone doctor) was consulted today concerning David's eratic urination. We hope he is able to adjust the hormones they are giving David so that he will be more stable in this area. David is doing so much better today that the Neurosurgeon may schedule the surgery sooner (but we'll wait and see). Many friends that saw David today commented on how much better he looks than the last time they saw him. That helps us since we see him so often.

Prayer requests:

• (1) For complete healing from the pneumonia,
• (2) for continued and increasing cognitive interaction,
• (3) for the doctors and nurses: diligence, skill, wisdom, discernment, and kindness,
• (4) for his upcoming reconstructive surgery,
• (5) grace and peace for all those who are praying and working for David,

• (6) for the Holy Spirit to minister to David's spirit as well as his body.
  
  Jer. 29:11-13 "For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart."

JUNE 6 UPDATE

No big news today - just a good "recovery" day. All his vital signs remain strong and steady, he continues to receive about 2 liters a day of "green gunk" nutrition = ~2000 calories. His temperature was better today and the pulmonologist said that his chest X-ray was clearer = the pneumonia is clearing some. But there was some less than good news - his white blood cell count is creeping back up and the ENT surgeon (Rob Brown) said that he doubts that David will be able to hear out of his right ear. The bone surrounding the middle and inner ear is "cracked" from the severe blow to David's skull.

Please continue to pray as yesterday - add prayers for his hearing and for his peace (he may not be able to see at this time and if he can barely hear, it may be very scary for him to hear faint voices and not really know what happened to him (though we tell him daily that he was in an accident and is in the hospital). Pray for his doctors and nurses. Our great Savior said, " In this world you will have tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome the world!!!"

JUNE 7 UPDATE

Praise the Lord of Heaven!! Another good day for David (Day 16) - His temperature held fairly constant with a low grade fever using only ibuprofen (advil) or acetomenophin (tylenol). My "best news" of the day - his left eye, the good one, was almost normal today - full movement and dialation and contraction of iris. David gripped several hands on request today. His overall health remains good and the pulmonologist continues to report his lungs are clearing from the pneumonia. He is on 5 "big time" antibiotics. He continues to receive 2 liters of the "green gunk" per day (his food for awhile). Several people have asked if he is still in a "coma". The non-medical answer: NO - he is in varying levels of consciousness. Sometimes he is unresponsive, but much or most of the time he can respond cognitively to questions or requests. We now believe that the reconstructive surgery will occur the week of June 16th (but may be delayed if the pneumonia doesn't disappear). All of his "cognitive" movements seem to be on his right side (controlled by the left side of his brain - the undamaged portion).

Please pray that he will develop the ability to cognitively control both sides of his body. Continue to pray for his health and his restoration.

Prov. 3:5 "Trust in the Lord will all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding."

Psa. 27:13 "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living."

JUNE 8 UPDATE

Today was another good day for David and his family. David continues to improve ever so slightly day by day. The pulmonologist continues to see improvement in his lung X-rays. His white blood cell count remains about 14,000 (higher than normal, but not too bad). He continues to "eat" about 2 liters a day of the "green gunk" (total nutrition). His temperature was elevated this morning (102+) but came down this afternoon (98 or so). He looks very good - good color and no swelling. Many people that haven't seen him for several days or a week comment on how good he looks. Now for the good news of the day: he continues to squeeze hands on request and seems to be following people with his left eye (which is wide open and looks clear). HE MOVED HIS HEAD TODAY TO SEE HIS SISTER REBEKAH!! We are very encouraged though he has a long way to go. We continue to be amazed at the kindness and generosity of God's people. Please continue to pray that the infection and pneumonia will disappear. His urine output seems to be stable (a great answer to prayer) Our doctor friend, Dr. Bill Kelly, changed the antibiotic "cocktail" of 5 different antibiotics so that the mixture should be more potent against the bad stuff they have cultured from David's lungs.

Psa. 27:14 "Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD."

JUNE 9 UPDATE

• Please pray for wisdom for the doctors as they plan the reconstructive surgery for next week (we assume it will be then).
• Pray for diligence and skill for the nurses and other health care workers.
• Pray especially that God will minister to David's spirit even as he heals his body.
• Pray that the peace of Christ will rest and abide upon all who love David and are concerned about him.

  "Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling and present you before His throne with exceeding joy" Jude 1:24

JUNE 10 UPDATE -

Day 20 -

Jer. 17:14 "Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, For You are my praise."

David had a good day though there is nothing spectacular to report. His general health is good with a strong pulse, blood pressure, good respiration, fairly stable temperature, and stable electrolytes. He continues to fight a lung infection which has caused pneumonia. His chest X-rays continue to show day-by-day improvement and the fluids he coughs up are clearer. All good signs according to doctors and nurses. David seemed to be tired today and didn't perform many "tricks" (what one of the nurses calls them) - though he did squeeze a few hands!! The doctors are planning to replace his "j" tube (used to feed him the green gunk) which goes down his throat, through his stomach, to his intestine. This "j" tube will be replace with a PEG (I have no idea what it stands for) which will be a port directly into his stomach which will allow the tube to come out of his throat. This surgery is scheduled for Thursday, June 12. We hope the reconstructive surgery can be scheduled for early next week. Please pray for David (his mind, body, and spirit), his parents, grandparents, siblings, family, and friends, the doctors, nurses and other medical specialists.

Psa. 107:19-21 "Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! "

JUNE 11 UPDATE -

Day 21 -

Matt. 11:4-6
Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”

THE BIG NEWS TODAY: A NURSE FRIEND WAS TALKING TO DAVID EARLY THIS MORNING AND HIS LEFT EYE APPEARED TO HER TO BE FOCUSING, SO SHE ASKED HIM: "DAVID, IF YOU CAN SEE ME, SQUEEZE MY HAND." HE DID!!! TO MAKE SURE, SHE ASKED AGAIN: "DAVID, IF YOU CAN REALLY SEE ME AND NOT JUST HEAR ME, SQUEEZE MY HAND HARDER." HE DID !!! This, needless to say, is a great encouragement. His health continues to be good overall but he still has pneumonia and a fever. Please ask our Lord to cure these two problems!!! David is scheduled to have a PEG put in tomorrow (a PEG is a port directly into the stomach for feeding and other purposes). Pray for safe and successful surgery and recovery. Thank you all for your prayers, cards, e-mails, and many other kindnesses.

Prov. 3:4-8

Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.

                    
JUNE 12 UPDATE

- Day 22 -

Hab. 3:19 The Lord GOD is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, And makes me walk on my high places.

This was an eventful day for David - he had a bronchioscopy = they put a fiber optic light and camera and suction down into his lungs to search for the cause of his continued pneumonia and to suction out some of the fluids in his lungs. He has been breathing much easier all day after this procedure. David also had a PEG (found out this stands for percutaneous [through the skin] endoscopic [they use a fiber optic camera and light] gastrostomy [they put a hole in his stomach] - the procedure went well and now David has an additional 3/8" hole above his bellybutton [I told that boy I don't like body piercings!!] David did a lot of "tricks" today = he used his thumb and forefinger on his right hand to try to remove his hospital bracelet. He also stuck out his tongue at a doctor (the doctor asked him to stick it out) and he gave a doctor the finger (again, at the doctor's request and we don't know which finger!!) One of his nurses, Donna, said he appeared to be watching TV with his good eye (the Atlanta Braves baseball game, I think) After these "tricks," he spent most of his day resting and sleeping. His body health seems good overall, but still fighting the infection and pneumonia. Please ask the Great Physician to heal our son and to restore him to us, body, mind and spirit!!

JUNE 13 UPDATE

- Day 23 -

"Salvation is from the Lord" David had an uneventful day. He started receiving the "green gunk" (complete nutrition like pea green soup) through his PEG (if you want to know what that is, read yesterday) but unfortunately they started him at 20 ml/hr and will increase the rate 10ml/hr every four hours IF he is able to digest it. (so far so good) I think he is pleased not to have the "j" tube down his throat anymore. His white blood cell count is down to around 12,000 (normal range is 5-10,000). His temperature is still slightly elevated. His urine output has remained fairly even with the synthetic hormone every 12 hours. His eye to me seems more and more focused and able to track light and movement (but we still don't know what, if anything, he can see) We took David's CT scans to a friend who is a plastic surgeon (Dr. Mark Price) for his opinion and consultation on the reconstructive surgery that will probably take place Thursday or Friday next week. He trained under one of the foremost facial-cranial reconstructive plastic surgeons in the US. (we may obtain his opinion also!) "Through many counselors plans are established" Please pray for the doctors as they plan the surgery and pray for David's continued strengthening, recovery from pneumonia and his neurological return. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man the things that the Lord has prepared for those He loves" Pray especially for the Lord to minister to David's spirit - that he would trust in Jesus Christ even more, day by day.

JUNE 14 UPDATE

- Day 24 -

2Cor. 4:16-18 "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Today is David's 18th birthday - not exactly how we planned to spend the 18th anniversary of his birth. But we are grateful that the Lord has preserved David's life so we could celebrate this birthday with him (which we did with ballons, cards, presents, and a giant birthday cookie!!). The Good News today: David's white blood cell count is less than 9,000 for the first time in 3 weeks - this is within the normal range!!! Also the fluids he is coughing up are thinner and clearer. We think he has finally gotten on top of the pneumonia. His temperature continues to fluctuate and some think it is due not to infection but rather to damage to the temperature regulating portion of his brain. More good news: they have been able to increase his intake of the "green gunk" to 85 cc/hr (the target rate) plus they have been able to reduce his supplemental oxygen to only 30% and his blood oxygen saturation is still nearly 100%. Neurologically, David hasn't done anything new, but he did seem very alert during his birthday party. Please pray with us that the Lord would "re-route" control of this function along with control of his kidney function. Pray for our patience with this very slow recovery and with each other. Please continue to pray for David's complete recovery - body, mind, and spirit!!! Please pray for our wisdom as we make decisons concerning David's care.

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