New day---New room

Joseph and I were sleeping soundly when the phone rang at 5AM.  We were going to move to the 6th floor.  Great news but tough timing!
 He is now settled in to 6th floor west.  He was able to eat breakfast and is doing great.  His numbers continue to show strength and they are even talking about letting him go home tomorrow instead of Friday.  We will see how today goes as they eliminate more meds and Joseph continues to get stronger.  Joseph tells me that he is not in any pain and he is comfortable.  Mary did a great job with him yesterday getting him through the tough tube removals and he is benefiting today.
It would be impossible to thank everyone who has helped but a special shout out goes to Anna, Mike, Christina, Steve, Kevin and Assumption School staff-- who have been taking care of our girls while we tend to Joseph.  It is a gift to know that they are in good hands while we are with Joseph.
May God bless you

Kenny

The end of a long day

I have a cell phone app that sends a bible verse every day.  Today's verse is Hebrews 12:1-2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
It was a perfect verse as Joseph was surrounded by a cloud of support through prayer and he laid aside all the weight(tubes) and showed his endurance.  There is joy in the struggle when looking to Jesus!
He is sleeping now after tough but successful day.  Wednesday he will move out of ICU and go to sixth floor.  He is one day closer to going home.  If he continues his progress he should go home by Friday. 

Amen!

Kenny

Less is more

Preparing for and during surgery, Joseph was fitted with no less than 22 tubes or sensors that monitor, provide input for medications, drain or input fluids, help him to breath and nourish him.  It is quite the bowl of spaghetti that is attached to him. Today is all about removing as much of that apparatus as possible while still allowing for proper care.  So far 12 items have been removed and 3 more at least will go away by evening. It seems that the tape removal is the toughest!  Joseph is awake but groggy and gets agitated each time he is poked and prodded. He is being tough and has even managed some smiles.  We were laughing as he teased his nurse in between grimaces as he told her that Thomas the Tank Engine is purple (believe me, Joseph knows every character in Thomas the Tank Engine and Thomas is definitely blue)  He smiled when we called him on it and  that was when we really knew that he was returning to his usual great attitude. He has a ways to go however.


This is a much tougher day for him but all the doctors and staff are happy with his progress and go out of their way to encourage and provide the best care possible.  Assisted by the spiritual care provided by all of your prayers, Joseph is healing quickly and after a few more days will be well on his way to a full recovery.

Thank you

Kenny and Mary

Joseph had a good night

Joseph was able to sleep well and his numbers are very good---and there are lots of numbers!  They count everything!  His heart rate, fluid intake, oxygen level, fluid outflow, respiration rate, respiration strength,blood pressure, temperature, and a few things that I cannot read, are all tracked and noted.  They take a blood sample and send it to the lab and that gives them a whole page of numbers!  So when they say his numbers are very good it is really saying something!

May you have many good numbers today...

Kenny

Time for a good nights sleep. Thank you all so much

Prayers are powerful things.  It has been quite a day.  Our family is fortunate to have such a great "support group" out there. We wish you all a peaceful evening knowing that God is good and Joseph is doing well. 

Breathing on his own. No ventilator! Resting comfortably.

resting comfortably. Taking the breathing tube out soon.

Doing Well!

I just got to see him.  He is still sleeping.  His numbers are good but they had to leave his breathing tube in.  They will take that out tonight.  He has only been awake a few seconds at a time and is very out of it. 

Your prayers are working.

Thank you--Kenny

He is out of surgery and everything went well!

Our blood pressure is returning to normal. 

We just got word --- main surgery done! They are closing him up.

So far so good

It takes awhile to set up all the plumbing.  He will have lots of tubing when he gets out.  The tough part of surgery is coming up.  Here is a picure of Joseph when we checked in:

Here he is just before surgery---He would not smile but he was in good spirits:

Keep the prayers going!

Joseph has the same anesthesiologist as before. He is in good hands.

They took Joseph in early. The surgery should be about 3 hours.

Joseph is in surgery