Kris update 3

May 5, 2010

Hello to all you wonderful prayer warriors!

We haven't been able to update you lately; between a computer breakdown and other responsibilities, it's been a struggle.  But we are updating now and there is yet more good news.

First of all, Kris's condition has not really changed all that much and she remains in a coma.  But that is not totally disheartening really, when we weigh everything else.  Russ sent us a few photos of her car last night.  When I saw them, I realize now that she is clearly so lucky to be alive.  The right side of the car was mashed all the way against the driver's seat.  Given the force of the impact and Kris being thrown to the right, it is an absolute miracle she suffered no broken bones other than a fracture at the right eye socket and, of course, the damage to her head.  The entire point of impact as far as she was concerned was on the right side of her head.  With that in mind, I still believe God is healing her completely before she wakes up, which means it may be a while.  There are so many situations where an injury-induced coma can last for months and months, and the person will just one day wake up.  I have to hold on to that.

Now the good news is: she is breathing completely on her own now that she has been given the trachea tube.  Oxygen flows to it but her breathing is all on her own!  That's a wonderful sign.  A spinal tap was done Sunday evening because there was some fear of meningitis, which we are told is not uncommon due to the invasiveness of all that she has been through: head trauma and surgery, carotid artery re-attached at the base of her skull, collapsed lung, etc.  There is always a chance of some infection.  She has had a slight temperature for since we were there and she is being treated with antibiotics.  So, all in all, things truly are progressing, just very, very slowly.

Russ keeps us updated and we do so appreciate that.  He has a great weight on him but, thankfully, he does have help with Andrea and, of course, Joshua is like a little rock.  We are also updated each day when we call the ICU directly.  The various nurses-on-duty assigned to Kris are all very patient with us and answer all our questions once we give them our code word.  They have been so kind and will even place the phone next to Kris's ear so that I can talk directly to her.  I keep hoping the nurse will suddenly say she's awake, but it helps me to be able to know she can quite possibly hear my voice.

While there is no hurry to move her from the ICU, I was told yesterday by Kris's case manager (another understanding soul who answers our questions) that the time will come when she will be moved to a long term care facility.  There she will receive therapy and rehab to keep her muscular condition well-toned and everything else moving.  This is important for the long haul, and Russ will be looking at several places around the area. 

As I said in an earlier update, our plan is to honor all of our commitments and then go directly back to San Antonio in the the motorhome.  Then we can stay there as long as it takes and help with her care.  It occurs to me now that it must have been in God's plan that we put our home in Sebring up for sale last fall.  Kris said (when George was diagnosed last December with prostate cancer) she wished we could move closer to her so she could look after us.  How ironic; we may be helping to look after her!!!

Well there you have it, dear friends.  I can tell you quite honestly the power of prayer is awesome.  It is completely what sustains me now and gives us the hope that Kris will wake up soon.  We are able to be here in PA with son John now, too, who is remarkably coming through the last of his radiation treatments.  His chemo ended about three or so weeks ago, and he is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, praise the Lord!  Prayers for him have been awesome as well.  Our hearts are so full with love and appreciation, there are just not enough words. 

God greatly bless you all and just know that we thank you.  Philippians 4:6-7 has become the Bible passage I lean on now.  It's that marvelous peace we hear so much about!

Blessings,

Carol and George