A Miracle

I think God gives us moments to laugh about. This one in particular just gives me a chuckle when I hear it or see Emma. The doctors told Pam and Dave that there wouldn't be anymore children for them due to the chemo treatments Dave had been receiving. I think they were just fine with that information (correct me if I am wrong, Pam) since they have three beautiful kids already.

When Pam called us to let us know that they were going to have another baby, I was just amazed. It was as if God was saying..haha, I'm the one in charge! He is a great God and this baby is a miracle blessing.

This picture is a constant reminder that God is in charge and that He is also the Giver of life!

Oh Yeah, Baby!

Little "Emma" was born this past week. What a miracle she is!

Finally....

Home!

Dave was released from the hospital today. He still has a long ways to go in the healing process but at least he can do it while at home.

Please continue to pray for quick healing.

Great News

Dave is doing great! He is now receiving solid food and is able to stand with assistance several times a day. His tracheostomy insert has been changed to the smallest size. This will allow the hole to begin healing over; the next step will be to remove it entirely.

A nurse informed the Mayhew's that the normal healing process for someone who has been under heavy sedation in the ICU unit requires 2 days of hospitalization for each day that was spent in ICU before the patient has progressed sufficiently to be discharged. However, she also told them that Dave is progressing well ahead of schedule.

Pam is thrilled with the progress her husband is making. She has been able to take the children to visit him in the hospital and that has been very encouraging for them. She is also very tired. The strain of the last couple months added to an advanced pregnancy is taking a toll.
Pam's physician and her management approved her eligibility for short term disability based on the fact that it would be physically impossible for her to continue working while coping with the needs of her family during this illness and the effects of pregnancy. However the insurance company has yet to approve it so she has not yet received any payment for all the time she's been off work and does not yet know if it will ever come. She was really counting on the Economic Stimulus payment from the government to meet minimum bill payments.

Unfortunately she was on the list of people who did not receive their payments as scheduled.
It is times like this that a person's faith is truly tested and I am thankful that Pam has been able to hold fast to her trust in Jesus and continue to wait for God's provision. She has been lately thinking a great deal about the scriptures in Job and the final outcome when all he lost was multiplied and returned to him.

The support this family has received from the church during this ordeal is greatly appreciated. Groceries, gasoline, child care, and a listening ear provided with loving friendship have all been greatly appreciated and have made a real difference.

Major Steps Forward

We are making real progress!

Dave has been taken off the ventilator permanently and will soon be moved out of ICU. Medications that cause drowsiness are being systematically reduced to obtain a higher state of consciousness so he is able to cooperate more fully with rehabilitative efforts. Today he was able to drink water, a first step in the training process required to regain the ability to eat again after being fed intravenously for many weeks. Muscles are very weak due to the long period of inactivity but the strengthening process has begun and this patient is very very motivated to make a quick recovery.

Thursday he was able to sit up on the edge of the bed for 3 minutes and he is working steadily with exercises designed to restore muscular strength. A major step taken today was that his tracheotomy balloon was deflated for a few minutes and he was able to speak. This is a blessing because some patients have difficulty recovering that ability afterwards and this gives confirmation that's one struggle he will not have to face.

Early next week Pam will be taking the children to visit their father for a few minutes. This will be an exciting time for the whole family since they have been separated for 8 long weeks!

Please continue to pray for a speedy recovery! We all want Dave to make it home before his new daughter arrives on the scene!

Joyful News

Joy!
It is Mother's day, May 11, 2008 and we are flooded with joy!
For a few hours today, the ventilator was completely turned off and an oxygen mask was placed over Dave's mouth and nose and that served as his only source of respiration! His blood gasses remained normal throughout this and he did not appear stressed. He will be going back on the ventilator tonight to allow for rest but this process will be tried again tomorrow. It is so good to have a good report, an indication of real progress! Please pray that this good news continues and increases.

Please pray for Pam also. She has been busily juggling the needs of her husband, her three young children, all the normal demands of life, and the necessary preparation for the impending birth of her fourth child. Medical personnel are saying that even after Dave is off the respirator, his recovery will be long and slow with an extended period in the hospital. She has been praying for her husband's return home before the birth of their child, trusting God to provide, and pushing away concern for what will happen when Her leave under the Family Medical Leave Act expires and a newborn is added to the picture.

God is good and He knows what is needed and is well able to provide. We trust He will work out the details and make everything turn out right regardless of what the circumstances are or what anyone says.

More Progress, slowly but surely

Dave is at 45% oxygen now and making forward progress. They tried to lower the pressure at which the oxygen is delivered to his lungs from 8 to 5, but weren't able to do that without putting him into distress, so back up to 8 it went. All of us non-initiated were wondering why they couldn't lower it to 7 then 6 then 5... and so on. However it seems to not be the right practice and so they are following S.O.P. with him.

Please keep Pam in your prayers, her due date for the baby is about a month away now. The nurses let Pam know today that Daves recovery is going to take a long time, even with him making the forward progress. This is another challenge, because of all the questions of who will watch the kids while she's in the hospital delivering and even the participation of her husband in that moment. She's really praying that her husband will be available.

Here we are thanking God for the strength and healing he is giving to Dave and the wisdom the doctors and nurses are showing. We are also praying for Pam, that she will have the peace and courage she needs to keep moving forward and knowing that God, friends and family are there for her, even when those moments happen that just don't feel like it. We all know that He is faithful who promised.