17th Update

It has been a busy two weeks since my last update and a lot has happened. We are in the final preparation for taking Samuel home on Tuesday (Aug/11). Today is Saturday and we are doing our 24 hour Parent Care. This past week, we were trained on all the home healthcare equipment and have been checked off on all requirements, except 24 hour care. We will spend today and tomorrow providing 100% of Samuel’s care in the hospital. Evette will spend Monday coordinating last minute details and Tuesday we hope to be out of here by 11:00 am.

In my last update I asked for your prayers that things would finally level out from the surgeries and that he would get back on track with his progress. Prayer for continued healing, with no infections and no catheters. That all would go well with removing the G-tube and changing to the button; that he breathes well with no pauses or oxygen. Pray that his blood pressure would correct itself and as always, healing of the brain. Well we have many answers to prayer; things have leveled out from the surgeries, there are no infections or catheters; the G-tube was changed and he has a G-button that is working good and blood pressure has stayed in an acceptable range. Samuel had another EEG (brain wave) test and there are some additional signs of healing because there is more brain wave activity. His breathing no longer has the long pauses and his excessive “posturing” episodes have stopped. It has been a stressful two weeks with many ups and downs, but when we look at all the positives it has been a good two weeks and God has brought us to the point of going home.

Samuel still needs much prayer. For continued healing to all areas of the brain and for the gag reflex that we haven’t seen in a while. They are seeing enough brain activity now that we will have to be concerned about seizures at around six months. Although Samuel is going home without being on a ventilator, his breathing is not deep so he is still being assisted with some oxygen. We hope that all goes well when he gets home and that he continues to improve.

Again we thank you for continuing with us. God has answered prayers and I know He will continue to do so. I will send my next update after we have Samuel home.

Yancy