July 16 - Day 32

Dean did well through the night and was ready to breathe on his own this morning! Even though his vitals have been steady all day, they will still rest him on the ventilator tonight. When the therapist laid him flat on his back to put his turtle shell on his right eye opened slightly. They sat him up on the edge of his bed for 30 minutes and were pleased with his trunk and neck control. During therapy, I rubbed his left arm repeatedly and said wake up. He opened his right a third of the way for several minutes and made an attempt with his left. He does not have a pupil response yet. He is very strong with his right arm and quick with his right hand. There are times of calmness and others of constant movement with his right hand. We must keep a close eye on him at all times so he doesn't pull anything out of place. Upon family request, he received a new bed with an air mattress that alternates pressure and low air loss therapy for the treatment and prevention of his bed sores. Dean's skin is tender and we want to prevent skin breakdown as much as possible. The doctor identified a blood clot in his left leg, and we pray that it will dissolve naturally. His facial fractures, blood clot, and sputum infection may all be causes for fever. His temperature was great today but he has a slight fever this evening. 

My prayer is that Dean would not be in a state of confusion when he awakes. I pray that Dean will have this Scripture in his heart and upon his lips as he awakes: "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee." (Psalm 139:14, 17, 18) 

The Lord encouraged my heart during devotions and this evening a nurse reminded me of a simple truth as we shared the faith. In light of the Love chapter (I Corinthians 13) verse 13 says, "And now abideth faith, hope, charity(love), these three; but the greatest of these is charity(love)."  Faith casts out unbelief; Hope casts out doubt; and Charity(Love) casts out fear. After a beautiful description of charity God says, "(Charity) beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth:" We must keep our hearts filled with faith, hope, and charity and let it overflow to others. My strength comes from the Lord and each day he fills my heart with hope, faith and love!



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