We realized that everyone at the hospital helping and serving us had never seen the vibrant, fun-loving, healthy Robbie. They had only seen a weak, completely disabled, hurting and bed-fast boy dependant on them for everything. We wanted them, in some small way, to know the boy we knew - the boy he had been just days earlier. So we printed some pictures of him and Tanja made a poster of all the things he loves (present tense) to do.
We continue to thank you all for your perseverance in praying for our son and ask for you to continue to faithfully pray for him. Yesterday he woke up at 5am and did not sleep again until about 9:30pm. It was a long, long day of watching our son suffer. We continue to be thankful that his pain is under control more. I think yesterday may have been harder for Tanja and I than it was for Robbie. We are emptied out and in total reliance on God's strength in our weakness. Tanja was blessed by the help of her dear friend Amber yesterday (Amber is a nurse). We have had amazing nursing care since moving to 3C. One of the nurses on this wing is Teague Houseman. Teague was in my youth group in Walnut Creek, CA when I served there. Amber, by the way, was in my youth group when I ministered in Lodi, CA!
We had another night away as my brother Robbie and brother-in-law Shawn took the reins and stayed the night with him…a fairly good night though without a long stretch of sleep - his longest last night was just under three hours. Tanja and I were refreshed by some rest after we prayed and wept until finally falling to sleep.
Today looks to be similar to yesterday though his waves of seizures seem to be a bit less intense. He is also showing small signs of improvement such as the ability to chomp on ice chips that we give him. His breathing sounds much improved as well. He is responding to us a bit more and we have been able to keep his morphine quite low.
PRAISE BE TO GOD FOR EVERY IMPROVEMENT, NO MATTER HOW SMALL. We are well aware that he could very well have a long road ahead and we are striving to prepare our hearts for that while at the same time praying for a complete and miraculous healing. We will be with all of my family for lunch today while Amber and Tanja's parents help with Robbie.
With love to you all,
Ken