Link to January 2015 video:

Link to September 2016 video: https://vimeo.com/c3media/review/185699250/24bdbf13d2

https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZnJA1kZXQV33e1M0NBbwzaz7Pp4pjuyh0hX

Friday, September 28, 2018

Inspiration

Many people have commented along this journey that Sandy inspires so many. While it's true that many are inspired to trust God, choose joy, not complain, and serve others by watching her life choices, she'd be the first to tell you that anything good in her is 100% the Lord. Her human nature is as strong as the next person, though she has many years of strengthening the habit of accepting God's will regardless of how pleasing (or not pleasing) it seems to be. She has times of discouragement, visits to the pit of despair, disappointment, and frustration. But she chooses, by the grace of God, not to stay there. The great news is that each of us has that same option! We can be the boss of our emotions, giving them space but not authority to dictate how we will believe or live. Nothing we feel is wrong - it's what we do with what we feel that crosses into right or wrong. It can be a minute by minute battle at times, repeating truth to ourselves when our situation screams otherwise.

Yes, it's great to appreciate how wonderful Sandy is in the midst of such difficult circumstances. But please remember the source of her strength, joy, stamina, perseverance, and faithfulness. God promises to enable us to carry out that to which He has called us.

This week has felt long for Sandy, but she's thankful she's been able to teach, visit grandkids, and shop for groceries. She is waiting to hear from her doctor about specific foods she can eat, and she may consult with a dietician in the next few weeks. Please pray for those details and for increased energy and strength. And of course, healing and a liver that functions well!

Saturday, September 15, 2018

Home again

Sandy returned home this evening. She is thankful to be in her own house, to sleep in her own bed, to be unhooked from the IV, and to be able to taste foods, though she's currently on a very limited diet. She won't be at church Sunday but plans to teach on Monday. I'm guessing many of you are kind of shaking your heads in a mixture of wonder and confusion about that last part :)

There were many things about the past week that were exceptionally difficult. Sandy might share more about that in a later post. She is thankful for your prayers, calls, texts, flowers, and cards, all of which helped her choose thankfulness in spite of everything going on.  She had her first ever latte on Friday, branching out from her usual black coffee. That's living large, I tell you! She also enjoyed listening to piano hymns and country hymns on Pandora and YouTube. Music can be a powerful way to connect our hearts to God, especially when our minds and emotions are struggling to hold on to hope. She spent some time looking through a picture album of Bible verses, and was reminded that reading God's Word is the antidote to fear, worry, and anxiety - three things that steal our attention from where it ought to be.

Another 4.8L were drained from her abdomen this morning. It's incredible to think that nearly 10L of unnecessary fluid were in her system this week. We're hoping it does not continue accumulating so quickly...or at all!  It is likely caused by the disequilibrium of pressure between the vessels of the liver and the surrounding abdominal area, which is a common side effect of decreased liver function.

We'll leave you with this truth, gleaned from a telecast Sandy heard about today: God is not (ever) withholding good from us. He is preparing us to experience His goodness. We can trust what His hand allows, and forever look with hope and even anticipation toward what He will bring.

Here's a song you might enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8TkUMJtK5k

You unravel me, with a melody You surround me with a song Of deliverance, from my enemies Till all my fears have gone I'm no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God I'm no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God From my mothers womb You have chosen me Love has called my name I've been born again, into a family Your blood flows through my veins
I'm no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God I'm no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God I'm no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God I'm no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God I am surrounded By the arms of the father I am surrounded By songs of deliverance We've been liberated From our bondage We're the sons and the daughters Let us sing our freedom You split the sea So I could walk right through it My fears were drowned in perfect love You rescued me and I Stand and sing I am child of God You split the sea So I could walk right through it You drowned my fears in perfect love You rescued me and I will Stand and sing
I am child of God, yes I am I am child of God I am child of God, yes I am I am child of God, full of faith, yes I am child of God I am child of God I'm no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God I'm no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Getting closer

Sandy anticipates going home Saturday. She is on a clear liquid diet...plus coffee :) Visitors are welcome, just keep in mind that she is still regaining strength and energy, so please keep visits fairly short.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Stent is in!

Around 11 this morning, Sandy went down to radiology. They replaced both drains and inserted a metal stent to keep the intestines open, allowing food to properly process and move through her system. As of 4pm, she was back in her room, eating a lemon icee. This is a huge step in the right direction. Doctors anticipate she'll be in the hospital two more days. There was still barium in her digestive tract, but apparently not too much to impede the placement of the stent. I'm not sure I was clear in a previous update - the barium was given to Sandy on purpose last week Thursday in order to do a test to check on the function of her digestive system. It should have left her body within hours, not days, but because of the extent of her blockage, the barium has just lingered. It isn't good to have barium in your system that long; hopefully this stent will allow any remaining barium to exit.

Please pray for her body to heal, for the stent to work, and for the stent and two drains to remain clear and unblocked. Also pray for her body to correctly process fluid so she does not continue to have the build up of fluid - it is not ideal to need to remove 5 liters as was done yesterday.

Thank you for continuing to support Sandy and our family.

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Hunting for the Good Things

Latest report is that radiology will take Sandy down at some point on Tuesday to scan her abdomen, checking barium presence and exact proximity of the two drains and the blockage. Assuming all goes well, a stent placement will be attempted on Wednesday.

It was a rough day. Being uncomfortable, with possible hard things ahead, many unknowns, having to make plans for others who cover in your absence, and not having answers you or anyone else wants to know is quite a challenge.

We are striving to look for the good. We're looking to see God at work, whether it looks like we had expected or not.

Specific prayer requests include total removal of barium with zero lasting effects, joy and hope to increase, easy insertion of the stent with immediate positive results, and comfort as she is largely confined to a bed, struggling to reposition in the sea of tubes and ever-tangled bedding.

Saturday, September 8, 2018

Stomach drained

We haven't known what to post on here for awhile, in part because nothing new has happened. Those of you who have talked to Sandy know that the summer was pretty rough. While there were definitely things for which to be grateful, memories made, and better days here and there, overall it was plain hard. Sandy continued to have immense abdominal discomfort, with minimal hope of improvement, of course other than God's miraculous healing. Appointments would be scheduled two or more weeks out, then a procedure or test a few weeks after that, never resulting in improvement. This week she had a test that determined that not only was her stomach full of "stuff" that had been there far too long, but there is a blockage preventing food from traveling as it should in her system. Friday afternoon she had her stomach drained. In case you were wondering, that is not a fun experience. It took five attempts for the tube to reach the proper place, and it was a painful process each time. She later said that it was the most painful thing she has experienced to date...and that is saying a lot. One overnight stay was guaranteed, and we are hoping that is the extent of this visit. Hopefully today (Saturday) the doctors will place a stent to keep the intestines open. The other option is a surgery that of course comes with its own risks. There is a chance that the stent, if it is the route doctors decide to take, won't be placed until next week since we're now into the weekend. You can imagine her lack of excitement about that possibility.

Please pray for her healing, comfort, placement of the new stent, quick recovery and release, and for her to see the good God is bringing out of this new development. We know He always brings good, though we're not promised to see it.

Sandy requested not to have visitors at this point, as she first needs to feel stronger.

All along this journey she has chosen faith, courage, and thankfulness. Those are still her choices, though it is harder right now. It reminds me of the Bible story of Moses, in Exodus 17 -- as long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning the battle. But when his hands grew tired and lowered, the Israelites began to lose. So Aaron and Hur held up his hands until the battle was over. We have the opportunity to hold up Sandy's hands right now. We can pray for strength, stamina, peace, courage, determination - all of the things we've seen God display in her life. And we can strive to demonstrate those qualities in our own lives, that others may see God's power in us.

We'll update as things progress. Thanks for your continued support and friendship.




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