Friday, March 2, 2007

Update on Dad H.

I just got done writing an email to most everybody in our address book, but here's for the rest of you. Plus I did forget to mention a couple things.

Dad's status has not changed much today. He is unresponsive to external stimuli. They did an EEG this afternoon, which didn't really tell them much. Technically, they have termed him as being in an "alpha coma." I've been "googling" that for the last couple hours and can't find much to help my understanding. It is more descriptive than anything. It means that he is comatose and they are receiving mostly alpha waves from his brain. This is a very typical correlation to his lack of external responses. To be honest the prognosis does not seem very good, but the doctors are not making any conclusions from this. They want to wait out the weekend to see if he begins to show signs of reactivity. Please continue to pray during these vital hours. One positive note is that Dad is breathing on his own, though they still want the ventilator in.

Tomorrow he will have dialysis again to continue to address his poor kidneys. We will spend time talking and visiting with him. Again our prayer is that Dad will recover to some sort of consciousness or that God will take him. However, we are all yielded to God's perfect will. It has really been something to experience such pain and at the same time sort of feeling like we are knowing God more than ever before. Thursday I was struck with these verses in Psalm 73

25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.


As Becky said today, this situation may negatively affect our earthly lives in many ways both now and in the future, but there is such joy in the fact that this situation has no negative effects on eternity.

Ready for bed,
Travis

2 comments:

Karis said...

I write this with tears in my eyes not just because of your dad's condition but more because of the peace of God you are displaying as you gave the prayer request in your email "that we may display God's glory to those around us at this time." Thank you so much for the updates! We have really been wanting to call you, but we didn't know when would be a good time or if you had many cell phone minutes left so we are very thankful for the updates through email and blog. Tell your mom that we love her and are praying for her too!

Continuing to pray,
Love you guys,
Karis for all

Anonymous said...

Travis & Becky,

Kendra and Mom are keeping us up on your dads. We are praying for you all and rejoicing in the comfort the Lord provides. We love you and will continue to pray for grace, wisdom, comfort, and healing as the Lord wills.

Hugs to all,

Phyllis