Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Life in Intensive Care

Awake

Jan is more awake and aware of her condition. The physiotherapist asked her to sit at the side of the bed. She did that precariously for a minute. Jan is becoming more expressive with hands and face. She can clearly shoo us away when she has had enough or express irony and frustration at the reality of her condition.

In spite of these wonderful improvements, she is still very ill. She faces important challenges in the days ahead, for example:

-she can't swallow by herself, so she is not able to eat. This means that she is still fed through a tube.

-she still has an infection, so they keep her with antibiotics

-her coughing is improving, but still weak.

-she has not pronounced a word yet... but she moves her lips sometimes as if she wanted to form words. Steve reports hearing a guttural sound yesterday when talking to her.

-One of the residents told me yesterday that in the next 10 days, or so she will recuperate 80% of the functions that were not affected by the aneurysm, the other 20% will come back through various therapies in the months ahead.
We have big questions on this item and a lot of anticipation. Everyone wants to know what can she do and what she will not be able to do. Some of you, like my Dad or some people from our community at RUC, do not see the world only in medical or strictly physiological terms, they have a strong faith (conviction of the things not yet seen, certainty of what is expected) an prefer to wait in The Lord that Jan will be restored totally and will get back all of her abilities. I am glad to be surrounded by such people, and I am sure Jan is glad as well.
However, the waiting time takes it's toll on us. I know that, if you take the time to read this blog, you are in the long haul with us. We are so fortunate to be supported this way. I am amazed at how many people Jan knows and how much she is loved. Please help Jan and us by doing the following:

-reminding us that life has to be lived moment by moment, day by day with an attitude of gratefulness.
-reminding us to be thankful for each day Jan conquers.
-reminding us to be supportive of Jan and encourage her to choose life.
-reminding us about restoration and healing.
-reminding us who we are, and for those who can see it, how this is part of a larger plan that is "making all things new".
- reminding us that it is Jan who is ill, and that she is the one who needs comfort and support now.
-reminding us not to focus too much on ourselves or feel sorry for ourselves, but intead to see Jan and see The Lord working hand in hand.
-reminding us that we have a wonderful community that will be there tomorrow the day after, the week after, the month after...

A new chapter begins for Jan at the ICU. Come, join us in your thoughs, prayers, blogs, emails and cards to let Jan know we love her and are waiting to see her back among us.

Remember we print your notes and add them to a binder so Jan can read them.

Until the next,

-Fede

1 comment:

orestn said...

It is so wonderful and hopeful to read daily about all the progress Jan has made this week.

I have been asking people I know at my church to pray for Jan's recovery and strength for her family. Ironically, at worship last Sunday, the worship team played two songs that made me think of Jan because I learned those songs at RUC when Jan was the worship team leader there. The songs were Faithful One, and This is My Desire.

Remembering that God is The Faithful One, my thoughts and prayers remain with Jan and her family as this new chapter of her recovery begins.