Making Progress

I'm sitting with Emily as she rests after a good review from the doctors this morning. After getting her hair washed yesterday, it was primed and ready for me to braid it for her. She looks really good and she is making progress!

Her kidney levels indicate that they might be working on their own so the settings on her dialysis have been turned down to be able to test them. Apparently your kidneys either work or they don't work (there is not much in between) so if they begin to work, she would be able to come off the dialysis rather quickly. This could possibly even take place within the next few days so let's pray for that! If she is able to get off dialysis it would also serve her well to begin to move around more quickly rather than trying to mess with another line and another machine.

Her vent settings have also continued to be moved down and she is just on pressure support. The plan is still to move slowly but as she tolerates it, they will continue to wean her down. Timetables are not something the doctors like to be nailed down to, but it sounded like if she continues on her current path, she might be weaned off the vent within the next week or two.

She is also completely off her sedation meds as of this morning. This is another great step as it means she is able to communicate more. The lingering effects are still present but she is very alert and very much getting back to herself. She can write and even typed a little to me but it is still rather frustrating to not be able to speak and be understood easily. Continue to pray for clarity for Emily and for the communication process to become easier everyday.

They have started some basic physical therapy for her...moving her arms and legs...and Jason has been trained to do some of the exercises with her. Pray that she does well with this new addition to her days and that her body can regain strength quickly. Hopefully she can be moved to a chair next week to start sitting up and getting out of bed some.

One of the first things she wanted me to do when I got here was get her internet working and I know it won't be long until she is able to read your words personally and then be back to posting some on her own. Pray for her emotionally as she longs to be with her daughter and will daily face many ups and downs in the days to come. And I challenge those of you who are reading this to not cease to pray for her now that she seems to have come through such a difficult time. I know the tendency of many (myself included) is to get "caught up" in the moment, in the drama, in the uncertainty and then when things become calmer, we forget the people or circumstances to which God called us to minister to or intercede for. God still hears our prayers and Emily and her family still need your support. Thank you for being so faithful during the last few weeks.