Medical Updates
(Beginning Sunday, June 15th)

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JUNE 15 UPDATE - Day 25 -

Lam. 3:22-26 "The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I have hope in Him.' The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the LORD."

This Lord's Day was a good day of rest for David. Early this morning, Marty (one's of David's experienced nurses) told us that all of David's "vital signs" were normal!! His pneumonia appears to be essentially gone!! Later in the day he did become febrile (fancy word for "fever") and they are trying to control the fever with advil and tylenol. We believe that the reconstructive surgery on his eye and skull will be at the end of the week - please pray for his continued good health, for the planning meetings of the doctors, for David's neurological improvement, for our patience and love for one another during this trial. Thank you all for all the things you are doing.

Psa. 30:5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.

JUNE 16 UPDATE - Day 26 -

Short update:

• "+" = David moved his left hand on request, and straightened his right hand (both firsts)
• "-" = a CT scan revealed fluid around his lungs

JUNE 18 UPDATE - Day 28 -

DAVID CONTINUES TO DO WELL OVERALL (OF COURSE, NOT AS WELL AS WE WANT) - THE FLUID THAT WAS DRAINED FROM AROUND HIS LUNGS WAS NOT INFECTED SO THE DOCTORS ARE NOT WORRIED AT THIS POINT - THEY WILL TAKE ANOTHER CT SCAN TOMORROW TO SEE IF THE FLUID HAS RETURNED. HE STILL CONTINUES TO COUGH UP A SIZABLE QUANTITY OF FLUIDS FROM HIS LUNGS - BUT AT LEAST IT IS THINNER AND CLEARER. HIS TEMPERATURE IS UNDER BETTER CONTROL. DAVID'S OTHER VITAL SIGNS CONTINUE TO BE STRONG AND GOOD. HE MOVES AROUND A GOOD BIT - SO MUCH SO THAT THE NURSES HAVE HAD TO USE "SOFT RESTRANTS) ON HIS RIGHT ARM!! (HE PICKS AT HIS TUBES AND AT HIS SPLINT)

His surgery is planned for Friday and should require 8 - 12 hours. This is very extensive reconstructive surgery. Please pray for the doctors as they plan and execute the surgery. Pray that no infection will result. Pray for complete healing - body and spirit. "Be still and know that I am God"

JUNE 19 UPDATE - Day 29 -

It has been a little over four weeks since David was injured in the accident. His health remains good and he seems to be making slow but continuous improvement in his neuro function (not nearly fast enough for mom and dad!!) NEWS: DAVID'S RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY IS NOW SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, AT 7:30 AM EDST. THE SURGERY IS SCHEDULED FOR 12 HOURS (THE DOCTORS HOPE IT WILL TAKE LESS TIME) THIS IS VERY EXTENSIVE SURGERY TO REBUILD AND RECONNECT MUCH OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF DAVID'S HEAD FROM THE CHEEK BONE UP. PLEASE PRAY FOR THE DOCTORS AS THEY PLAN AND EXECUTE THIS SURGERY. PRAY FOR COMPLETE HEALING FROM THE PNEUMONIA. PRAY THAT THE FLUID THAT IS COLLECTING AROUND THE LUNGS WOULD STOP. PRAY FOR DAVID TO INCREASE HIS MOTOR AND COGNITIVE ABILITIES. PRAY FOR US. Some good news today: we were watching the Physical Therapist (PT) and she was working with David's legs (which have already shriveled to about one-half of their pre-wreck size) and she was asking David to move his legs or his feet. He didn't do much but she thought she felt his push against her - so she stopped and asked David to extend one finger. HE DID!!! Then she asked him to extend 2 fingers. HE DID!! He is working very hard to do what we do without thinking!!!

2Cor. 1:3-7 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort."

JUNE 20 UPDATE – Day 30

DAVID GOT PROMOTED TODAY!! The doctors thought that he was doing well enough and was stable enough to go to the "stepdown unit" or "intermediate intensive care unit". The good thing about this unit is that we (parents and immediate family) can visit him essentially all the time. The "bad" aspect of this unit is that other friends have relatively short visitation times and only 2 or 3 can go back at a time. (But we [Jenny and I] still love having friends stop by the fourth floor ICU waiting room and visiting with us.) All his vital signs remain strong, he is coughing up less "stuff", and his temperature and kidney function have reamained under control for several days. They are giving him a protein supplement to help maintain his muscle mass. They installed at drain tube into the area around his lungs to remove the fluid that is there. Occupational therapy and Physical Therapy are both working with David every day - they are doing most of the work at this point.They told us that when people visit David, they shouldn't stay too long, or come in big groups, or talk all at once because it confuses David. His reconstructive surgery is still scheduled for Wednesday, June 25. Please continue to pray.

Psa. 128
How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways. When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, You will be happy and it will be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine Within your house, Your children like olive plants Around your table. Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you from Zion, And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Indeed, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!

JUNE 21 UPDATE – Day 31

Another day of grace for David and the Spears family (it also happens to be Jenny and Robert's twenty-third anniversary). David did not seem to have a very good first day in the IICU (intermediate intensive care unit) - he was very unresponsive and didn't do hardly any "tricks". Please pray for the doctors and nurses as they help us with insight into how to help David.

Please pray for David:

• (1) that his body and mind would be completely healed,
• (2) that he (and we) would not lose heart as the days turn into weeks and the weeks into months,
• (3) pray especially for David's spirit - that the Holy Spirit would minister to his spirit in a way that no human can - that he might love Christ more and more,
• (4) for his nurses and doctors - that they will be diligent, faithful, insightful, discerning, wise, and kind.

David's vital signs are still good and making small steps forward each day. It seems his pneumonia is improving slightly each day and his white blood cell count is down to 7000 (the best it has been in 4 weeks). His reconstructive surgery is still scheduled for Wednesday, June 25.

Psalm 23
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside the still waters, he restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name sake. Yea, though I walk the the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou annointest my head with oil. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

JUNE 22 UPDATE – Day 32

TODAY IS DAVID'S ONE MONTH ANNIVERSARY!!! YEAH!! Just to review what has happened in this past month: David was severely injured in a wreck in which he was a passenger (fortunately, his friend who was driving was only very slightly injured) A 1" x 4" fence rail penetrated David head just to the right of his nose. A team of surgeons did emergency surgery to remove the board and close the wound about 6 hours after the accident. Our Lord Jesus Christ has preserved David's life for one month and his general body health continues to improve (he has had problems with kidney function, temperature fluctuations, an infection in his lungs that resulted in pneumonia, and fluid collecting outside his lungs. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOW UNDER CONTROL WITH LITTLE OR NO MEDICATION!! Praise our God for His goodness.)

The good news today: the chest tube that was draining fluid from around David's lungs was removed today because the rate of drainage over the past few days had dwindled to 0. The "not-as-good" news = David has been mostly unresponsive since he was moved to the "stepdown unit" (AKA "the intermediate ICU and also "Close Observation Unit" = COU) Please pray for competent nurses to be assigned to David. Pray for his continued neurological improvement. Pray for us (his parents) that we will trust God and love one another)

John 1:12-14 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."

JUNE 23 UPDATE – Day 33

David continues to make small improvements. At the end of the day he was more responsive than he has been since he was transferred to intermediate ICU. Jenny tells me that she played some music for him (NOT the type I really like!!) and then asked if he wanted to hear that music - he responded by squeezing her hand. She turned it off and asked if he wanted it back on, to squeeze her hand harder. He did!! Also, when I went in to see him, for the first time that I've seen, he moved his eye from the far left to the center and focused. (previously he moved his eye only from the center to the right). I was very encouraged. But the biggest news of the day was not anything that David did or his general health (which continues to be good) - but a visitor that we had. A very beautiful 17 year old young lady named Shannon Ridgeway (hope I spelled her name correctly) came by to see David. Now, David has received scores of visits from pretty girls (we keep hoping it will "wake" him up!!) but what was special about Shannon is what happened to her exactly, to the day, on year before David's accident. She was waiting at an intersection less than a mile from her house (which is south of Anderson, SC) when a fully loaded 18 wheel tractor-trailer hit her travelling at least 65 miles per hour. The impact destroyed her Maxima and SEVERELY injured her (neck broken in 2 places, all her ribs fractured, compound fractures of her arm, severe bruising of her brain, etc, etc. etc. She was unconscious for over 7 weeks and here father told us she was practically in a fetal position (a very bad sign). And now, one year later, she and her father drove 1 1/2 hours to encourage us. She just finished her junior year of high school and is going to cheerleading camp next week and is practicing with her dad to play softball soon. She was a great encouragement to us (several other "success" stories have also come by to encourage us (thank you all for your thoughtfulness). Shannon and her dad visited with David and us for over 2 hours. Pray for Shannon that her recovery would continue and that her desire to use her story to encourage others and to glorify Christ would be realized.

1Pet. 1:22-25 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.” And this is the word which was preached to you.

JUNE 24 UPDATE – Day 34

2Cor. 4:16-5:2Therefore 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. For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven"

This day did not start well for David - early in the morning he began to run a fever that reached 104 degrees! The nurse was able to get it down eventually by alternating tylenol and motrin. We received some bad news today. The right eye (the one damaged in the accident) has deteriorated to the point that the 2 opthamalogists both recommended to us that we approve it's removal. They both agreed that the eye would never "see" again and posed some danger of infection and possible damage to the other eye (sympathetic opthamalia). So, we reluctantly agreed for it's removal during the surgery tomorrow. We talked with all the doctors involved tomorrow. We asked all to get a good night's sleep so they can be sharp! This is very extensive and delicate surgery, please pray for their skill, wisdom, insight, and success. Please ask our Lord to protect David from infection and bleeding. Please ask him to give us strength, patience, hope, faith, and love. We are weak, but He is strong!!

Psa. 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.

JUNE 25 UPDATE – Day 35

Psa. 145:1-7 I will extol You, my God, O King, And I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of Your majesty And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate. Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts, And I will tell of Your greatness. They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

GREAT NEWS!! DAVID'S 8-HOUR RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY WENT VERY WELL! The opthamalogists (Dr. John Siddens and Dr. Nick McLane) that removed his right eye at the beginning of the surgery this morning, told us that we made the right decision to remove the eye since the optic nerve had been severed in the accident and so had all but 2 of the blood vessels that supply the eye. The eye was already in the process of "dying". The two surgeons, Dr. Rob Brown and Dr. Tom McFadden, worked 7 hours to restore David's facial and cranial bone structure. They were more than pleased with the results. We got to see David at about 8 PM (the surgery started at 8 AM) - he is doing well and resting. The doctors tell us that it will take anywhere from 2 to 7 days for him to recover from the surgery. We also began the process today of arranging for David's evaluation by rehabilitation centers that specialize in Neurological trauma cases. Please give thanks and praise to our Great God for his grace and kindness to us this day. And ask Him to give wisdom and discernment to us as we try to make decisions about David's future care. Please continue to pray for his physical recovery from the surgery and the accident and for his neurological improvement.

Psa. 149:1-5 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones. Let Israel be glad in his Maker; Let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King. Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre. For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation. Let the godly ones exult in glory; Let them sing for joy on their beds."

PS - Please pray for the family of Jennifer Cannada - she was a classmate of David's at Riverside High School. She left home on Sunday evening and she didn't return home or reach her destination. Her body was found on Tuesday afternoon in a field near Riverside High, with a gunshot wound to her head. I cannot imagine how hard it is for her family. Please pray for them in their grief and loss. Pray that the murderer will be found, tried and convicted.

JUNE 26 UPDATE – Day 36

1Pet. 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

David had a quiet day today - he was mostly unconscious. His "vital signs" remain good though he is still running a fever. Pray that the fever abates and pray that there will be no significant infection. Pray for strength (physical and Spiritual), for recovery, for neurological improvement, for our wisdom in finding the best rehabilitation facility, for skill and wisdom and diligence by the nurses and doctors. Pray that he won't lose any more muscle mass!! Thank you all for your prayers and concern.

Prov. 3:5-6 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.

JUNE 27-28 UPDATE – Day 37-38

Mark 11:20-26 "As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. Being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”

I am sorry there was no update for yesterday. During "maintenance" on the site somehow the update I put on last night was erased!! I didn't find out until we were at the hospital and the computers there cannot be used to update the site. David is recovering nicely from the surgery 3 days ago. The doctors removed the bandage from his right eye today (though no eye exists there anymore - just a silicone temporary ball until further reconstruction can be done) The right side is beginning to heal and the swelling from the surgery is going down. He still has a fever (please pray for this problem to abate). All his other vitals look good. They have resumed his "feeding" (on the green gunk) after stopping it for 30 hours for the surgery and recovery. He is getting about 2500 calories a day plus supplemental protein. There is a possibility that David has developed a blood infection (could be stapf). The Docs have started a high powered antibiotic just in case. Pray that this infection (if any) will be quickly defeated. Please pray for David to gain strength, weight, and especially cognitive ability. Pray for a good Sabbath rest for David and for all his family and friends.

John 14:12-15 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Your continued prayers are appreciated.