Praise the Lord!

We thank the Lord for Hu's successful procedure.  He is back in ICU resting comfortably.  Thank you once again for your prayers.

Leave it at His feet!

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

This morning I received an email from a family member, Nancy, whose son, Garren experienced this surgery earlier this year.  She wrote, "The anxiety of the unknown can be tough.  BUT we serve a God who knows all and this is nothing new to him.  So we trust in him and allow him to take the anxiety from us.  I pray for Uncle Hu today and the doctors, nurses and everyone involved for their wisdom and expertise and loving hands.  For you I especially pray for peace and another glimpse of how God is in control of this crazy situation.  It's through his love and peace we keep going."

Later this morning as I was discussing Hu's procedure with his sister, Barbara, she told me how she had changed the way she prays.  Years ago she heard a devotional given by Hu's father-in-law, J. Allen Blair.   He had brought in several different books each with a different title symbolizing prayer requests.  One was "Job" another "Sister's surgery" and others.  He spoke about taking these prayer requests to the Lord and giving them to Him.  After the prayer was finished though he picked up all the books (requests) and took them with him reminding the group that when we pray about something we need to leave it with the Lord knowing that He will care for it.  A great reminder that He is in control.

Prayer changes things

James 5:16-18
The Message (MSG)
"Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again."


According to the blog we've had folks visit from all continents except Antarctica! It's wonderful to know that brothers and sisters in Christ all across the globe (literally!) are lifting up Siana and Hu to the Lord in prayer. What an encouragement this has been to us!

We are thrilled to report that Siana is doing much better today after being medevaced (sp?) to Singapore, where she has received excellent care. Thank you for your prayers. If all goes well, she will be released by the end of the week! We're so thankful for the care she is receiving as well as for her healing. Thank you Lord!

Thank you for your continued prayers for Hu. He continues to be in ICU at this time. He spends most of his day napping. When he is awake he is fully conscious and sharp as a tack. His body is very weak, and he has very little stamina. Yesterday I asked him if he wanted the lights turned off so he could nap some more. He motioned for the clipboard and wrote, "Is it ok for you?" Even on life support he still puts others above himself! What a great example of selflessness!

Tomorrow is a big day for him. He is scheduled for a tracheostomy (a surgically created hole in the front of the neck, which will be connected to the ventilator). Generally the limit with the regular breathing tube is 2 weeks. Between the two times he has been intubated he is approaching that limit. He will be sent back to the operating room tomorrow at 1pm to undergo this procedure. One person joked that he has a BOGO (buy one get one free) deal going with the operating room. Please pray that everything goes smoothly and that there are no complications associated with the procedure. The doctors feel that this is a necessary step to aid in his recovery and comfort in the days to come. Thanks for praying. Prayer changes things and us!

A new challenge

Romans 8:28  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

This morning I'm again reminded of one of Dad's favorite verses.  God promises us that He is at work even when we feel like things aren't going in the "right" direction. 

We have a new development in our family.  One of John's daughters, Siana (age 9), has become very ill back in their homeland of Cambodia.  She is now hospitalized with what they are calling henoch scholein purpura and will be evacuated to Singapore later today.  Please keep John and Christa in your prayers as they figure out how to manage this challenge and pray for God's healing touch on Siana. 

Dad is holding steady.  The latest is that the x-rays show that little has changed in his lungs in the past couple of days.  He did a breathing test today to help build up his muscles so that hopefully he can be removed from the ventilator soon.  He has developed a sore on his back, which is not healing well and is cause for concern should it become infected.  We are continuing to learn what it means to take each day one at a time and trust Him. 

Thank you for continuing to pray with us - both for Hu/Dad and now for Siana as well.  God knows what He is doing.  He is in control, and He is at work even in the most difficult of circumstances.



  

The Ride

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe." Proverbs 10:8

My life these days feels somewhat like a roller coaster ride--ups and downs. Like most people when I awaken in the morning I never know what it will be like that day. Today started off well with Hu somewhat alert and as the hours passed he became more communicative--at least as well as he can with a tube in his mouth and throat. I enjoy watching his eyebrows as he indicates his preference of choices for having assistance with things we take for granted. He has started to write things down which makes it easier to decipher his requests. He was given some breathing tests to improve his lung muscles so he can build enough endurance to come off the ventilator. He continues to improve very slowly and one of his qualities, patience, surely pays off in this painstaking effort.

Later one of his doctors came in suggesting that the bronchoscopy be repeated. That went well for which we are thankful.

In all of this upheaval I am reminded that although I don't know what to expect from day to day the Lord is unchanging and I can count on Him as "my strong tower" for the strength I need for each day.

I am so thankful to you for your prayers and your expressions of love during this time. Our family has been greatly encouraged by them.

In Christ's love,

Sherril

Day 18

Isaiah 40:31 "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

The past couple of weeks have been physically and emotionally draining; however, they have also been some of the most spritiually encouraging days I can remember as we have had more time than usual to reflect and think about God's promises to us. It's unfortunate that it takes something of this magnitude to really get our attention. I'm so grateful that He walks with us during these times and picks us up so that we can keep going.

Dad's condition remains about the same as yesterday. Not better or worse - just about the same. He continues to be on the ventilator and heavily sedated. He did have a breathing test this morning which indicated that he is currently too weak to breathe on his own. Please pray that he would have strength to breathe on his own, that his lungs would continue to heal from the pneumonia, and that he would be able to be removed from the ventilator soon. Thanks for checking in and wanting to know how Dad is doing.

Trusting Him,
David

Friday

Today was fairly uneventful, which we are thankful for. Dad seems very tired and has been sleeping a lot. When he is awake we are able to communicate with him by asking yes/no questions (since he's still on the ventilator). His lung x-ray looked better today, so he had a breathing test to see if he could breathe on his own. Unfortunately, it seems his lungs are not quite strong enough, so they will try again tomorrow. If he does well, they will probably remove the tube. So, please pray for him to pass the test. Thanks for the continued prayers.

Blessings,

John

Thanksgiving Day #2

 2 Corinthians 4:8-9,16-18 'We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed...Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."


Dad was a trooper with the tests this morning. He has developed a serious pneumonia which they are now treating with antibiotics. Although he cannot speak, he can hear us, and he knows that there are many folks praying. Thank you once again for your prayers and encouragement.

Blessings
David

Thanksgiving Day

Dear God,
We thank you for Dad and the blessing that he has been in our lives as well as to many others. Thank you that he has shown us Your ways, not just by words but by his actions. Thank you for his gentle spirit, his humble demeanor, and His love for you. We thank you for another day with him. Each day of life is a gift from you.
Amen


We've had a few serious setbacks since yesterday. He was doing so well - just about to be released from ICU. Dad has now been reintubated and is back on the ventilator. Again, he is fighting for his life. His breathing and CO2 levels had reached dangerous levels. The plan for today is that Dad will have a CT scan of his lungs as well as a bronchoscopy. As we know more, we will give updates.

Please continue to pray for God's hand in all this. We know that He is in control, and for that we are thankful on this day of remembrance. Thank you again for your prayers.

Gratefully,
David

A tough day so far...

Proverbs 24:10  "If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!"

On one of my recent trips to the hospital, a song came on the Christian radio station which really impacted me.  I don't remember the name of the song or the artist, but I remember the point - sometimes life throws us for a loop, and we realize that we can't go it alone.  We simply can't handle it on our own strength.  Sometimes we forget that we're not in control.  This experience has been a great reminder to me of that truth, but also of the fact that we have a God to turn to who is in control of everything - every step of the way, and that we can choose to trust and rely on Him. 

Dad is having a challenging day so far.  He was originally scheduled to move out of ICU.  Now that is being postponed.  He started having atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm) this morning and they have restarted him on some heart medication.  He also failed the swallow test for the third time.  You can imagine how discouraging that must be for him, as he is unable to eat or drink anything (orally) until he successfully passes that test.  His mouth and throat are extremely dry as a result.  They will continue giving him nutrition by way of the feeding tube until the swallowing improves.  They also needed to put him on a C-Pap machine to aid him with his breathing. 

Dad has come so far, yet he has so far to go.  It appears that he has begun a marathon, not a sprint.  Please continue to pray for these issues today.  Thanks again for walking with us and lifting Dad up to the Father today.

Blessings,
David
 

Up and down

Psalm 139:1-3 "You have searched me, Lord, and know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and lying down; you are familiar with all my ways."

Today Dad was determined to stand up several times (with assistance). It took all the strength he could muster up to stand for a few seconds. Finally, after the last try he was completely exhausted and laid back down on the hospital bed for a good nap. After looking at the x-ray, the doctor said Dad's lungs are still about the same, but we can be thankful that they are not getting any worse either. Pray for his lungs to continue to clear up. Praise God that tomorrow Dad will be moving out of ICU! He will move to a progressive room to work more on his breathing and strength. Although his recovery has a long ways to go, he's one more step closer to getting out of the hospital.

Blessings,

John

P.S. - Just after I finished typing this update, I got word that there are now no progressive rooms available. Please pray for an opening!

November 21

Psalm 36: 5-9 "Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, LORD, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. "

Thanks again for checking in on Dad's journey and the progress he is making. We continue to marvel at what God is doing, and how He is in control of everything. We thank you Lord for the gift of another day with Dad and for Your preservation of his precious life!

Dad's energy and strength continue to improve. Another milestone was reached today. Dad (with the assistance of two men, but mostly on his own strength) was able to move to a chair from the bed he has been in for about 11 days now. He was so wiped out from that short trip of about 2 feet, that he quickly dosed off in the reclining chair. After an hour or two, he moved back to the bed - with assistance but mostly on his own strength. Once again it wasn't long until he dosed off again due to the exertion of moving. We were pleased to see him make this effort and also to see him sleep a bit since its been difficult for him to get much sleep.

There is concern right now of a pneumonia and the chest xrays appear to have worsened in the last couple of days. The medical staff continue to keep a close eye on his lungs and are working with him regularly to exercise his breathing and hopefully speed up the recovery process. He will remain in the ICU until the pneumonia begins to clear up.

Please pray for:

1. Continued healing of the lungs, especially with the onset of a pneumonia process in each lung

2. That he will be able to pass the next swallow study. Although on an IV, his mouth and throat are very dry and it has become more difficult for him to talk. He is still on a feeding tube and says that it tastes terrible! We're glad that he has a strong opinion about it!

3. Continued strength and energy

We're thankful that:

1. He was able to spend some time sitting in a chair today

2. His chest drainage tube was removed, which has been in his chest since his first operation on Nov 9

Thanks again for praying with us to the God who's love is unfailing.

Blessings,

David

Approaching a '7'

Proverbs 24:10 - "If you falter in time of trouble how small is your strength."

Just a quick update tonight.  Dad appears to slowly be improving.  Today he said that he was close to being a '7' on a scale of how he felt from 1 to a 10.  This afternoon was the most alert I have seen him since things really went downhill a little over a week ago.  He still speaks very coarsely (almost like someone with laryngitis) and gets winded quickly.  He's able to string a few words together, and then he has to rest.  His ability to breathe and lung inflammation remain a concern and are being closely monitored by the ICU staff.  However, overall he appears to be improving bit by bit and his vital signs remain good.  Today he was moving around quite a bit in his bed.  When asked if he needed assistance, he said, "No, I'm just exercising!"  Please continue to pray for continued strength and energy.  He also could use a good night's rest, as that is something that has been lacking.  Thanks once again for your fervent prayers.  We see God at work.  We praise Him for progress and the healing touch on Dad's body!

Blessings,
David

Six

Last night when Dad "came to" we were so elated that he was awake and responsive!  I smiled at him and he smiled back the best he could through all the tape and tubes.  That smile made my eyes well up with tears of joy.  I asked him how he felt on a scale of 1 to 10, and I held up 10 fingers.  I asked, "Do you feel like a 10?"  He nodded 'no'.  Then I dropped one hand and asked, "Do you feel like a five?"  He nodded 'yes'.  Today, after he had the tubes removed, I asked him how he felt.  He SAID, "Yesterday I was a 5...today I'm a 6."  Praise God that the removal of the tubes was successful, that he is breathing well, and that he can talk! 

The speech therapist was very impressed with his voice (although quite hoarse) and his ability to swallow; nevertheless, they're going to hold off feeding him orally until his throat has more time to heal.

Later on in the day we walked in to see Dad after he had rested a bit.  To our surprise, he said, "Pull up a chair, and stay for a while."  James asked him who the president is.  He said, "Lincoln."  James asked him again, same answer.  James asked a third time and Dad said with a grin, "Obama."  What a hoot!  At the end of our visit we prayed with him and thanked God for what He is doing.  To our surprise, Dad whispered a short prayer when we were done.  Thank you Lord! 

Please continue to pray for Dad's healing - he still has lots of congestion and is very weak and tired.  He has come a LONG way.  He is still in ICU, but we're hopeful that tomorrow he'll be a '7' or an '8', and that he'll be out of there soon.  Thank you for praying. 

Blessings,
David

A note from Sherril - Resentment

"In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears" (Psalm 18:6).


Each night I’ve been staying at the hospital as late as possible to spend time with Hu. Thursday night John was with me and when we got home David and James were up chatting. During Hu’s hospitalization we have had numerous times of prayer either individually or with just two of us. However, since only two people have been able to be with Hu at a time, there have been few times when the four of us have been at the same location and prayed together. David and James had been discussing the need for us to get together as a family to pray for Hu and process what we were experiencing. “My plan” was to be at the hospital in the morning for the doctors’ rounds and then I would come home at 8:00 a.m. I awakened tired (short night) and resentful trying to reconcile why I was going to come home when felt I needed to be with Hu.

The doctors’ reports were pretty much the same as we had heard before with small changes in the medications. It came time for me to leave, and I was even more resentful about leaving and began to cry. The nurse wrapped her arms around me and asked what was wrong and if I was ok to drive. I assured her I was. I headed out of the parking lot still in tears and the parking attendant asked if I was ok and if I needed a hug. (Thank the Lord for sensitive people!) When I arrived home I made it quite clear that I didn’t think I belonged there in my emotional state. However, as we talked together and then took our feelings and concerns about Hu to the Lord in prayer those feelings of resentment and focus on myself subsided.

It has been four years since we were all together (with wives and some of the grandchildren) and probably more than 20 years since just “the brothers”, Mom and Dad have been together.

I’m thankful for our caring boys but more than that I thank the Lord that they are following the Lord and desiring through their leadership to do the right thing—even when Mom doesn’t seem to be on board. We now have a pattern in place to set aside some family time each day to pray and encourage each other as we continue to learn what the Lord is teaching us through this experience.

I learned a valuable lesson through that experience - that I need to focus on prayer even when it isn’t “my plan” for the moment because Jesus stands ready to listen—if I am willing.

In Christ’s love,
Sherril

He Speaks!

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."

All the physicians were in agreement this morning, and they decided to liberate Dad from the ventilator.  The breathing tube was removed, and he is breathing on his own and talking!  We are excited about this major milestone in his recovery. 

The above verse was especially meaningful to Dad as he prepared for the surgery.  Knowing that our only hope is to trust in God for Dad's journey has reminded me and given me peace that God knows the route and destination of Dad's journey.

Please to pray:
1.  For his ability to swallow after having the breathing tube in for several days. 
2.  Continued healing of his lungs.  They are still very congested from the inflammation.
3.  That there are no further complications.

Thank you so much for your prayers. We know that his recovery can only be from God.  We thank Him for another day with Dad.

~James

   

Tonight's excitement

Psalm 13:5 "But I trust in your unfailing love my heart rejoices in your salvation.  I will sing to the Lord for He has been good to me."

Today we began to get concerned that we hadn't had any response from Dad in over 24 hours. The doctors decided they should try changing the type of sedation and also do some tests to figure out why he hasn't been responding. Then, right before they took Dad in for the tests, he started to open his eyes again. After they finished the tests, the nurse called us to quickly come to the room. As soon as we got there, we saw that his eyes were open, and he was watching us. We asked him questions, and he squeezed our hands in response. He even raised his eyebrows to answer a few of our questions! We are so excited about this since its a good sign that his brain is still functioning normally. Praise God! Thanks for praying!

John

Please pray...

Dad is undergoing some important tests in the next few hours.  Please pray.

Blessed by friends

As we got closer to Hu’s surgery dates we received more and more offers from friends and relatives for assistance. Expecting routine surgery and recovery of a few days we were grateful but didn’t see a need to accept. Since there has been a change in the length of Hu’s hospitalization we’ve been so blessed already by acts of kindness by so many. Our leaves have been blown, meals delivered, calls and emails received to name a few of the ways we’ve been encouraged. I’m trying to take notes so I know what would be helpful for people in our situation in the future.

Having our sons here with us for support and encouragement has been tremendous. (I can’t forget their wives who unselfishly supported their decision to come while they stay behind in the roles of Mom and Dad.) As a mom I would love to be feeding our sons some of their favorite foods and making meals for them. However, one of our friends offered to help in that way by setting up a temporary meal program for our family. If you would like to have more information about that please go to http://www.takethemameal.com/meals.php?t=FNAQ7989 name is The Harrills. 

We appreciate your faithful prayers for Hu and our family during these days of uncertainty.

Love,

Sherril

Day Ten

Psalm 94:19 - In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul. 

This is day ten, and to be honest, we're tired.  We're learning anew what it means to trust in the Lord and rest in Him completely.  It's a struggle as it's not in our nature to let go.  Today, during our family devotion time we talked about how we sometimes get to a point where we have nothing to give, nothing to say, and the reality that we are facing now - nothing we can do to save Dad.  All we have is God and that is more than sufficient.  God doesn't expect eloquent prayers, He just wants us to rest in His arms.  The devotional we read spoke to me clearly with one specific phrase in particular - When we have nothing left but God, we'll find that God is enough.

PRAISE!! -  We just learned from the surgeon that the pathology report came back.  Dad's Dr. came beaming down the hallway to deliver the news..."The pathology report looks good.  There is no cancer in any of the lymph nodes.  It looks like we got it all in the mass that was removed."  He also said that "some of your prayers are being answered".  Praise God for this encouraging report!  God is good!  His comfort delights our souls!

Prayer requests -

• That Dad's breathing would continue to improve as he is on the ventilator
• That as he is weened off sedation that he would respond (he has not been responding to simple commands in the last 24 hours or so).  He needs to "wake up" so they can work on getting him off the ventilator and breathing on his own completely.
• Continued wisdom for the medical team that is working diligently to help Dad
• That we would be sensitive to how God is moving and respond accordingly

God is at work.  We're confident of that.  We don't understand it all; however, we can choose to take comfort in Him.  It's a choice that we're learning to make as we walk with Dad through this difficult time.  Thanks for praying.  God hears you!

Gratefully,
David

Rejoicing in another day

Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it."

What a difference it makes in my attitude when I remember that God is ultimately in control of everything that goes on each day. Would I have any reason to "rejoice and be glad" if I felt that everything just happened by chance? I know it is not just chance that my dad (and our family) is going through this trial. He is teaching us so much about who He is through this experience. I'm so glad that we have a Lord we can trust one hundred percent.

Lord, thank you for another day with my dad. We rejoice in this day for continually restoring Dad's health. Also, thank you today for:

a normal temperature

an improved chest xray

an improved white blood count

that Dad is breathing on his own (although still connected to the ventilator)

that he is responding to commands when the sedation is low

that his vitals are stable

Finally, Lord, we ask you to breathe strength into Dad's lungs, so he can have the breathing tube taken out, which is causing him extreme discomfort and pain.

John

Wednesday

The nitric oxide was stopped!  He has been off of it since 5am, and his oxygen level has been great.  They were able to stop the remaining medication that was keeping his blood pressure high enough.  He is on two medications to keep his heart beating in a normal rhythm, and he will probably come off one of those medications today.  Now that his heart/lung/blood pressure balance is more stable, they have started diuretics on him to help remove some of the fluid overload in his lungs and body.  They were able to take 2 liters out of his system.  Tomorrow we may be able to see if Dad can breathe completely on his own with no ventilator support. 

Dad had a new challenge added to the mix today when we found out that his lung culture came back positive for a couple kinds of bacteria.  They placed him on 3 heavy duty antibiotics right away, and they are waiting on the final identification of the bacteria to know how to fight them with the least harmful effects to Dad.  We are thankful his white blood count has improved and he has not had any fevers.  Hopefully, the bacteria in the lungs gets annihilated quickly with the big gun antibiotics.

Thank you for the prayers!  Dad is making strides in his recovery.

One Tough Guy

Today they lightened Dad's sedation, and I had to use some of my big-boy strength to keep him from pulling at his breathing tube.  We are thankful that after being medically paralyzed for 4 days his muscles are still strong.  He continues to improve, slowly in baby steps.  They have been able to eliminate some of the blood pressure, sedation, and pain medications.  Tomorrow, we are going to see how he will do off the inhaled nitric oxide, and maybe he will get placed on a style of ventilation that mimics the way you and I breathe.  His status is still very guarded, but he continues to move towards a recovery.

At 7:30pm we were blessed by others as we gathered and prayed for Dad in the surgical waiting room.  We were surprised to see a long-time-no-see friend show up.  He had flown in from Detroit this evening just to pray with us.  Thank you to those who prayed with us during that time all around the world.

David mentioned previously that last Friday evening Dad's oxygen level was dangerously low for an extended amount of time.  As a result, we do not know if he suffered any brain injury.  We were thrilled to see that he was following commands and moving his arms and legs with purpose today.  He was correctly answering questions with a nod or shake of his head, even when I asked him a trick question!  After the "20 questions" were done, he drifted off to sleep.  A few minutes later, he opened his eyes and scanned the room.  His eyes fell on me, and he gave me a casual wave as if to say “howdy.”  Even from the ICU bed with a ventilator and 12 IV bags hanging next to him, he was trying to reassure me.  I never would have thought that I would be learning something new about my dad while he was unable to speak or breathe for himself, but today I got a taste of his “farm boy” toughness.

I have always known my dad as a quiet and gentle spirit who trusts God and leaves all his concerns at God’s feet.  I had not seen his tougher side until now.  As I look back on his hospital stay, I remember how he again confidently agreed to go to the operating room for the 2nd time less than 48 hours after the 1st surgery.  He was calm as he struggled to breathe before they put him on the ventilator prior to his 3rd surgery.  He even mustered the strength to tell me he loved me while in the midst of his torment of failing lungs.  After his 3rd surgery on Friday, he struggled to breathe on the ventilator with flash pulmonary edema as the medical staff did their best to keep him alive.  During this, he would respond to our voices, open his eyes, move his eyebrows, and squeeze our hands at our request.  When I was growing up, he would make me laugh when he would wiggle his ears at my request.  That night I think he would have wiggled his ears if I had asked, just to reassure me.  Although I know Dad grew up on a farm, I know his “toughness” comes from knowing that he is right where God wants him to be.  He knows God is in control, and I am proud to have a father who is able to be strong and courageous in the most desperate time in his physical life.

Thanks/Praises:
1.  Dad is moving and following commands despite the insult of Friday night’s breathing difficulties.
2.  So far his cultures have not shown any sign of infection.
3.  The encouragement of the “howdy” wave.
4.  The support from family and friends has been a truly moving experience
5.  God is in control.

Prayer Requests:
1.  That he can come off the inhaled nitric oxide.
2.  Protection from further complications and a miraculous healing to his body.
3.  That Dad’s journey will continue to speak to others as a testament of God’s goodness.

Thank you for reading.  I hope this is an encouragement to you.

Gratefully,

James

Prayer time tonight 6:30-7:30

Proverbs 18:10: "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe."

I can't help but think that Dad knew. It seems that he knew something bigger than a routine surgery was about to transpire. We were pretty sure that the tumor was malignant even before the surgery. Dad had such peace and courage about him.  As I look back at the days and hours leading up to his first surgery last Wednesday, I can't help but think that God was preparing Dad for something bigger. For example, the verses that I am sharing with you each day are verses that Dad felt God was using in his life in a special way.

Dad had a good night and continues to improve. He continues to be sedated and on the ventilator; however, they continue to lower the medications that he is on and he is responding well.  His vital signs are good.  He is a bit squirrely, since they took him off of the paralytic medication. It's good to see him moving around a bit.  We're also keeping a close eye on him to make sure he doesn't yank out his ventilator tube!

We'd like to welcome you to join us in prayer this evening from 6:30-7:30pm at the Carolinas Medical Center, Sanger Heart & Vascular waiting room, on the third floor. Their phone number is 704-355-4700 just in case you need further directions.  If you are unable to join us in person, we would love it if you could join us in prayer at that time, wherever you are.  According to the blog, there are folks in at least 10 countries who are checking on Dad's progress.  Thank you for your concern!

Thanks again for stopping by the blog today as we journey with Dad and wait to see what God has in store.  We hope you are blessed today as we have been remembering that God is our strong tower in the midst of life's storms.

Blessings,
David

Dad opens his eyes!

Just a quick note. They tapered off the medication that was keeping Dad in a paralytic state. The nurse asked what he likes to be called and we responded with 'Hu'. The nurse began calling his name and talking directly to him since he had begun moving around a bit since the medicine had tapered off. Then Mom got real close to him and spoke a few words, and he opened his eyes right up! He did this several times. We are so thankful for this step! Thank you Lord! Please pray for continued healing and that Dad gets good rest tonight.

Trusting Him,
David

Day Six

Lamentations 3:21-23: "The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning: Great is Your faithfulness."

Overall Dad had a good night.  He did have a little bump in the road with his oxygen level going down; however, with some changes to the ventilator settings, his oxygen level improved.  By morning he was back at his original ventilator settings.  They continue to slowly ween his supportive medications, although he remains sedated and paralyzed from the medication.  His body temperature is normal and his vital signs continue to look good.



Progress is slow.  We wish it were faster. We're beginning to realize that this may be much more of a marathon than a sprint.  


Praises - Dad's fever has subsided, and he had a good night.  We praise God for His provision in very specific ways for our family. 


Prayer requests - That Dad could be weened from the nitric oxide that he is currently on so that he might be put on a different mode of ventilation that mirrors a more normal breathing pattern.  Continue to pray that there are no further complications such as blood clots, additional infections, etc.  Please continue to pray for healing of the lungs and decreased inflammation.  Pray that all of us would have the peace that passes all understanding.  Pray that God would continue to use this situation to bring Him honor and glory and build His kingdom.


We have a great God.  He has blessed us with a wonderful father/husband.  We realize that there is nothing we can do at this point.  Nothing but wait and trust the God of the universe to do what is best.  What great comfort there is knowing that our hope is in God almighty who works all things for good.  

Thanks again for walking with us through this journey.  It means more than we can express.


Blessings,
David (for the family)

Sunday night update

Romans 8:28: "We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose."

Today there was some concern about Dad's elevated body temperature, so some cultures were taken to rule out an infection.  Those cultures will take about 48 hours for results; however we're hoping that the elevated temp is related to the inflamation in the lungs rather than an infection.  His status has become more stable throughout the day in every vital sign - oxygen level, heart rate, blood pressure, fluid balance, etc.  This is a huge praise!  They have been able to begin "feeding" him today, which should aid in the healing process.  He continues to be completely sedated and the ventilator is breathing for him.  The medical staff is pleased with Dad's progress and feel things are moving in the right direction.  Tonight we were "kicked out" of the ICU for a couple of hours.  That is actually a good sign as they see Dad as being more stable.  Praise God!

Praise - We're thankful for the progress and the excellent care and attention of the hospital staff towards Dad and our family.  We're thankful for John's safe arrival from Cambodia. 

Prayer requests - That Dad will tolerate the "feedings" well, that the fever subsides and is not related to infection, and for continued healing of the lungs.  Also pray that no new complications develop and that his vital signs continue to improve.

Thanks for walking this journey with us.  We need you.

In Him,
David  (for the Harrill family)

Message from Sherril/Mom

Today as I was reading my devotions to Hu a verse in Psalms stood out to me.

Psalm 79:13

The Message (MSG)

¹³ Then we, your people, the ones you love and care for, will thank you over and over and over. We'll tell everyone we meet how wonderful you are, how praiseworthy you are!

This morning as I was walking down the long hall to the Intensive Care Unit I was reminded of one of my daughters-in-law, who is posting something she is thankful for every day this month on Facebook. Although I haven’t mastered the art of using Facebook, the idea did prompt me to think about what I am thankful for today. I wanted to share some of the things that have come to my mind.

· Jesus who died for me and rose from the grave so that I know I have eternal life

· Hu, who has been the love of my life for the last 45 years, and his heart's desire that his surgery experience “glorify Christ”

· My children and their wives who are standing with us during this difficult time—each has assumed a different role during this difficult family time

· Our eight grandchildren who have been praying for Abuelo/Ye ye

· Extended family members and friends who have been available all time of the day and night to help with unique tasks in any way they can

· The numerous doctors and nurses that have been involved in Hu’s care (including the one that put a warm blanket around my shoulders as I read our devotions to him this morning), who so willingly keep us informed of his treatment

· You, our friend who have encouraged us by your prayers and numerous acts of kindness

· Technology that allows us to keep in touch and share updates with you (and our sons that have made this happen for us)

My prayer requests for today are:

· That Hu's heart which has been weakened by the surgeries will strengthen so that it will help to keep other functions on a normal level

· That the medical personnel can see through us that no matter what happens in this life, it is eternity that counts

Love,

Sherril

11:00pm update

Hu/Dad continues to hang in there.  He's still in critical condition, but his vitals are good.  The medical personnel in the ICU have been able to back off considerably on the medications they are giving him; however, he remains on a ventilator and under complete sedation.  Specific prayer requests are that his vital signs continue to improve and that the inflammation in his lungs would subside.  We are trusting in Him.  We know that the Great Provider is able to heal Dad, and that is our earnest prayer.  We also know that He knows what is best.  Dad had an incredible peace about going into this situation, and talked about it often.  We look forward to seeing how God is going to use this for His purposes.  He is in control!

We're excited that our brother, John, is scheduled to join us tomorrow, as he arrives from Cambodia.  Thank you once again for the outpouring of support and prayers.  You have blessed us so much.

In Him,
David (for the Harrill family)

Dr's Update - 4:00pm

Hu/Dad continues to be stable but critical.  The folks in the ICU are pleased with his progress today.  Overall he's had a good day.  His numbers have improved.  Initially there was concern that he may have suffered a heart attack due to the shock of the 3 surgeries; however, the medical staff feel that there has not been any damage.  Please pray that he has a restful night and that his body continues to heal.  Thanks again for praying.

Jeremiah 29:11

As many of you know, this verse has had a special significance to Dad and many others as he began this journey.

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

The Message (MSG)

^10-11This is God's Word on the subject: "As soon as Babylon's seventy years are up and not a day before, I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

He knows what He is doing!  Wow!  Only God knew how much this verse would mean to our family at this time.  Knowing that He is in control and cares about every detail of our lives has brought on new significance to us.  I hope that this promise is an encouragement to you as well in whatever you may be facing.  God is able and knows whats best for us! 

At this moment Dad continues to be stable, yet critical.  They are trying to bring down the different medications that he is on to see how his body responds.  So far, so good.  His heart is weak, most likely due to the trauma he has experienced with the surgeries and transfusions.  We expect a more comprehensive update this afternoon, so we'll be sure to pass that on once we know.

Thanks again for standing (or kneeling is where I have been most recently) with us in prayer.

Trusting in Him,
David  

Saturday, November 12 - 1:00pm

Dear family and friends,

It has been quite a journey thus far.  One that none of us anticipated or could have even imagined.  We have gone from a fairly routine procedure to a very critical situation with Hu.  It has not been easy.  We are resting in God's promises as He is faithful and sovereign.  Your prayers and God's strength have been crucial in sustaining us over the last 72 hours.     

We want to thank all of you who have been so supportive with phone calls, emails, food, offers to help in anyway, and most importantly with your prayer support.  We humbly ask that you continue to pray for our dad/husband as he continues his journey.

My dad had started his own blog, which many of you had been following.  In case you have not seen it, the link is www.huharrill.com

Here's the update since his last posting:

On Wednesday, Dad had a successful resection of the lobe of the right lung that had the malignant tumor.  He was able to get up and move around with some assistance the following day and was eating some of his favorite foods - broccoli!  However he continued to bleed significantly from his chest tube.  The bleeding continued and finally caused him to pass out as a result of losing so much blood.  The surgeon felt that he needed to take him back into surgery Friday morning in order to find the site that was actively bleeding.  Following the second surgery, he developed difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation in both of his lungs due to the significant amount of transfusions needed.  This required that he be put on a ventilator to assist with his breathing.  Shortly afterwards he had increased bleeding from his chest tube to the point that the surgeon felt that he would need to take him back to surgery again for a third time (second time in the same day) to find the source of bleeding.  In both cases, sites were identified as bleeding and they were treated.  Since then it appears that the bleeding is under control.  However, due to the massive trauma of 3 surgeries, multiple blood transfusions and massive amounts of IV fluids given, his lungs are severely congested and inflamed. He is now severely critical and is in the cardiovascular intensive unit.  Dad is in a room typically used for heart transplant patients who are recovering from surgery.  Last night Dad was extremely critical and unstable and the medical personnel were working very hard to stabilize him.  Today he remains extremely critical although he is more stable than he was last night.  We are thankful for the efforts of the staff in the ICU and the support we have received from those surrounding us.

Specific praises (Dad calls them God sightings):
- Dad is still with us today and that he made it through a very difficult night
- Thankful for the heroic support and the kindness of the medical staff who have worked on Dad, especially last night in the ICU
- Thankful that the bleeding has been controlled by the surgery

Specific prayer requests:
- Inflammation and congestion in his lungs to improve
- For his heart rate and blood pressure to stay in a normal rhythm (as this has been an additional concern)
- The medical staff working with Dad to have wisdom and discernment
- That God's will would be done and that we would be open to see what He is doing through Dad's journey

Thanks again for journeying with us.  We cherish your prayers.

Blessings,
David (for the Harrill family)

This Is The Day That...

What a full day yesterday was...beginning with a trip to the voting place to cast our ballots in the local elections, then a workout at the gym, errands and time on the computer setting up bill payments for the next two weeks and taking care of a couple of fix-it jobs around the house.  Then a run to the airport to pick up one of our sons who was coming in.  Another one had come earlier in the day and helped me with a yard project.

I might have begun to think I was preparing to go on a vacation, except for one thing.  All day, interspersed within and around these activities, were continuous reminders that this was no ordinary "trip".  The phone rang incessantly with calls from friends and family letting me know they were thinking about and praying for me, even whole groups of people were praying.  In the afternoon a friend of Sherril's showed up with a lasagna dinner.  Later, two couples from our Life Group arrived to pray with me.  A little later a friend dropped by with a special gift and a hug.

Besides all these, I'm sure that many of you reading this have been part of a continuous concert of prayer on my behalf.  For certain, my sense of peace and desire to make this an opportunity to reach out to others is a direct answer to those petitions.  That's not my nature.  I'm convinced that as God heard those prayer, so He also has heard your requests for recovery and healing.  My prayer is that you, also, may experience the same peace and sense of His presence in your life.

Yes, "this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:4)

The "Sightings" Continue

This is too good, not to share it with you... (But it won't make good sense unless you have read my Oct 26th post FIRST!)

The following is an email exchange Sunday evening between me and one of our close friends from church (I've changed names for the sake of privacy):

From: Jane

Sent: November 06, 2011

To: Hu

Subject: Jeremiah 29:11

Just had to share with you that Jimmy brought home a note card about what they will be studying in church for November and the Memory Verse for the "Big Kids" is none other than Jeremiah 29:11!!! God is definitely impressing this verse upon our hearts right now! Praise Him!

From: Hu:

To: Jane

I don't know what the Lord is up to, but it's exciting to be a part of it and to watch what He does!

From: Jane

To: Hu

I know; it brought me to tears. This is the second time He has spoken to me this way and I am most certainly listening. It is exciting and overwhelming, I can't put into words how it makes me feel. God sightings!What an amazing God we have the privilege of knowing and worshiping!

A Rickety Scaffold

In a recent email, someone kindly referred to me as a “tower of strength”.  I felt immediately encouraged, but before I could get to feeling too proud of myself, the Lord brought a vivid image to mind.

I suddenly pictured a common scene from a trip to China that Sherril and I made many years ago.  I was impressed with the number of high-rise buildings going up everywhere.   But I was also appalled at some of the construction methods, in particular, the rickety looking scaffolds made of bamboo and rope rising tens of stories above the ground level. 

   

How could this primitive scaffolding stand so high and support the crews working on them?  Two important things, I noticed, about these temporary structures.  They generally did not rise above the building, and they were secured to the permanent structure as it progressed upward.

I remembered a verse (Proverbs 18:10) that says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runs into it and is safe.”  In the Hebrew culture a person’s name was considered to be synonymous with who he was.  I got the picture.  The real tower of strength is the Lord, whom we do not see, but if we, rickety as we may be, are securely anchored to Him and do not try to elevate ourselves above Him, His great strength becomes ours.  And what is it that anchors us?  Our faith, and even that is His gift (Ephesians 2:8).  No room for pride here!

A Step Closer

Today was a big day with the pre-op processing. (And I thought all of the tests were over...)  It began with an excellent orientation by one of the head nurses, including a tour of the hospital floor where my room will be and the recovery area, which is like an ICU for patients having thoracic and cardiac surgeries.  After surviving a couple of blood extractions, chest x-ray and EKG we were on our way again.  We continue to have admiration for the quality of care and personal touch that we have experienced.

We're set now to go into CMC Main at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday.  Surgery will probably not start until 3-4 hours later and typically takes up to 3 hours.

I continue to be sustained by God's grace in a way I never would have imagined.  On the other hand, it's hard for me to imagine how those who face similar uncertainties and trials can endure without the assurance that we, who know Jesus, have in Him. 

You already know how He has used Jeremiah 29:11 to play a role in this.  Well, I have another one for  you...  Yesterday, a family member came to the door with a small gift for us.  It was a beautifully framed version of that verse...with one small addition.  After it is says, "For I know the plans I have for you,"  they had inserted our names, "Hu and Sherril".  Now that makes it personal.  Try putting your name there also, and let it speak to your heart!

Keeping the Right Focus

Today, we met with the surgeon (a week earlier than originally scheduled because of his cancelled vacation) and set a date of next Wednesday, Nov. 9, for removal of the affected area in the right lung. The probable scenario is 3 or 4 days in the hospital if they are able to do the operation with a minimally invasive procedure called VATS, which uses a video assisted scope.  Otherwise, it could be twice as long or longer.

We felt the surgeon was knowledgeable, competent (has done 270 operations of this nature), personable and willing to take the necessary time to explain everything to our satisfaction.  He was very gracious about our request to have our PA son James on the speakerphone to participate in the consultation.  (Thank you, Lord!)

I’m glad to report that God’s grace is still keeping me in His peace.  Thanks to each of you for your continued prayers and words of encouragement.  Sometimes it’s hard to keep the focus on others when so much activity and discussion is going on concerning me.  That’s an important area where your prayers are helping to make a difference.

For example, Sherril and I had an opportunity to share with the surgeon how his being available today was an answer to prayer, and we promised to pray for him about an illness he is facing in his own family.  It turns out that this was the main reason for his decision to cancel the vacation.  Would you please remember to pray for him, too.