52 Days Later

I know this is a few days overdue but thank you for your patience. Dad is out of ICU! We are starting over. Thanks to the Lord we get to start again. Each day he is taking small steps to getting stronger. He is slowly getting back to a full diet and has started physical therapy. This Friday they are thinking about moving him to the VA hospital in Kansas City. The surgeons at Leavenworth have said they will not do any surgery to determine what this is going on in his abdomen. From this point on anything we do will need to be weighed with whether it will do more harm then good.

Dad and I had a good conversation today. We talked about his desires if he needs to be resuscitated, intubated and surgery. He knows he could have a couple good years or he could pass tomorrow. He is at peace with death and he feels he has had a good life. If he gets several good years he is looking forward to it but if God takes him home tomorrow he is happy with that too.

He asked me today if the doctors have confided in me what they think might finally do him in. Keeping in mind they really don’t know because look how far God has brought him. He has made it out of ICU twice in the past seven weeks when they didn’t think he would. The doctors have said that infection might be what takes his life. They don’t really know but because his immune system is extremely compromised, infection is a constant threat.

Keep praying but most of all let’s just praise God. He has answered so many prayers and has given us many wonderful days, precious conversations and a deeper faith in our Lord. I had the opportunity the other day to witness to my dad’s best friend Jerry. Jerry was concerned with my dad’s soul and told me that years ago he and dad talked about baptism. Jerry said my dad has never been baptized and asked if there was a chaplain at the hospital. I explained what baptism was and that we are not saved by our works but only by trusting Christ as our Lord and Savior! He thanked me for explaining it to him and said no one has ever explained baptism to him like that. Please pray for his salvation.

I do have one more extra special prayer request. Please pray that God will make a way for my 92 year old grandmother to see my dad. My dad hasn’t seen her in years and I know it would be so precious to him to have an opportunity to visit with her. Without getting into too much family nonsense, my uncle has claimed guardianship over my grandmother. There is a custody battle over my grandmother and I’m praying that she will be freed from my uncle and will get to live the rest of her life in peace. I’m trying to stay out of this situation because I have good reason to believe my safety would be an issue if I come in contact with my uncle. Please pray for a miracle that my grandmother will be reunited with my dad and the rest of the family.

Thank you for your faithfulness and thank you for your support. Thanks be to God for His goodness and love!!

Stacey