July 31 -Day 47

We have had lots of transitions the past few days so I'll try to give an overview. On July 30, 2012 after arriving to Kessler Dean seemed a little more pale than usual. On Tuesday morning, we began our morning devotions around 7:45 and after reading the third sentence he began to throw up. I alarmed the nurse for the mess on hand. He seemed to settle a little so they only began their assessment of his coma when the day came to an abrupt halt. Around 10:30 they laid him flat on his back to transfer him to stretcher in order to x-ray his clavicle, chest, and leg. As they wheeled him away I became concerned because I saw the same yellow bile seeping from the corners of his mouth. They were unable to do the x-rays because he aspirated. If Dean were to aspirate again or show any complications they would send him to the local hospital. His tube feeding was put on hold and substituted with sodium chloride and he was given antibiotics by IV. He seemed to calm down so they did a duplex doppler to check on the blood clot in his left leg. They discovered the blood clot had moved up into his groin; it developed in his left calf while he was at York. He would need an IVC filter to catch the blood clot in order to prevent life-threatening pulmonary emboli.

The doctors at Kessler took immediate action and called 911 due to his deep vein thrombosis (DVT) along with complications of his pulmonary aspiration. I rode along with him to Morristown Hospital and the Lord reminded me of our devotional which I didn't finish until around noon. It was about being unsure what course to take, so therefore completely submitting your own judgment to that of the Spirit of God and asking Him to shut every door except the right one. The scripture was Psalm 78:72 So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands. As I sat in the ER for several hours with Dean at an entirely new hospital with paperwork to fill out, new doctors to get to know, new nurses to meet, and our story to share, I pondered that perhaps this is very hospital we need to be at in order to receive the next level of medical care for Dean's injury. (I will share more about this is the next update. I'm lacking sleep and so I'm behind in my blogs). Most likely we wouldn't have considered this hospital if we had not chosen to go to Kessler in Chester, New Jersey. In what may have seemed a disappointment, God was actually preparing the way and guiding our steps. It doesn't dismiss our tears or take away the pain but it helps us to rest in the Sovereignty of our Lord. 

We were eventually moved upstairs to the fifth floor and the first night was very difficult due to the new environment and nursing care. Around 10:30pm Dean aspirated again so the nurse checked his residual bile and it was over 500cc. I struggle with knowing when something is wrong with Dean from my observations over past 49 days but lacking the medical knowledge or authority to address the situation. There have been countless situations of deep concern about his condition and care. Please pray for me in this area for Dean needs an advocate at all times as I've learned since the first day of his accident. I love my husband deeply and his inability to communicate is just one of the many reasons I must be by his side. It reminds me when Mordecai said to Esther, For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14) Dean needs a voice to represent him and many prayers!  We are instructed in James 5:16, Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

An encouraging poem from our devotional that morning:

As moves my fragile boat across the storm-swept sea,
Great waves beat o'er her side, as north wind blows;
Deep in the darkness hid lie threat'ning rocks and reefs;
But all of these, and more, my Pilot knows.

Sometimes when darkness falls, and every light's gone out
I wonder to what port my frail ship goes;
Although the night be long, and restless all my hours,
My distant goal, I'm sure, my Pilot knows.

-Thomas Curtis Clark 



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