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