Kris Progress Report….

Following is the email we received this morning:

Dear friends and loved ones,

Again, I have to say that we are so encouraged and really excited now.  But your prayers are still urgently needed because it looks as though Kris is heading for a new phase in her healing process. 

Late last week, news from our son-in-law, Russ, had been that Kris will likely be moved to a long term care facility.  At first, I was skeptical of the idea, and I had all sorts of questions.  What would happen now? What about physical therapy and speech therapy when she comes out of the coma?  I spoke with her case manager (the military liaison who handles all the relocating of patient and families, along with a myriad of other duties) last week, and she said this is really what has been in the plan.  Kris is reaching a point now when they really can't do that much more in the ICU.  While it has been small steps forward, she has progressed enough to go to another level of care.  The head neurosurgeon has now signed off on Kris, which means he has released her completely to be moved.  I'm familiar with the facility everyone was considering and seemed most pleased with for long term care, and it is a good one.  However...

Earlier this week, Russ called and said they were now considering a highly recommended neuro rehabilitation facility that is extremely well equipped to handle head trauma victims.  Now my questions were finding answers; this is exactly what she needs, we believe, and so does Russ.  We are all in agreement.  Only trouble is, he said, it's in Austin, Texas.  Oh.  But, hey, we live in a motorhome!  It's no trouble for us; we can go to Austin and stay there in an RV park and be with her every day.  Of course, Russ and the kids will likely be able to come up once or twice a week, and especially on weekends.  Austin is only an hour or so north of San Antonio. 

The facility is the Texas Neuro Rehabilitation Center and it seems excellent.  Their website explains quite a lot about it.  They are known for picking up the rehab of a patient when other facilities have taken the patient as far as they can.  They are extremely well staffed and part of their curriculum holds they have more staff per patient than any law requires: PhDs, psychologists, speech and physical therapists, and any other area which would serve to rehab patients from coma to re-entry into community life.  Another step in the right direction.  Statistics are very encouraging.  It's a win - win situation.

But the best news from Russ last evening is that Kris moved her head several inches on her own while he was there yesterday.  And a friend who was there earlier told Russ that Kris sneezed.  Can you imagine people getting excited over a head turn and a sneeze?!!!  We are very excited.  She still opens her left eye, but has not focused on anything yet.  The right eye, as I said before, is likely going to have damage, but it may be fixable.  And Kris does have more surgeries ahead, which is a little worrisome.  The cranial area that had to be removed due to the damage will have to be replaced eventually with a plate of some sort to repair the open area in her skull.  There may be other areas of damage of which we are not yet aware, too.  But God has answered so many prayers, He will carry her through.  He's still letting her heal inside; of this we have no doubt.  And we humbly thank Him for each gift of encouragement and each answered prayer.

Speaking of answered prayer, for those of you who knew our son, John, had been fighting melanoma, he just finished radiation therapy last week, and is now recovering; very slowly, but recovering.  Eating has been difficult, but that is coming, too.  Between the chemo and the radiation, we are praying that he is cancer free and we are certainly encouraged by everything so far.  Again, God has answered so many prayers!!!  It's been wonderful to be able to be here and for his Dad to spend quality time with him now, too.  Speaking of George, for those who knew he had cancer surgery in December, George IS cancer free and that is a BIG answer to prayer!  And, since I mentioned in an earlier update that it was likely a good thing we put our house up for sale last fall, we do believe it may be sold!  More tiny miracles and prayers answered!!!  All things in God's good time. 

As for us and our schedule, a little personal update.  We have done some more rearranging of commitments and I know our friends in Ohio, Indiana and Iowa will forgive us when we say we won't be able to make it this year!  Our last concert in Pennsylvania is June 13th, and we will head for Austin on the 14th.  The concert in Burlington, Iowa scheduled for June 26th has been postponed, and we are deeply grateful to Pastor Jackman at Parkside Baptist Church for being so understanding. 

So that's the very latest update, and we will continue to keep everyone informed.  Were it not for the hard fact of reality ever present (we still have to earn a living!), we would be in Texas now.  But I am at peace with where God wants us for now so that we can afford to go and stay for as long as it takes.  Your prayers continue to sustain us and I know in my heart that Kris will one day thank all of you for those prayers. 

God greatly bless you all... in His love,

Carol and George Kline