Uncle David update

Long overdue update on Uncle David. Last week was kind of scary for him. After his lab work on Monday the called him to get to the hospital his white blood count real low. Any way he had to have a series of three shots every other day for the the week. The side effects of the shots were serve chest pains and pains in the legs which made him have to use his cane to walk again. He called his pastor for prayer and we were all praying here so when he took his last shot @ 4:30 am Sunday he had no side effects and was able to go to church. He loves his church so much and has been going on Wednesday nights too! This Sunday was super special for him because too van loads of saints from Chicago came down to their services. Bro Bobby preached! He didn't know what his last name was but I am sure it was Bro Bobby Banks. The previous Sunday a Bro Lemaitre from Chicago preached. Christine didn't get to go this past Sunday but she has been going pretty regular. The saints gave her a bible and she is so excited about it and has been reading it too!
Today he was in Madison for his check up. He found out that his white blood count had been effected by one of the medications he was on. (they had discontinued it right away last week)
He has been released back to work full time and is on the calender for next week.

latest on Uncle David

On Tuesday the 17th David was back in Madison for his second check up since his transplant surgery. He was hoping to get the ok to go back to work. And he did sorta of well with a 10lb. weight limit and part time restrictions. His work although desperate to have him back didn't want the liability of the weight restrictions and told him he would have to wait until he could do a full days work with no restrictions. That was a bit of a blow for him. As far as how he is doing physically he is doing great. More of meds were reduced or discontinued. Spiritually he is doing wonderful and really loves his church. The saints there love him too and are always doing something special for him. He is hoping to be able to go to Chicago for the meeting. We sure are praying that way too. One of his recent great blessings was on Sunday the 15th Christina (Daisy's oldest she is 15) went to church with him. Her very first time ever being in any church. She seemed to really enjoy it and several of the young people their greeted her warmly. She plans to go again real soon!



Trevor update: He is CA. this week for more guard training. He flies back home to Mt. Sunday and back in EMT class Monday morning.

Long over due update

Bro. Ryan and Sis Melissa went to Champagne and visited Uncle David on Saturday January the 24th. The first saints he has seen!! He was so excited! They had a wonderful visit and David was so blessed and encouraged that they came. He wanted to go to church on Sunday the 25th in Bloomington (50 miles away) but was sick and had no energy. The following Sunday February 1st he did go to church and feels right at home. He was able to give his testimony and the saints all rejoiced with him. The pastor is Bro Tony Miller. The congregation is about 20 or so mostly black and they fellowship with Chicago. They are talking about and getting ready to go to Chicago's fellowship meeting. I started praying that Uncle David would be able to go too. And that a lot of saints from Carmichael will be there too that he knows. This past Sunday when he went they had Communion! That was very exciting for him.


Now for the update about Trevor. Trevor is living here with us in Montana for the time being. He is taking the EMT class up here. One of his instructors is John. He is still in the National Guard and flies back and forth to Sacramento when he has duty. His new deployment date is March 2010.

Uncle David's check up

Uncle David went back to Madison yesterday for his first check up since his surgery. They removed his staples and reduced some of his meds. The doctor is really pleased at how well he is doing. He was doing labs 3 times a week and that has been reduced to 2 times a week. His next check up will be in 4 more weeks. He will be doing PT twice a week. And now that he can drive again he will be taking himself to labs and PT. He has already lost over 100 pounds!! One of his major accomplishments of this week was to write a very heart felt thank you to the donor's family. At this point they are anonymous to each other and the letter is handled through the university. If the donor's family wants contact then they can respond to the letter. I often think of the donor's family and pray for them. I keep reminding myself that in our joy of David's life being restored they lost their loved one and are in grief. What an allegory of what Jesus did for us through the death of one we can all live! Through the donor's death David can now live.

Trevor came up for Christmas

This is the famous Grizzly in the glass case @ the Missoula airport. Sorry for the glare.

Trevor got to go with John on 3 or 4 ambulance calls while he was here! Trevor and John in their Plains Ambulance jackets.

Trevor is coming back up on the 15th to finish the EMT course! Soon to be a MT. resident!

Uncle David discharged

Praise God for every more!! Uncle David got discharged today from the hospital! He is staying the weekend in Madison and doing one more lab work up on Monday morning there. Then after lab he heads back home to Champainge. He will be doing labs 3 times a week for a few weeks in Champainge. His next appointment back in Madison will be on 1/20/09. Y'all can write him at home again PO Box 6386 Champainge IL 61826. Or call 217 649 8179. Thank y'all for praying!!!!!

Uncle David Update

Recovery is going much faster than ever expected! Thank the Lord!! His kidneys are kicking in and working real good. He had what he hopes to be his last dialyses yesterday and plans are getting the pick line port for dialyses out soon. The liver is working GREAT!! They wanted him to stay in bed until a physical therapist said he was able to get it. Small problem.... no physical therapist supposedly on duty from Christmas till yesterday. Over the weekend David got tired of using a bed pan and started getting up on his own to use the room. His nurse caught him and amazingly at PT was found right away and gave him the royal nod for him to get up. So now he is up cruising the halls. Yesterday he had a bit of a setback with what I feel was over dose of insulin and his blood sugar was to low. He is not diabetic but with some of the meds he is on they were fearful that his blood sugar would get to high, so they have been giving him shots of insulin in case........ hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Anyway they give him a shot of insulin when his blood sugars are only 126. On Sunday his blood sugar was so low they gave him 1,2,3,4 orange juices with sugar to get it back up. Blood sugar finally went up and all the OJ kicked his kidneys in too! Yesterday he felt like he was not quite able to really wake up until around 7:00 pm. Foggy, fussy not real with it. Check the blood sugar awwwwwwwww low again........ Anyhow the preventive insulin seems to be more of a problem than a possible high sugar. Other than that David is doing great and tells me he expects to be getting discharged by this up coming weekend. I said. I thought you had to stay a mini um of four weeks? "David said I am on the fast track healing!" I know he looks forward to hearing from all of you so give him a call when you can. Phone in the room 1608 267 8222. Or Verizon folks 1 217 649 8179. The E-Card place is closed for the holidays and won't resume that service until 1/5/2009. Snail mail won't get there in time for the fast track discharge so give him a call. And most of all keep praying! He thanks you and I thank you for all of your prayers. God surely has been so good to us!!!!!!!!!!! What a wonderful way to end 2008 with the Strong ARM of GOD showing itself so mighty!!!!!