I want to try to share what is going on so that you will continue to follow the blog. Please know that your prayers are working!! Rick and I arrived here today (Tues) to meet my cousin who will help us set up trust funds etc.We then went to see Dustin and boy what a great thing that is to see him and just get my hands on him!!The nurses say that he is getting bored (a great sign that his mind is back to working and realizing that life is more than a bed and odd noises all the time)and really enjoys sitting up, (although he hasn't really able to get past the anxious breathing which continue to cause his heart rate to go up and oxygen saturation to go down.)
The reason this makes me so happy as I was thinking that he didn't want to sit up, that he thought is was just easier to lay there and not be pressed into too much stimulation. It is good news that he wants to move forward and our last words tonight were "I want to get better"! His heart is to move forward , push himself and do what he can. I promise you that depression is not part of this picture, just a physical body that doesn't quite cooperate. I am so glad that I stood my ground in not putting him on antidepressants as that would have aggravated his brain trauma.
His memory is much improved today and the social worker who was reviewing his goals, says that he is making progress. I can see it from what I saw a week ago that he is much clearer, able to remember more and most definitely and has his old quirky sense of humor.He remembers accepting the Lord and that his father and wife visited him this weekend.
The head nurse says he has become quite the project for the floor and they are learning to really enjoy him. They are also noticing his sweet spirit that is so evident. His cursing them out has greatly decreased, although occasionally when he thinks they are not doing their job or he is not happy with them, he lets a few words slip. We call him "quality control" now.
The other cool thing as I talk to the nurses (and the great thing about him being in Bible belt Georgia) is their faith, their belief in prayer and our ease in conversation in talking about the Lord.
He has certainly lost much muscle mass but at his age he will gain that back with exercise. We were talking about some of the "sports" that are available to those who are disabled and all he could talk about was being a race car driver. OK - sure I guess - why not?!?!? I was reading a book they gave me and he should be able to drive a car with minimal hand motions, so I guess race car driving is not out of the question. I sure would like if he didn't continue to exhibit that risky part of his personality. I guess I should not be surprised since his name means "victorious warier" which probably has as a part of that some risk taking.
Dustin has not had a fever, has not been able to tolerate sitting up because of the fluid on his lungs, limited breathing and anxiety that comes from sitting up , not to mention all of the activity that it takes to get him up. They are going to try plan B in that his bed turns into a chair and they will start with that, followed by sitting up on the side of the bed and then finally into the wheel chair.
They have started him on different antibiotics thinking that maybe the infection and fluid that accumulates in his lungs from pneumonia is not responding to the antibiotics they did have him on. Please pray that the infection will be eliminated and that the fluid on his lungs will dissipate and he will not fear breathing on his own.
We will visit tomorrow for aobut 4 h ours and then head back home to work. We will return on Sun-MOn and then head to Virginia to clean out my mothers house and handle other family issues. Nerina and her whole family will be coming on Thanksgiving until Sun. We certainly appreciate all of the support and love that has been shown to us and Dustin. The other day we got a packet of cards from a 5th grade class that had written "get well" cards to Dustin. A sister of a very close friend of ours who is a teacher and has a son in the 5th grade decided to take on the project of writing Dustin cards. How precious is that!!
We will try to post tomorrow after our visit. Until then, pray unceasingly and know God is answering every prayer in HIs time.
love
mary pat
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3 comments:
Hi Rick & Mary Pat, We are continuing to pray with and for you and Dustin. Be blessed.
We'd like to pray this blessing over you (from Deuteronomy):
"Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. All people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee. And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath.." (from Deuteronomy 28:3-13)
Love & Hugs
Brad & Autumne
Hi i am glad you received the cards!!! I am the boy whos class made the cards and i am glad you and dustin enjoyed them!!! my class and i are still praying for your family and dustin, becuase we know God has a creative miracle in store for dustin!
Love,
Caleb Troy and 7th grade friends at Hillcrest Christian Academy!!!!!!!!!!!
Mary Pat,
I just can't help thinking why don't they test for the bacteria in his lungs so that they know which antibiotic works rather than hit or miss.
I continue to pray that Dustin be able to sit up and that all fear of not being able to breathe would leave in Jesus name.
Love, Marcia
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