Monday, February 26, 2007

A Day on the Road



I was tired of posting all serious information, so here's a couple of pictures from Samuel's day on the road. He got this battery-operated 4 wheeler for Christmas...thanks Grammy and Pappy! It goes a maximum of 2 miles per hour. Even if he heads for the real road I might be able to catch him at that speed. =)

Coming home x 2!

Thank you all for praying for our dads. Travis' father came home from the hospital on Tuesday after being there for almost 2 weeks. He was even able to go to church yesterday. I'm sure he LOVED being there. It's been well over a month since he's been able to go, maybe even 2 months.
Things are looking up for my dad as well. Last Thursday he was transferred to Philadelphia (Hahnemann University Hospital) for a procedure to remove his pacemaker. This is a bit risky because the lead wires grow right into your heart tissue after the pacemaker is placed in you. To remove them takes a careful hand so as not to tear the heart tissue. The doctors reported a VERY easy removal due to the heart infection; the wires came right out. Praise the Lord! Today (Monday) they are scoping his heart again to see if the infection has been completely eradicated from his body and if so, then they will place a temporary pacemaker and watch him for a few days until they feel free to send him home. The word is that Thursday is looking good for the send home day! He will probably go to a rehab near my parents' home, but at least mom can live at home again. This is the start of his 4th week in the hospital, so they're very anxious to get home =) The Lord has provided in so many ways throughout this process (from meeting financial needs to emotional needs and everything in between). We praise Him for the grace He has given to our family, just as He promised. "Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name!"

Monday, February 19, 2007

The Million-Dollar Family

Though we will never be millionaires, we are so happy about the new BABY GIRL that the Lord has given to us. I finally had an ultrasound today and the sonographer was 99.9% sure it is a girl!! We're very excited although we won't know how to take care of one of those. =) I'm sure all you mothers of girls would say it's easy, huh? heehee It is an extra special blessing for MY family since the only grandchildren are boys (4 of them). I asked my brother if he could teach her how to wrestle. He said she would probably whip all of the boys! =) We're just so happy about how the Lord has blessed us.
Becky

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

O the depth!

Well, praise the Lord for doctors and modern medicine. We have certainly seen God's common grace in giving us access to medical technology established by God-directed people over the years. Anyway, our dads are hanging in there.

First, my dad, Ray Gravley. Since he began his stay last Thursday, they were concerned he had "C Dif" (sp?). So, we are still awaiting results from that test. They are treating him as if he has it, so he is on a specific antibiotic and is staying in an isolated room. At times throughout his month of malladies he had felt some pain and numbness in his legs and feet. Yesterday it got really bad. After the vascular surgeon's assessment (Dad's personal vascular surgeon), it was determined that Dad should get his right leg looked at inside to see what was going on. So, he went into the OR last evening around 7 pm. At 11 something, the surgeon came out to report to Mom and I that he had significant blockage in an artery in his left leg and that they had successfully removed it. It was such a blessing that Dad was in the hospital for them to catch this and take care of it. However, it does add some more perplexity to Dad's already enigmatic condition. He recovered well from the procedure and is now still at Harrisburg Hospital awaiting more test results. Please continue to pray for his patience and encouragement. The Lord has been ministering to him, so we're thankful.

Now, onto my wonderful, but not-lately-too-healthy Father-in-Law. Things seem to be steadily getting better. Yesterday's "scoping" of his lungs as well as the antibiotics seem to be improving his pneumonia, even to the point that they are weaning him off of the ventilator tonight into tomorrow. Also, they made a significant discovery today in locating the source of his infection -- the right tri-cuspid valve of his heart. This was really something, as the infection could have easily been in the left tri-cuspid, which would have killed him. According to the docs, the right valve controls flow to the lungs, while the left valve controls flow to the brain. What a sobering thought! A real answer to a specific prayer of Becky's was that the doctor would know how to treat her dad, even if he didn't have all the pieces of the puzzle. And this is exactly what has happened. If they would have known this from the start, the treatment and procedures would have been exactly the same. Even in a day of such human advancement, God is demonstrating his supreme and gracious providence and sovereignty.

The other bit of news is that Becky's Dad will probably be moved to Hershey on Thursday, as a precautionary step should they have to remove his pacemaker in light of the location of the infection. Please pray for this transition as the weather is bad, and the family will have to get used to a whole new line of doctors and nurses. They had been so pleased with the crew in State College.

Anyway, that's an update on our status here in wintry PA. We thank you all so much for your prayers and encouraging words. We are so blessed and would not want to be in any other circumstance than in the will of God.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counselor? ~ Romans 11:33-34

Travis

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Our 2 Dads


Well, since Becky's last post things have become a little more interesting, as God is giving us more opportunities to trust Him and see Him work. Becky's dad is still in ICU on a ventilator, but is doing some better. The doctors seem to have a positive outlook on his status. Through Thursday his kidneys were still doing poorly, even a little worse. So, Friday morning they did dialysis, and did it again this morning. This will hopefully do the job his kidneys can't do right now, and that is clean out his blood of the poisons. Also, they have already started cutting back on the ventilator to allow him to breath minimally on his own. Continue to pray for his improvement and patience during the long road ahead.

With one dad already in ICU, my dad, Ray Gravley, was admitted in the hospital Thursday afternoon. My poor father has had a terrible January (since his retirement at the end of last year). I will spare the details, but they have found his colon in very bad shape. He is in the hospital to get nutrition through an IV and have further testing done to see what has caused this. They are looking at all the options.

We just praise the Lord that He has a perfect plan for each one of us. God has even used this time for Becky to be able to reach out to a family in the room next to her dad's. Please pray for Melissa and George, as they are in despair at George's condition. Pray for their turning to the Savior, who alone is good. Certainly, He works all things after the counsel of His will, and this brings us great encouragement. I guess I would say that is the primary prayer request for our 2 dads during this time -- that God would encourage them in their hearts to be patient and trust Him. They both have a long road ahead and certainly cannot proceed in their own strength.

Thanks so much for all the prayers and encouragement during this God-ordained time in our family.
Travis

Wednesday, February 7, 2007

Update on Becky's Dad

Things here with my dad are about the same. They actually from our standpoint seem a little bit worse. Dad had a very rough day today. He was talking pretty crazy and shaking a lot. They said it was from the toxins in his bloodstream and maybe from all the medication as well. Tonight around 6pm they put him on a ventilator so that he won't have to work to breathe. It seems very scary for this to be the next step, but everyone thinks it is best. He'll be able to rest and allow his body to heal. His kidneys are functioning now at only 15% compared to the 25% yesterday. The doctor said he actually went a little downhill today, so we are just trying to trust in the Lord's perfect will. He is always good. I know this even though sometimes it's easier to focus on the circumstance. Please pray for us that we will grow in Christ by focusing on HIM right now and not on our fears. We thank you so much for your prayers.

Monday, February 5, 2007

Please pray for my dad


Hey, everybody! I thought this would be a good way to get the word out quickly. My dad was admitted to the hospital yesterday morning (Sunday) with what they thought was dehydration from the flu. The diagnosis though is much more serious. He has a staph infection and pneumonia in his left lung. Because of the seriousness of the infection, his kidneys are doing very poorly. The toxicity has spread throughout his body and he is in intense pain. His blood oxygen levels are also very low and they will probably be putting him on a ventilator tonight to help with that. It's a possibility that they may do dialysis on his kidneys to help, but that will be a last resort. His body is just not responding to the treatment that they have been giving (antibiotics,etc.) So...that's the story so far. Everyone is doing pretty well emotionally (even my mom), so we're very thankful for the grace that the Lord is giving. We're not sure of the ultimate prognosis or anything like that...I guess that's the scary part, not knowing what could happen. My dad is a believer, so I'm so thankful to know that he can lean on the Lord. Thanks for praying. We'll keep you updated.
Becky