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Today, Tuesday April 14, we went to see Dr. Killefer and he removed the staples from the 2 incisions that were in my mom's head where the Shunt was put in. She was anxious about it, but it didn't hurt her at all! She is very relieved to have those out. Dr. Killefer reminded us that we are still in the waiting process to see how, if at all, the Shunt will change the Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus symptoms. Mom is using her cane and relearning about walking.
We had a wonderful Easter day together and we were so thankful that mom felt like going to Celebrate with us at Cedar Springs.
Thanks, again, to all of you who are providing healthy & delicious meals for our family!!
She will have a Cat Scan in 2 weeks and see Dr. Killefer again to check that everything is in place and working correctly.
We are thankful that our God is a God who heals!
A long day of waiting, but we are HOME! Grannie is settling in with JOY to her "Nook & Cranny" at Story Cottage! More tomorrow! Night Night!!!! And thanks for prayers!!
super wacky to hear the words, "It snowed!" as I was preparing to head back to the hospital this morning.
The dogwoods and tulips were wondering about the "beautiful contradictions" this new day as we have been having some April snow. see these amazing photos :) http://kimbowid.blogspot.com/
So by the time I arrived, Mom had already seen Dr. K and had her dressing removed on the incisions. He has said that after she sees Physical Therapy today she can head for Story Cottage (HOME)! It makes me smile to see her Beauty - even with incisions - these "beautiful scars" remind us that God is in charge and healing her! We are thankful!
"Every work that is faithfully done is beautiful in the eyes of the Lord. We are great even in our leastness when we receive with gratitude what God has given us, and, in the power of the Lord Jesus, put it to work to create a return of glory on God's investment in our lives." - T.M. Moore
God is investing His presence, tenderness, and healing in Anne. We are receiving it with GRATITUDE! He has allowed her to walk through the last years, months and days with His unending presence. Today, as she is relearning about walking I see her moving toward this "work" with faithfulness.
Jason came from Physical Therapy to walk with mom this morning. He has given her a cane and wants her to practice strengthening her right leg and putting her heel down first with each step. These are things we take for granted every day, (leastness? in our daily rush around) but something to be completely thankful for. "Forget NOT all His benefits."
What a sweet gift of gratitude it would be TODAY, this Monday of Holy Week, to take the time to tell God THANK YOU for being able to take one step at a time. Jesus, took one step at a time toward the cross, with JOY set before Him!
We will continue to take steps toward tomorrow (tuesday) as mom's "going home day" to "Grannie Annie's Nook & Cranny" at our home Story Cottage.
If you want to send her a love note of encouragement you can mail it to our home address!
What a gorgeous Palm Sunday here in East Tennessee! The day started early for my mom with Physical Therapy arriving at 8am. Mom told me that she walked all the say down the hall with the Physical Therapist Lorraine! My sister in law, Rhonda, as well as Damon and myself, have enjoyed sitting with her today. Here's what she wanted me to write for today :) "Thank everyone for praying for me. I know that is why I am doing so well! God's desk must have a big stack of requests with my name on them!!!" She knows there are people ALL over the world in variety of time zones praying for her.She has been sleeping and reading and preparing for a full day of more PT tomorrow.Damon was here when Dr. Killeffer came by to visit with her. He said she is doing great and hopefully will be able to go home on Tuesday afternoon.Thanks to those of you who are also preparing meals for our family. The hands and feet of the Body of Christ have blessed us much over the last months!On this Palm Sunday, what a sobering and glorious reminder that HOSANNA means "Come Save Us!" God inclines His ear to hear our cries and our redemption is accomplished. We enter this Passion Week with great anticipation.
Waiting is hard work. Mom is wrestling with waiting tonight. She has found out that Physical Therapy won't be coming today. We are hopeful that they will come tomorrow - but it might, realistically, be Monday. When Damon and the boys came to visit, mom said "they are taking me home with them!" :) Please pray that as this special Palm Sunday Sabbath comes with the setting sun, that God will mercifully grant her the freedom to struggle with waiting and trusting Him in this recovery step!
HOSANNA!
Dr. Killeffer came and said that my mom is doing great! He has moved her out of ICU and she is now in her own room. Physical Therapy will be helping her with walking. Please pray that she will be patient and cooperative when that begins. Her new nurse, Paula, just came in and said that she should begin Physical Therapy today. She has some soreness in her abdomen where one of the incisions were and that is bothering her some.Enjoy the beautiful spring day - we are looking at the sunshine out the window together!
At 9:15am we were able to go in to visit mom for the first time on this gorgeous Spring morning! She greeted us and shared that she had a wonderful egg, grits, and OJ breakfast already! "But I was waiting for it since 6am!" I began to laugh, "you don't wake up anywhere near 6am at home - why were you so impatient for breakfast???" And she started laughing and said, "Well the nurse came in and woke me up at 3am to check me out - so I just had a long time to wait!"What a good gift from God to hear her laughter this morning! It is a sweet sound! Thanks to all of you who were praying for us over the last 24 hours.Today will be a day of waiting for Dr. Killeffer to come and check her and move her to a room out of ICU. She also told us that she is eager to start walking - and her nurse reminded her that Physical Therapy will be the ones who will guide her into walking.Mom has specifically asked that we join with her in praying that her walking will be "normal" very quickly! I know we are all longing for her to have restored walking for the next chapter that God has for her.Serving the Lord with gladness this new day!
I am in the ICU room with mom and she is wide awake and enjoying supper :) Her nurse, Jonathan, has been getting her settled and says she is doing great! I will go back to the waiting room and Damon will join me and we will both get to spend time with her at 9pm before she goes to bed - that is the last visiting hours of the ICU for the day.She and I took time to thank God for his faithfulness to us today!He is truly our ROCK! (Psalm 40)
While I was getting settled into the recliner in the ICU area at Ft. Sanders, they called let me know I could go down to recovery to visit with mom!She greeted me with a smile and said, "I already had lunch!!" She has been waking up and is doing so well that they fed her lunch :) ICU has no empty beds and we are waiting for the afternoon hours to see if one opens up. Please pray that she will rest. She is in very minimal pain at the incision sites.I am thankful for the intimate care that God has shown her today! Thank you for your prayers!
2 hours after Dr. Killeffer started mom's Shunt Surgery, we met with him to hear the good report that she is out of surgery and that it went well. She is in the Post Anethesia care unit now as she is waking up and then will be moved to Intensive Care Unit. She will stay there overnight. Dr. Killeffer said, "I hope this is really helpful for her." We know the GREAT Physician is in charge of her inside and out and we are trusting His heart for her!
We awoke around 5am and arrived at Ft. Sanders Regional around 6am. Mom is glad that this day is finally here! She went anesthesia and her surgery began around 8:30am. Thank you for praying for Dr. James Killeffer. We will keep up to date!
As we move toward an early morning arrival at Ft. Sanders Regional Medical Center we are full of thanksgiving that the day for mom's surgery has finally arrived!
For over one year we have been watching and waiting on God to unfold His plan and perfect timing. All of us are resting in the way He has led us step by step!
We will update news here and want to thank you ahead of time for supporting us before the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:14-16)!
