The Happiest New Year

From Emily:

This is truly a happy time as we ring in the new year. I (along with everyone else) have been so thankful for Dad and having him here to ring in 2012. I have actually sighed in relief when I think of this as we spend time with him in the sitting room. Dad says it feels really good to be home finally.

Dad is inspiring. Through this whole ordeal, he has not complained once or made one statement of self-pity. He has kept his spirits up and I think being home will help strengthen and encourage him. Please keep praying. I know Dad appreciates this. Pray hard for his swallowing and that he will soon pass his swallow test. Pray also for his endurance. Right now he is walking down the hallway and back, then needs to rest. It is a long journey to recovery, but the Lord is able. He hears our prayers.

First day at home

Blessed is the people whose God is the Lord!  Psalms 144:15b

Our day started a little later today rather than with the usual wake up call by the nurse assistant needing to take vitals at 5:30 a.m.  It has taken a bit of adjustment to get used to not having all the handicapped facitilies that we have been used to in the hospital.  A good part of the morning was taken up with the home health nurse assessing Hu's needs and checking his wounds.  It looks like we will have a busy schedule for the coming weeks with three different therapists and a nurse coming periodically during the week.  We are thankful for the opportunity which will allow the therapy to be done at home rather than travelling to numerous appointments while he recovers.

We feel blessed by the Lord and by you our friends.

Graduation

His way is perfect, for all His ways are just:  A God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He.  Deut. 32:4

To the clapping and cheers of health care workers Hu received his certificate of graduation from rehab today.  It is such a blessing to have him at home.  We thank the Lord for His healing hand on him during these last seven weeks.

During part of Hu's hospitalization we were thankful for the provision of having our sons David, John, and James with us.  We were also blessed one weekend to have our daughter-in-law, Emily, with granddaughter, Hannah, manage the details of our home.  Our other daughters-in-law, Lisa and Christa, who live overseas, took care of extra responsibilities for the children and ministry while their husbands joined us.  Just in time for Hu to be released from the hospital, James, Emily, and Hannah returned to assist us with the tranistion home.  This is huge for me because James works in the medical field and is able to bridge the gap between the vigilance of the hospital staff and my lack of medical expertise. 

The words of the song "Great is Thy Faithfulness" have been going through my head today.  What a faithful God we serve.

His Plans

Proverbs 16:3-4  Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. The LORD works out everything to its proper end...

I enjoy spontaneity but I do best when I plan ahead.  In November we were scheduled to help to care for our grandchildren for two weeks and then Hu's surgery came up unexpectedly and changed our plans.  We committed his hospitalization to the Lord before surgery.  However, never did we dream what a long and difficult path that would be.  Even though this is not what we would have chosen we know "The Lord works out everything to its proper end...". 

Please pray especially for the following items as Hu looks forward to his tranistion home:

• His swallowing has improved although he was not able to pass the test yesterday  (also continue to remember Garren as well)
• He has two significant wounds that will take months to heal
• He continues to work on endurance for basic activities

Thank you so much for your ongoing prayers for Hu and our family.

 

  

Looking Ahead

Philippians 3:13,14

But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Some things about our government irritate us at times. The rules they make sometimes seem to do more harm than good. However, many laws that govern health care are to our advantage. It is required that we be informed and we appreciate the information received in the preliminary talks with the Social Worker. Certain benchmarks have to be met for Hu to qualify for different levels of rehab and care. They have been very good at explaining our options.

It appears that Hu will be discharged soon. Some professional care will be provided in the home as far as we know at this time, but the family is expected to perform much of the necessary care. There are many things to consider, so please pray with us as we face and make the decisions. We want to be wise and practical in doing the things that will help Hu regain his strength and coordination.

The verse quoted above is speaking of spiritual perfection. While we are seeking improvement for Hu’s physical strength, we want to be sure that we take care of our spiritual welfare as well. Looking back helps us to mark progress as we move forward, far from those long days spent in intensive care.

How was your Christmas?

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 
Matt. 6:33

I've been amazed today by the numerous inquires by folks as to "How was your Christmas?"  It seems to be a common greeting and one that the expected reply is how did you spent your day and how was the food?  It is so easy to get caught up in that trap of considering things of this world to be so important in our lives that we miss the main reason of why we celebrate Christmas.

We were touched to have some visitors yesterday (knowing they were coming) I said to Hu, "Who goes to visit people in the hospital on Christmas?"  It just hasn't been something that had crossed my mind to do.  I was amazed at the families that had multiple generations gather together for a time of celebration here in rehab bringing gifts and a meal to share.  No doubt there were others though that were alone during the day.

One thing that has been an example to me during Hu's hospitalization has been the many ways that people have found to be an encouragement and help to us.  What a blessing that has been!

Hu has had a bit of a lighter day with physical therapy today. However, he seems to be gaining endurance day by day. Tomorrow morning he has a swallow test so we will appreciate your prayers for that.  His weight continues to be an issue so remember that in your prayers, as well, that as he regains his strength his weight will also be restored.

"It's what we do for Christ in the here and now that will make a difference in the then and there."  Max Lucado

HE IS BORN!

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.  Luke 2:14

Last night Hu and I read Luke 2 together and remembered once again the details of the story of our Lord's birth that we celebrate today.  What a miracle that was and how thankful we are that he came in human form as baby.

Hu and I are grateful for the medical miracle that we have seen in his life in recent weeks and that we are able to spend this day together. We thank the Lord for the medical personnel who are graciously serving us today while away from their family and friends.

We are so thankful for you as you have faithfully followed us and prayed for us.

Merry Christmas and may God bless you.

A Meaningful Tradition

Traditions are an important part of a family.  One of the our most significant Christmas traditions has been making and using Chrismons.  The word is a contraction of Christ and monogram.  They are Christan symbols which remind us of some attribute of Christ which along with small white lights are the only decorations on our Christmas tree.  Many years ago my mother introduced us to the concept of Chrismons and it has made our Christmas celebration more meaningful as we focus on Christ, the real meaning of Christmas.

I am grateful to be able to spend another Christmas with Hu after his difficult medical journey during these recent weeks.  We feel blessed that his health is gradually improving and that he has the opportunity to continue in rehab.

Our prayer for you today is whatever your family traditions are that your focus will be on Christ, Emmauel, God with us.

A Special Gift

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus or Lord. 
Rom. 6:23

Soon after Thanksgiving we received an email from Garren our great-nephew saying that he couldn't imagine anyone being in the hospital over Christmas and asking if Uncle Hu might have space in his hospital room for a small Christmas tree.  That brought tears to my eyes because at age 13 last February Garren experienced a ruptured AVM at the base of his brain.  Needless to say he was hospitalized for weeks following two surgeries and has endured ongoing tests and therapy since that time.  Even after all that he wanted to reach out to someone who was experiencing a difficult time medically.  Uncle Hu was touched by Garren's visit with his mom, Nancy as they brought that special gift to him.

Today Hu walked for the longest time in several days.  His therapy was very intense but he has been blessed with great therapists who have been encouraging and also stretched his endurance.  Day by day his body is getting stronger and that is what he needs for his wounds to heal.  He has lost a considerable amount of weight so pray that it might be restored.

On Sunday we are celebrating God's special gift to us of His son.  Usually people who are famous and noteworthy are born with great celebration and in the best of conditions.  How ironic that the God of the universe chose to send His son to be born in the lowliest of conditions--a stable and laid in a feeding trough for animals.  Then He was crucified and rose on the third day and now sits on the right hand of God.  He awaits the arrival of those that have chosen Him as their Savior.  What a wonderful gift we celebrate this Christmas!

Useless Worry

We would ask for your continued prayers for Hu and his sister, Barbara. Both have had a very difficult day medically.
 
There are two days in the week that we must never worry about.  One of them is yesterday.  Some people worry about past failures and mistakes when usually there is absolutely nothing that can be done about them.  It is far better to ask God for grace to forget.  This was Paul's method:  "Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before"  (Philippians 3:13).  Profit by your mistakes but never brood over them.  Learn from the unhappy experiences, but put them behind you forever.

In addition to yesterday, we should not worry about tomorrow.  Jesus said, "Take therefore no thought for the morrow."  This means that we are not to give anxious thought to worrying about it.  Tomorrow belongs to God.  If we worry about it, there is the danger of anticipating things that will never happen.  Our fears will be ungrounded.  The expected calamities will not come. The rest of the days are either yesterdays or tomorrows.  We need only face the responsibilities of one day at a time, while being assured in Deuteronomy 33:25, "As thy days, so shall thy strength be."  From this promise, it is obvious that the Lord doles out sufficient care for every situation; so we need never worry.

We need to realize that our God is a great God.  He is Jehovah-jireh, which means "The Lord will provide."  It matters not as to the extent of the need, God's promise never fails.


Dr. J. Allen Blair - Copied by permission

Perfect Peace

You will keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.  Isaiah 26:3

"Peace on earth, good will to men" is a familiar refrain that we hear during the Christmas season.  How much peace did you experience today in the hustle and bustle of life? What a special opportunity we Christians have to represent Jesus in a world of turmoil as we rely on the peace that only He can give to us.

Hu experienced a tough day today.  He says he felt like he ran a marathon.  Even though his body is so tired he continues to have God's peace in his life.

In His Hands

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7

As I think of many people in the Bible who faced bad situations I remember where they put their trust as they had those experiences.  Noah as he built the ark, David as he faced Goliath, Daniel in the lions' den, Joshua as he marched around Jericho, Paul as he was in prison and numerous others put their lives in God's hands for wisdom and protection. 

When Hu started his original blog before his medical journey he put God in control of the experience that was to come.  It has been his desire through it all that God woud be glorified through it.

Jesus was the one who suffered more than any human and although he knew what His journey would be like He still chose to come as a baby born of a young virgin.

No matter what we are facing as believers in the Lord Jesus we can rely on the fact that " God has not given us a spirit of fear".

Hu continues to work hard in his therapy sessions even though breathing is often difficult.  We are thankful to see progress each week and the Lord gives him the strength he needs for each new day. 

We would also appreciate your prayers for his sister, Barbara who was hospitalized this past weekend with fluid on her lungs. We trust that the doctors will be able to give her a diagonsis soon.

Encouragement from the Lord

Last night as I was leaving rehab to attend our life group I asked Hu if he had any prayer requests. He said, “Yes, I need encouragement from the Lord that I am improving”. I mentioned that to the group and this morning I received a special email from one of our friends in the group who has been faithfully praying for us. I would like to share part of it with you.

Psalm 103:1-5
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

I know Hu is looking for encouragement from the Lord. In my experience, when you’re feeling bad, it’s hard to feel encouraged until you actually start feeling better. Perhaps it will be easier for Hu to be encouraged by looking back instead of forward? Looking back, he’ll see Jesus’ love and presence throughout his life and this medical journey.

• V2: Think of all the “Good Things”: (you, your boys and their families, your friends and church family, the many daily blessings)

• V3: Remember the greatest gift we’ve all received: Forgiveness of his sins

• V3/4: Healing & Redemption from Death: Think on all he’s experienced thus far. Not too long ago Hu was in ICU - how and we were all uncertain we’d get more time with him on this side of eternity. What a praise!

• V4: Love and tender mercies: You’ve mentioned many times that the caregivers you interact with have worked with loving devotion on Hu. You’re now able to stay by Hu’s side and both get rest and have the comfort of each other’s presence, he’s been able to move some and had several great days with big physical accomplishments.

I hope that looking back, you and Hu will both find some of the encouragement you need to keep moving forward. The road to full recovery is long and the end probably doesn’t seem like it’s in sight (and maybe it’s not for now), but perhaps the encouragement you need each day is to remember that Jesus has been next to you every step of the way to this point. Satan wants us to forget this and does what he can to make us feel overwhelmed but God is bigger and wants you to be encouraged!

How blessed we are to have this friend and so many others that have come along side us in this time of need. We thank the Lord for each of you!

Sherril Harrill

IN THE WELL

Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire (Jeremiah 38:6).

We’ve become all too familiar with our surroundings at the hospital. The parking attendants, the servers in the food court, the janitor who drives the cleaning machine in the hall ways, and the host of care givers of all descriptions.

But, just sitting or lying in a hospital room is quiet another experience. Hu doesn’t see all those people just mentioned, but he does see fixtures on the wall, placed there for his benefit. There are lights, buttons, connectors, electronic gadgets, tubes, and cables, some of which tether him from time to time.

Jeremiah must have sat at the bottom of that well thinking, “How did I get myself into such a fix?” We think the same…how did Hu get into such a fix? That’s a fair question. Neither of them turned away from God. There was water contained in the muck and mire, but no water that Jeremiah could drink--and Hu can’t swallow although water is readily available! They used cords to put Jeremiah down into the hole in the ground; the nurses connect Hu to cords limiting his movements.

But, this is not the end of the story. Read on… Ebedmelech the Ethiopian heard about Jeremiah’s plight and he begged the king for help! Here’s where you, our prayer partners, enter the scene. Please pray for Hu’s deliverance from the well of complex health issues which he continues to experience.

Weary?

Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  Matthew 11:29

What a special promise from the Lord that He will take care of us even when there are many demands around us if we will just rest in Him. Usually folks feel the pressue of too much to do especially during the Christmas season. 

We thank those of you who have sent prayer requests to us so that we can be praying with you about them. 

Again today Hu's body is quite weak and he had to leave his therapy session early to rest.  Please continue to pray for strength for him.  It is difficult when he wants to move ahead but isn't physically up to it.  I shared today's verse with Him and we'll meditate on it throughout today as we find our rest in the Lord and I hope it will be an encouragement to you as well.

Too many trees!

Be strong and courageous.   Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you;  he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Deuteronomy 31:6

"I can't see the forest for the trees" is a saying that has been around for a while.  Occasionally I feel like that as I accompany Hu along his journey. Just when we think we are getting rid of a tube or bandage something else crops up.

Hu has three wounds that are not healing properly and are being treated regularly.   His body is so weak that it is difficult for them to heal.  Please pray with us that they will look much better soon as the possibility of his discharge approaches.

He worked very hard in therapy today (since he hit a low point yesterday) in order that he doesn't lose what he has gained thus far.  I can see the struggle that he goes through when he is asked if he can do "one more exercise" but he pushes forward as he awaits the opportunity to relax afterwards.

Hu's prayer last night was asking the Lord that he would not focus on his own health but on those in need around us.  We would welcome the opportunity to pray for you and your special concerns as well.  Feel free to drop us an email and share your requests with us at sherrilh@earthlink.net.  We'd be happy to remember you in prayer. 

CHANGING FACES

2 Corinthians 12:18
I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps?

Medical personnel have to have vacations, sick leave, days off, and holidays just like the rest of us. We must admit, however, we do get rather comfortable with the staff, and have to make mental adjustments when new technicians, nurses, and other workers enter the room.

Adapting to them also gives opportunities to show them to whom we belong. Just like the folks we’ve met in other places (like the elevator), we have been given this journey for a purpose. The verse above is about when Paul sent Titus and the folks in Corinth were a bit miffed because they wanted the familiar face of Paul! We need to be flexible too.

What a blessing it is to have people who excel in their work and who also really care about the patients. Thank the Lord with us for His provision.

The last 24 hours have been filled with challenges for Hu. Please continue to pray specifically for strength! The entire family appreciates your interest and especially your prayer support

A Missing Tool!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  Philippians 4:6

Have you ever needed to do a job and couldn't find the right tool so you improvised using something else but the job just didn't turn out the same as if you had found the proper tool?  Looking back on yesterday that is what happened to me.  I was discouraged and needed direction about how to prepare for the time when Hu will be released from rehab.  My "tools" yesterday were requests for prayer to friends and family.  While prayer is a good thing it wasn't the right "tool" for the moment.  I should have first taken my concerns to the Lord for His direction and then sought prayer and counsel from others.


This morning the Lord brought to my mind that He does not give us more than we can handle (with His help).  It is amazing the peace and encouragement the Lord has given today in ways that I didn't expect.  I was also wondering what people do who are facing difficult issues without the Lord's help.  What a blessing it has been to know that He loves me and cares about every detail in my life. Your prayers are being answered for Hu and our family.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Psalm 139:14

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

Most of us have not considered what it takes for a human being to survive, much less what it really takes to accomplish work or recreation.

Through this experience we have gained knowledge about the body we never would have otherwise.  If there’s a part or zone that malfunctions, the rest of the body is affected.  We have seen the importance of all parts, from the tiny hair like parts in the lungs that exchange oxygen to the large muscles in the back and shoulders.

Hu has made remarkable progress, but we are not on top of the mountain yet, so, please continue to pray for him.  Seeing him transformed from a deep sleep to standing and playing tennis and baseball on the Wii is a wonder.

Stamina continues to be an issue.  The lack of adequate lung function starves the body of needed oxygen and causes Hu to tire easily.

All of this reminds us that we are not in control.  We didn’t put the body together in the first place and as good as the medical profession is, and as much as we appreciate them, we are still in need God’s help!

Thank you for caring and thank you for praying.

A Gift from God

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24

God has done so much for us.  Our family is encouraged and thankful for the improvement that we have seen in Hu's health recently.  In the hospital I've seen so many people who suffer from long term conditions and and it makes me count my blessings and have compassion for them.

You may recall we asked for prayer back in February for our great nephew, Garren.  He
suffered a ruptured Arterial Venus Malformation (AVM).  He has made amazing strides in his recovery which truly is a miracle but among other difficulties he still suffers from not being able to swallow.  That is tough at any age but I would think at 14 it must really be hard.  I encourage you to pray for Garren and check out his story at www.geoffreyjanes.com.

Hu is able to relate a bit more now to Garren's situation since he did not pass his swallow test today. We know this isn't a surprise to God and it is all part of His plan.  Please pray for Garren and for Hu that this ability would be restored to them.

"Our God is Able!"

For nothing is impossible with God.  Luke 1:37

I was reminded of the song "Our God is Able" by a friend of mine in an email today.  How thankful we are to know that we serve a great God who does miracles beyond what we even dream.

Our family has been blessed by you who faithfully have shared Bible truths and prayed for us as we continue with Hu in this journey.

This is the first Sunday we have spent in rehab.  It has been a relaxing day for Hu, an opportunity to focus on what God has done in his life, catch up on his rest, as well as work on some of his exercises.

Tuesday is our next milestone when he will be re-evaluated by the staff and find out how much longer he can expect to be in rehab.

One step at a time

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  Philippians 4:6

Hu had a very light day with therapy today.  It gives his body a chance to rest and him the opportunity to relax although he has homework he has been working on in his room.

From Hu: "Thanks for your continued prayers for endurance in my recovery process."

Why are we here?

Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done.  The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.  Psalm 40:5

A month ago Hu checked into the hospital for his surgery which was supposed to be a 3-4 day stay.  Now he is in rehab.  Today he commented, "I should be progressing faster than this".  I reminded him how far he has come but I'm sure it is hard to comprehend when he feels so weak. 

This morning an extended family member sent me an email and in closing said "I believe you're still there for somebody".  That was a thought I hadn't considered.  We look at the medical steps it will take for Hu to be released but it is easy to forget about the plan that God has for his release.  Pray for us to have patience and be faithful in sharing with those that are part of God's plan. 

Tomorrow Hu has a very light day in rehab with only one hour of physical therapy.  Of course, in each session he is given plenty of "homework" to keep him busy over the weekend.  Pray with us that his body will continue to be strengthened.   We know why we are here--this is a part of  the tapestry that God is weaving in our lives--we see all the difficulties (strings) but he sees the finished product.

His hands

Praise the Lord, O my soul and forget not all his benefits--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.  Psalm 103:13

"God does the healing, I am His hands" is what one of our nurses told us.  How true that is!  We are grateful for all the medical help that Hu has received but in the end it would have been to no avail without God's intervention.

Our family has been blessed with good health so Hu's hospitalization has been quite an experience for us.  I thought that when he became a patient the total focus of the medical people attending would be on him and rightly so.  However, I was really surprised to see how interested they have been in my well being by answering my unending questions, insuring my comfort and checking to see that I got sufficient rest.  Pleasant and encouraging medical staff have made a difficult situation bearable for us.  The personal touches like a recliner with a warm blanket for me, the nurse that called me in the waiting room to "come right away--he opened his eyes and is following commands" (when he had been sedated) and the night nurse who told me you can call anytime during the night.

Today Hu reached another milestone when the trach was removed.  That seemed like his reward for all the effort he put into the day's tedious therapy sessions.  In spite of his weak body he continues to work hard toward regaining his strength.

We prayed for the medical staff before we arrived at the hospital and the Lord has answered our prayers abundantly as we have benefited from their care as an extension of His hands.

Grateful for the little things

In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:10

I have been thinking about all the little things that I take for granted.  Bathing, dressing, breathing, eating and countless others. Often I believe that I feel I am entitled to these things as a part of life. Today Hu learned how to bathe and dress himself while lying in bed. His breathing is labored and exhausting. We have seen a miracle in his life in recent weeks.  What a great reminder to me that the Lord who has been restoring Hu's health is the same one that allows me to live day by day. I must not take either the gift of life or the giver of life for granted!

No crutches

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good word and work.
2 Thess. 2:16, 17

Today was Hu's graduation to Rehab.  It is the step that we have been waiting for - one day closer to his discharge from the hospital.  We are excited for him but it means leaving behind "the crutches" of ICU and the Progressive Unit where he was closely monitored both in the room and at the nurses' desk.  Now we are flying without the monitors.  His breathing remains difficult and very tiring.  It is easier for him to breathe lying on his back but he won't regain his strength that way.  We have only gotten this far through the comfort and strength from the Lord.  As you pray for Hu ask the Lord to help him to rest well tonight even with the difficulty that he experiences and when he is awake during the night that the Lord will give His comfort.


      

Grace and peace

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2

On our way up the hospital elevator to visit Hu, a woman looked at us and said, "You know, we are all God's children." And then, on her way out, she wished us "grace and peace". That was a rather uncommon greeting, but yet, a great reminder of who we are and what we have access to through a relationship with Jesus Christ - an abundance of grace and peace! Who wouldn't want that?

Hu has been through a great trial over the past few weeks. While experiencing so much pain, the God-given peace that he displays has been such a testimony to me and many others.  I believe the true source of his peace is his knowledge of God and relationship with Jesus, as Lord. It has carried him thus far and kept him from losing hope. Praise God he was "up" (sitting, standing, or walking) for almost 6 hours today!

May we all find an abundance of grace and peace through Jesus Christ our Lord!

A note from Hu

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Phil. 4:4

Here is a note Hu wrote this morning that he wanted us to share:

I don't know where to begin in praising our Savior for His goodness and marvelous grace toward me and my family. I look forward to sharing with you lots of things I have experienced and learned from this journey. Thanks to all of you who have been His mouth, arms, hands and feet in extending His love to us.


Blessings in Him,
Hu


Hu was off the ventilator all night. Today his goal is to sit up for a total of 6 hours. We are rejoicing in his progress!

The Lamb

The next day John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  John 1:29


The night before Hu's first surgery a "young friend" stopped by and gave Hu a stuffed lamb.  She said, "I know this is so not Hu but I wanted to him to have this.  When I was in college I was into symbolism and hope that he will find meaning in this too".  The purpose of the lamb is to remind us of Jesus, the Lamb of God.  How easy it is to lose sight of the fact that Jesus is always with us whether we "feel" like it or not. The lamb has been in various parts of the hospital as we have moved about from room to room.  I hope you and I both remember today that "the Lamb" is with us.  I think of Peter when he walked on the water toward Jesus and took his eyes off Jesus then he got into trouble.   I need to keep my eyes on Jesus all the time!

This morning Hu sat up in a wheelchair for 2 1/2 hours, worked on his arm exercises and did a little reading.  He continues to be extremely weak and that much exertion wore him out.  The goal by tomorrow evening is for him to sit up a total of 6 hours during a day.  It is amazing what we take for granted.

Thanks for your prayer support.  It has meant so much to our family.

Shocking progress

Jesus replied, "What is impossible for man is possible with God." Luke 18:27

If God was limited in his power to do the things that were physically possible or imaginable for man, then we would have a pretty useless God. I'm so thankful God is not limited in that way, and we can expect him to do the impossible. This morning when the medical staff gathered to discuss Hu's progress they mentioned that they were shocked at how much he has improved in so little time. Praise God for Hu's "shocking" progress!

Today he went for his first walk in over 3 weeks! He walked to the end of the hall (about 40 feet). It took all the strength he had to do that much, and he was out of breath by the end. But, it was a great workout for day #2. The staff here have him on an aggressive plan to get him back on his feet and return to normal life.

Thank you for continuing to pray for Hu's healing and recovery. We look forward to watching God do the impossible and unimaginable!

Day 23 - First full day of "boot camp"

The first day of "boot camp" went well.  Hu was able to get out of bed and to a wheelchair (with assistance) where he sat for about 45 minutes after doing several standing and sitting exercises.  These exercises were done while holding on to a walker while a couple of nurses assisted him.  The therapist seemed pleased with how well he did for his first day of "camp".  He also had a swallow test and practiced talking with a device that they hook up to the tracheostomy.  After a full morning, he spent much of the afternoon snoozing.  Dad continues to write down lots of questions and comments for us and the nurses to read since he is otherwise unable to speak. 

Thanks again for checking in and for your prayers for Hu's recovery! We tell him about each email, phone call, and comment to the blog and he is so appreciative of your support and prayers.  Blessings to you!

Progress!

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (NASB)

Hu has picked out the verse for today! I asked him if he wanted to pick one and he nodded 'Yes'. Then he wrote out on the clipboard, "Phil 4:13". Praise God!

After 20 days in ICU, last night they moved him to a Progressive Recovery Unit.  This is a step between ICU and being in a "regular" room.  However, this is not your typical hospital room.  They call it "boot camp", as the main purpose is to get him moving again and off the ventilator as soon as possible.  After more than 3 weeks in bed he is extremely weak and needs to begin physical therapy as he is able to tolerate it.  At the same time, he is struggling to breathe, so you can imagine the uphill challenge he is facing.  You can see why the verse he picked would be significant to him right now! 

This morning there was a team of no less than 12 medical personnel gathered outside his room to talk about the game plan for the day - including speech therapists, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, nursing staff, and doctors.  They will reconvene like this every day to make a daily plan.

Because the purpose of him being in this unit is to begin therapy as well as to continue resting, Hu is still not able to have visitors.  The care in this unit is on par with the amount of attention he was receiving in ICU.  They plan to begin a "workout" program today.

Siana continues to improve and the doctors say that if all goes well, she may be released as soon as tomorrow.  Christa and Siana will head back home to Cambodia soon thereafter.  Thank you for praying for their situation as well.

We're very excited by these new developments!  Thanks for praying!