Updates continue to be slim with not much to report. Ray is still at a high level of sedation to keep his body relaxed to allow healing. Dialysis is still running and continuing to pump fluids off his body. No infections to report, which is a constant threat with so many IVs and ports coming out of his body. The nurses and his brother report that his sedation meds are high but not so high that he can come to every once in a while. The goal is still to remove enough fluid where kidneys levels are close to normal so they can give him Lasix to remove the fluid and congestion around his lungs and heart. The dialysis is doing that but very slowly because it agitates his heart so.
Please continue to pray for his healing and all those that are caring for him. If you have any thoughts or prayers you would like us to pass on, please feel free to leave comments here or call Keith or I.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
more information
My brother-in-law is apparently more stubborn than I would have ever given him credit for...and I knew he is pretty stubborn. But thank goodness for it. He is constantly fighting for his life right now. Pretty much things are unchanged. They are constantly changing his sedation meds so he is in and out of happy land. You could go in and he be alert (as alert as someone with as much going on as he does) or he might be out cold. I was there to check on him Friday night and his status changed with the blink of an eye from no response to eyes open and nodding his head to respond to questions. Today, he didn't respond at all.
The doctors have started dialysis and to date have taken nearly 4 pounds of fluid off of his body. This will continue to relieve some stress from his body. His blood pressure last night fluctuated too dramatically so they sedated him pretty heavily today to let his body rest. Otherwise, there isn't much change in his status. Still praying for the kidneys to kick back up and begin producing again. His heart has shown signs of not being too excited about the dialysis and with a very weak heart, that is a negative sign.
I know that isn't much to report, but that's where we are right now. Thank you for continuing to follow our journey and keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
The doctors have started dialysis and to date have taken nearly 4 pounds of fluid off of his body. This will continue to relieve some stress from his body. His blood pressure last night fluctuated too dramatically so they sedated him pretty heavily today to let his body rest. Otherwise, there isn't much change in his status. Still praying for the kidneys to kick back up and begin producing again. His heart has shown signs of not being too excited about the dialysis and with a very weak heart, that is a negative sign.
I know that isn't much to report, but that's where we are right now. Thank you for continuing to follow our journey and keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
More Updates
Update on my brother-in-law, Ray:
Today we visited with the doctors and discussed the long road ahead. They say nothing has changed with his condition, yet things have showed signs of making progress. His kidney function is minimal but it is producing some urine, which is better than it has been in the last 5 days. His liver enzyme numbers have begun to come down which might mean that his liver has a chance at some function again. He has been able to maintain his blood pressure with a minor dose of medicine so they are going to try to take him off that medicine and allow him to regulate it himself. They have started dialysis to release the enormous amount of fluids that is building up in his body. They hope that with just a little bit of time and support from dialysis, his kidneys will begin to function, if only a little, on their own. For the first time today, he had his eyes opened and acknowledged that we were there and was able to nod to answer some questions. The doctors said that he had turned the corner and was climbing the hill to recovery, but "we are by no means out of the woods".
We are thankful for all the thoughts, prayers, and well wishes. We don't feel that recovery has necessarily begun, but the process to recover has.
Today we visited with the doctors and discussed the long road ahead. They say nothing has changed with his condition, yet things have showed signs of making progress. His kidney function is minimal but it is producing some urine, which is better than it has been in the last 5 days. His liver enzyme numbers have begun to come down which might mean that his liver has a chance at some function again. He has been able to maintain his blood pressure with a minor dose of medicine so they are going to try to take him off that medicine and allow him to regulate it himself. They have started dialysis to release the enormous amount of fluids that is building up in his body. They hope that with just a little bit of time and support from dialysis, his kidneys will begin to function, if only a little, on their own. For the first time today, he had his eyes opened and acknowledged that we were there and was able to nod to answer some questions. The doctors said that he had turned the corner and was climbing the hill to recovery, but "we are by no means out of the woods".
We are thankful for all the thoughts, prayers, and well wishes. We don't feel that recovery has necessarily begun, but the process to recover has.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Updates
Not too much new to report on my brother-in-law who has been in the hospital now since Friday. The lung doctor says that his body is repsonding to meds to release the fluids on his lungs. The heart doctor says they are fighting the infection in and around his heart. The kidney doctor has discussed options. Today the word was that his white blood cells were up and family that saw him said his coloring is getting better. We are still hoping and praying for God's mercy on Ray. We hope to know more after we meet with the doctors tomorrow.
Please continue to keep Ray and his family in your prayers as God can work miracles. Words can not express how gracious we are for all of your well wishes that have been sent our way!
I Peter 5:7 says "Cast all your cares on me."
Please continue to keep Ray and his family in your prayers as God can work miracles. Words can not express how gracious we are for all of your well wishes that have been sent our way!
I Peter 5:7 says "Cast all your cares on me."
Sunday, April 19, 2009
God is Amazing!
This is a long yet moving story I want to share to instill hope and prove how powerful our Lord can be.
Background:
Saturday
Keith's brother is on life support and in and out of being able to respond. By midday he is unconcsious and nonresponsive. Many friends and family visit him and talk with him but no more attempts on his part to repond back have been made. All day long, Keith and I had talked about Ray's religious views and whether he had ever had the opportunity to accept Christ into his heart. Keith was pretty certain he hadn't. This really weighed heavy on my heart all day. Around 9:00 p.m., Keith called a childhood friend and his brother, who is a minister, to inform them of Ray's condition. They immediately made their way to the hospital. Upon arriving at the hospital, the brothers that grew up with Keith and his brother still found Ray unresponsive. After a very short while, Joshua (the minister) was able to get Ray to wake up. He immediately began praising God and asking Ray questions about his salvation. Ray was able to nod and agree he was a sinner, he believed in Heaven and that God died for our sins. They prayed together and, as my dad would have said, Got Right with God. Amen! This was the last time that any response was made by Ray. Things are still continuing to deteriorate, but a victory was won.
God is truly in charge of our lives and I praise him for the changes that are occuring within Ray at this moment, even if they might not lead him back to us in this life. Please continue to pray for God's peace and mercy on Ray, the doctors, Ray's kids and Keith and his family and we continue to wait this out and determine what must be decided.
Background:
Saturday
Keith's brother is on life support and in and out of being able to respond. By midday he is unconcsious and nonresponsive. Many friends and family visit him and talk with him but no more attempts on his part to repond back have been made. All day long, Keith and I had talked about Ray's religious views and whether he had ever had the opportunity to accept Christ into his heart. Keith was pretty certain he hadn't. This really weighed heavy on my heart all day. Around 9:00 p.m., Keith called a childhood friend and his brother, who is a minister, to inform them of Ray's condition. They immediately made their way to the hospital. Upon arriving at the hospital, the brothers that grew up with Keith and his brother still found Ray unresponsive. After a very short while, Joshua (the minister) was able to get Ray to wake up. He immediately began praising God and asking Ray questions about his salvation. Ray was able to nod and agree he was a sinner, he believed in Heaven and that God died for our sins. They prayed together and, as my dad would have said, Got Right with God. Amen! This was the last time that any response was made by Ray. Things are still continuing to deteriorate, but a victory was won.
God is truly in charge of our lives and I praise him for the changes that are occuring within Ray at this moment, even if they might not lead him back to us in this life. Please continue to pray for God's peace and mercy on Ray, the doctors, Ray's kids and Keith and his family and we continue to wait this out and determine what must be decided.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
My Football star
#11 Richard Hight
Richard is in his second season of playing football and is really turning in to quite the star. This season is half over and he has nearly played every down possible. He has a heart of a true athlete and has not yet complained...especially when he had to be at the field at 7 a.m. this morning for an 8 a.m. game or getting trampled today by two players that were a head taller and at least 30 pounds heavier. Here are some pics from several recent games.
Thoughts to ponder
As Keith and I, along with his family go through a struggle in life that no one is expected to have to deal with, I am forced to reflect on what this song by Natalie Grant truly expresses. In the midst of doubt and sorrow, God is there to carry us and pull us from our worries. It is my prayer for my friends and family that we all remember to turn to God in our times of trouble to be "held". To turn all things unclear and uncertain over to God to control.
Another thought that runs deep in my thoughts tonight is setting our lives straight with God and really living the life that he expects of us as his followers. When my dad passed away 4 years ago, the last words he spoke to me before his mouth was debilitated, was "GET RIGHT WITH GOD". Those words are inbedded on my heart. As we are in the midst of another family loss, I pray that all will "GET RIGHT WITH GOD" so that we may all rejoice in his presence together some day.
Please keep Keith and his dad in your thoughts and prayers as we deal with hard decisions in the coming days/weeks with Keith's brother's life. Please also remember Ray's (Keith's brother) children as they prepare for their loss at such a young age.
Another thought that runs deep in my thoughts tonight is setting our lives straight with God and really living the life that he expects of us as his followers. When my dad passed away 4 years ago, the last words he spoke to me before his mouth was debilitated, was "GET RIGHT WITH GOD". Those words are inbedded on my heart. As we are in the midst of another family loss, I pray that all will "GET RIGHT WITH GOD" so that we may all rejoice in his presence together some day.
Please keep Keith and his dad in your thoughts and prayers as we deal with hard decisions in the coming days/weeks with Keith's brother's life. Please also remember Ray's (Keith's brother) children as they prepare for their loss at such a young age.
Monday, April 6, 2009
My Little Princesses
Well, I had to break down and do something I wasn't too sure I wanted to do....pierce the girl's ears. They had been begging me for almost a month to go "because all (their) friends have earrings". So this past Sunday, we did a girl trip to Claire's and pierced both of their ears - that's all 4 ears. Let me tell you mothers with daughters who haven't made this journey yet, wait till they can pay for it or do it when they are too young to choose their own earrings. The cheap pairs aren't cute enough...it had to be the cute pink daisys (for Clara) and the "sparkly" diamond studs (for Ash). Bt boy I almost had to take out a second mortgage to get them done. Clara was a trooper and only cried before they did it because the astringent they cleaned her ears with burned her eyes. Ashley was afraid to cry at first but then broke down. Once easily distracted, she was able to forget about it. They both had a BLAST searching through the countless 'future' earrings they will be buying. Of course, each pair they picked out for the future had a purpose, as all of our earrings do, right??
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