Update 3/6/07

I praise the Lord for this ability we have to communicate so readily. This certainly has been an effective tool to get out information and receive your encouraging words. We are so grateful for all your prayers. We certainly can sense God's working in all these situations. Becky's Dad's status has not changed much. The docs spoke with Becky, Andy, and their Mom yesterday concerning Dad's prognosis. They told them that Dad will be in this coma indefinitely (medically speaking); however, they cannot say for sure that he wouldn't recover, because there are cases of recovery on record. Especially with a God with our God's power, there still is hope. The docs broached the topic of long term care or removing the different modes of life support. They told the family to not make a quick decision and assured them that they (the docs) would do whatever they asked. As Beck and her family have been praying, seeking the Lord, and talking, they have decided to proceed with putting in a feeding tube and doing a tracheotomy on Thursday. This will prepare Dad for entering long term acute care in a facility yet to be determined. Actually, as I write this Becky, Andy, and their Mom are driving back from Philly to look at a couple of these facilities. They are very encouraged about this move as it will bring Dad closer to home, place him in a high quality facility (not a nursing home) designed for people like Dad, and give the family more time to pray and think about future decisions. He could move as early as next week. Another praise is that Dad's kidneys are actually improving. Please continue to pray for his kidneys that they would completely heal. This would be a great step in the right direction.
The Lord has continued to minister to our spirits. Becky's Mom has been praising the Lord for giving her a settled peace that she knows is not based on her circumstances since they are very poor at this time. He is really ministering to her heart, which is a direct answer to one of my prayers. He is so good!!
While this has been going on, my Dad has still been recovering from his recent hospital stay, especially the surgery he had to remove blockage in an artery in his leg. My Dad's incision and leg have been bothering him with swelling and discomfort, so he went back to his vascular surgeon today. His doctor feels something is not right so he admitted him again in order to have surgery tonight (5:30 or 6 pm). The purpose of this will be to drain the swelled area and look around for any further problems. Please pray for my Dad as he has been struggling for some time. The Lord is also giving my parents a sweet peace and comfort during this time.
What can we say, but God's ways are not our ways! I rejoice that these situations are not up to us to figure out. We simply must trust the One who upholds all things. My cousin Ann Wright gave us a great passage to meditate on -- 2 Corinthians 4:15-18

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Thanks Ann!

Seeking the redounding of God's glory,

Travis (for the Heckathorne and Gravley families)