Perseverance

Hi everyone- it has been awhile since I have posted. Last week as you may know, Rick went to the VA to give me a break. I needed to guard my heart from breaking and Dustin needed some male interaction.

Our focus now is to get Dustin to realize that he and he alone is responsible for making progress. I can't heal him and God can't heal him without his agreement so it is up to him. He has gotten passive due to a lot of shoulder and throat pain and often if the therapist comes in to do therapy, he refuses it. I am praying that the staff becomes more assertive as well as Dustin. I want him to begin to say, "Sit me up for 2 minutes today.....sit me up for 4 minutes today....I have to get well."

The good news is he did pass his swallowing test and once again the speech therapist is feeding him applesauce and fruit cocktail. I must find out the theory's of the food choices. I know they have not wanted to feed him things with protein like anything with meat or dairy as if he aspirated it in his lungs it could become a breeding ground for bacteria. On the other hand , we know that if all he eats is sugar stuff that that is hard on the immune system that is so important now to keep strong. I have asked my friend at church who used to cook organic, vegetarian food for the Seventh day Adventists to please cook up some really nourishing and life giving soup for Dustin. Let's face it, 4 months of tube feeding and then canned foods is not enough. I know this would help with the wound healing and also taste so much better than canned foods at the VA.

I called tonight and he has a fever and a more pain than usual. I believe it is probably because he has not moved much for weeks.

I talked to the chief guy at the spinal cord unit in Tampa as the floor doctor and respiratory therapist had had another call this past Friday. He thought he had overheard that they had accepted Dustin as a patient but will have to wait for an isolation,vent bed due to the bacteria in his bone.I am hoping for this because Dustin feels like if he can get to Tampa he will have new hope.

I plan to go to Augusta tomorrow. Please pray for me. My heart is on my sleeve and then my desire for Dustin to get well gets some anger stirred up because I feel like others, including Dustin, are not doing all they can to hold onto life. I am really walking out the fear of losing another son and this of course if MY issue and interfaces with all that is going on in the VA field. Rick and I both continue to believe God in this whole situation. It is not a time to quit trusting Him or to go into doubt and unbelief. Please join me in continuing to believe God for a miracle. At this point, He and He alone is the one that can heal him. Pray that Dustin would join in that belief.

thanks to everyone that continues to support us by reading the blog and keeping us in prayer.

YOu are deeply loved and appreciated and we pray for you each day as well.

mary pat