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
Other Entries
- 2 years later... Love perseveres
- Neurofeedback
- One Life, One Race
- To love and to cherish...
- 5k Run/Walk & Bake Sale
- Love Endures... 2 years later!
- Praying & sitting through the night!
- New Day, New Beginnings!
- Going Home!
- Undeveloped film
- Prayer Chain - 11/30/2012
- A corridor of hope
- One Step Closer to Home
- A Heart of Praise
- Names, Pickles & Hot Dogs
- Tube Removed, On the cheek, & whistles
- Prayer, Husbands & Yellow
- October 14 - Family Time
- October 11 - Brief Update
- Believe, Birthdays & Bananas
- Tubes, Wars, Straws, Keys & Tools
- Swallowing and Standing
- The Awakening Phase - Day 97- 101
- September 18 - Day 96
- September 17 - Day 95
- September 16 -Day 94
- September 15 - Day 93
- September 14 - Day 91/92
- September 12 -Day 90
- September 11 - Day 89
- September 10 - Day 88
- September 9 - Day 87
- September 8 - Day 86
- September 3 - Day 79-81
- August 31 - Day 78
- August 30 - Day 75-77
- August 27 - Day 73/74
- August 25 - Day 71/ 72
- August 23 - Day 70
- August 20 - Day 67
- August 19 - Day 66
- August 18 - Day 65
- August 17 - Day 64
- August 16 - Day 63
- August 15 - Day 62
- August 14 - Day 61
- August 13 - Day 60
- August 12 - Day 59
- August 11 - Day 58
- August 10 - Day 57
- August 9 - Day 56
- After Surgery update
- Surgery Update -Phase 1
- August 8 - Day 55
- August 5 - Day 52
- August 4 - Day 51
- Prayer and Fast Day
- August 3 - Day 50
- August 2 - Day 49
- July 31 - Late report
- July 31, 3:45 p.m.
- July 30 - Day 46
- July 29 - Day 45
- July 28 - Day 44
- July 27 - Day 43
- July 26 - Day 42
- July 25 - Day 41
- July 24 - Day 40
- July 23 - Day 39
- July 22 - Day 38
- July 21 - Day 37
- July 20 - Day 36
- July 19 - Day 35
- July 18 - Day 34
- July 17 - Day 33
- July 16 - Day 32
- July 15 - Day 31
- July 14 - Day 30
- July 13 -Day 29
- July 12 -Day 28
- July 11 -Day 27
- July 10 - Day 26
- July 9 - Day 25
- July 8 - Day 24
- July 7 - Day 23
- July 6 - Day 22
- July 5 - Day 21
- July 4 - Day 20
- July 3 - Day 19
- July 2 - Day 18
- July 1 -Day 17
- June 29 -Day 15
- June 28 -Day 14
- June 27 -Day 13: Prayer Needed
- June 26 -Day 12
- June 25 -Day 11: Praises & Prayers
- A Heart of Gratitude
- June 24 -Day 10
- June 23 -Day 9
- June 22 -Day 8
- June 21 -Day 7
- June 20 -Day 6
- June 19 -Day 5
- June 18 - Day 4
- Initial Developments -Day 2
- The Accident -Day 1