On The Way Home

Fourth Infusion

I am glad that these updates have been uneventful.  Thank you for praying.  Melody is doing well.  I've enjoyed talking with Dr. Cantu while she sleeps--he has to stay with her for the 2 hours in which the ketamine is being given in high doses.  The children are having a good time.  We have one more high dose infusion tomorrow, then we fly out Wednesday morning. 

Buenos Noches! 

Third Infusion

Dr. Cantu reached 1 gram of Ketamine today which was his plan.  Melody tolerated it very well, which means that she slept through it without problems of any kind.  Our children seem to be doing well also.  We are so thankful for the love and understanding of so many folks who are praying for us and supporting us while we are away. `

Lissette Garza came by today and visited with us.  She told us that her little sister Priscilla was a top five finalist in the Miss University Paegent in Monterrey--a major event broadcast on national television.  As a finalist, Priscilla was in the national spotlight.  If I can find a picture I will post it. 

Second Infusion

All continues to go well. Saturday was a good day. Melody was alert
for a nice visit with Andres Garza before the second infusion. She
continues to tolerate the infusions well, although the doses keep
going up and we are not at the max dose yet. Great to know that folks
are praying for us.

Jaime and Natalia

Jaime and Natalia after Melody's First Infusion

First High Dose Infusion

Dr. Cantu was very impressed when he saw Melody today.  He said that she looked much, much better and encouraged her to simply do what she had been doing.  He said that it could take a year or more for the injury to recover.  She should stay the course and be encouraged.  He gave her the first high dose infusion and she tolerated it very well.  Jaime and Natalia brought a basket of fruit and an air matress for me, so we are all set for the evening.  I'll upload a picture of Jaime and Natalia in the next post.

Hello From Monterrey Video (read the text below before watching)

We have a great internet connection so I thought we would load up a video of Melody in the room before starting the infusions today.  The sound is not strong, so turn up your volume as loud as you can.  But, for those who cannot hear this is what is happening:  I say hello, noting that we arrived last night without incident.  Melody describes the breakfast that she is eating with approval--eggs sunny side up with "Mexican style potatoes" (cheese on top).  Melody then shares that Jaime and his wife Natalia picked us up last night.  They are a lovely couple.  (Jaime is completing his Th.M. from RTS Jackson and is leading a church planting project adjacent to the university affiliated with Hospital San Jose--Monterrey Tec, one of the most (if not the most) prestigious universities in Mexico.)  Then, I pan over to take a look outside our room.  We have a problem with the blinds that we need to work on with maintenance, but we have a partial view of the beautiful mountains surrounding Monterrey.  Dr. Cantu is coming at 10:00 AM this morning to get started.  No coma.  24 hour low dose infusion and 5 high dose infusions (about four hours each).  Thanks for praying.    

Heading to Monterrey Today

We are in the airport now, waiting.  This trip is very different than the last trip to Monterrey.  We sat at this very gate with Jacob and Rob in August.  Many unknowns went before us.  It all ended up being harder than we imagined.  More knowns than unknowns await us now: Dr. Cantu, the hospital staff, the city now familiar to us, and of course our friends the Garzas.  The hard part this time was leaving everyone else behind.  But, last we checked everyone was doing quite well.  Please do pray for our trip.  Melody's prayer is to be equipped to do what God is calling her to do, at the level that he is calling her to do it.  Her faith has grown so much and that is an encouragement to me and the children.

Specific things to pray for on this trip:
(1) Safety for our travels.
(2) For Dr. Cantu to get a quick start with Melody.  He will definitely start by Friday, but could he get started tonight? 
(3) For the children to learn even more about the goodness of God, His sovereignty, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit while we are away.
(4) For the caretakers helping us to be sustained.
(5) For the treatment to be effective.
(6) For Dr. Cantu to have some additional insight that may help us. 

PS--No coma this time--some people thought this was another coma but its not (thankfully!). 

 

Heading Back to Monterrey

Melody and I are going back to Monterrey on Thursday 12/10 for a week.  God has provided help for our children so they will all stay behind.  Melody will receive a five day low 24 hour dose ketamine infusion and 4-5 daily high doses of ketamine.  She will be conscious throughout the procedure and able to talk and eat.  We will stay at the hospital the whole time. 
Overall  Melody continues to be stronger and she exercises daily.  She is diligent about getting in the pool every morning when I take the girls to school.  Sometimes she will get back in during the evening hours.  But, she continues to have problems with the same injury that caused the RSD.  She has re-injured herself several times, and there seems to be about a five day period to recovery from the re-injury.  Each time she does it some of the RSD symptoms are set off.  Pattern is a reassuring thing.  You would think that this re-injury could be avoided but it really cannot.  Moving around is essential to her overall wellbeing and--as any of you who have every had pain in your neck and back know--you cannot move much without impacting those muscle groups (and the nerves that run in them). 

I am asking Dr. Cantu whether other treatments could keep this original injury in check so that the RSD can, in turn, be kept in check as well.  We will see what he says.  Perhaps he can administer a block of some kind.  A friend with doctorate in physical therapy and experience with chronic pain is going to consult with us as well.  Since there is a pattern in what is happening perhaps we can discern a path forward for treatment and possible prevention. 

We appreciate your prayers.  Please give praise to God for providing help for us once again.  We have much to be thankful to God for in all of this.

Considering Mexico

We have spoken with Dr. Cantu and are considering returning to Mexico for a five day visit.  Melody would receive an high dose infusion of ketamine.  This infusion would not put her into a coma, but would raise the level of ketamine in her system enough to make a huge impact.  She continues to exercise daily in the pool and is gaining strength.  Her attitude is especially encouraging.  We are praying more specifically about how to best use the time that God gives to our family to serve him.  All activities are not of equal value.  Easy to say that, but harder to live it out. 

Please pray for the logistics of the Mexico trip.  We have no dates yet.  We don't have a sound solution as for childcare.  Jacob does not want to make the trip, and we prefer that he be able to stay here with his sisters.  Thanks for your prayers.  We have seen God work through the prayers of his people over and over again.   

Pressing Ahead

It's been a long time since I posted an update here.  Thanks to you all who have prayed without lots of current information.  Here is where we are.  Melody has a great attitude and is pressing ahead well.  She is gaining strength.  A couple of weeks ago she had a setback in the therapy pool related to her original injury.  Reinjury is a common phenomenon with post-coma patients.  It was disappointing, but it was not a total setback either.  She lost some gains but not nearly all the gains.  She continues to exercise daily.  She will most likely return to Mexico to receive what is called a ketamine booster--several high dose infusions of ketamine.  These infusions provide much higher doses of ketamine than she can receive in Philly because they are administered by an anesthesiologist (Dr. Cantu).  They are also administered in Florida and California, but Mexico seems to be cheaper and we have confidence in Dr. Cantu.  Dr. Cantu has also treated Melody and has a ":feel" for her and how she responds.  We are not sure when this will be. 

People have done a great job of not asking a lot of questions of Melody when she has gone to church.  as a result, she is beginning to rejoin us in the sanctuary for worship and even had the children with her in the balcony last Sunday (the fact that she made the trek up the stairs to get there is evidence of the type of strength she is gaining).

Please pray for continued progress for Melody.  Please pray for my endurance as well. 

Melody With Dr. Kirkpatrick

See the post below this one for additional details on our visit. Dr.
Kirkpatrick draws no salary for his work at the center. He is an
excellent doctor too.

Great Report From Tampa

All the objective pain measures were significantly lower. Melody was able to complete a number of range of motion tests without pain. And, that was after an uncomfortable and very long flight. Dr. Kirkpatrick said that the key was to do heated pool therapy and reduce stress. He spoke more about the heated pool and why it was so helpful. 1) weight bearing is minimized. 2) water exercise is least likely to cause injury. 3) the water acts as a profound stress reliever in itself. 4) the water aids in desensitizing the skin. Melody is supposed to track her endurance for exercise, and measure her need for future treatment according to changes in her endurance level. If after being in the water for three minutes the water still feels cold then it is not hot enough. She should exercise to the point where she will have some pain afterward but not a lot.

Dr. Kirkpatrick also said that functional MRIs have proven that pain in RSD patients is routed through the limbic system first rather than through the cortex as in non-RSD people. The limbic system controls emotion. So, stress increases pain. He said getting yourself into "stressball" can reduce progress and increase pain. Stress needs to be avoided. Dr. Kirkpatrick reiterated to me not bringing up the P word all the time (Pain). "How are you feeling?" is not a good question because it actually can increase stress rather than focusing on positives.

Thanks for your continued prayers. Please pray for continued progress in the therapy and for Melody to get stronger and stronger. We are grateful for where we are at this point.



Thanks for praying.

En Route

On the way to Tampa with Melody for a visit with Dr. Kirkpatrick.  Flight delayed (of course).  Preaching on John 1:1-5 this Sunday, "Christ Before All." The eternal Word in eternal fellowship with his Father.  An ultimate don't stress over the late plane type of text.         

On to Tampa Tomorrow

The pool is here and the water therapy is helping Melody.  The first time she tried it she really hurt afterward and was nervous.  But, the next day she felt a bit better.  She has been doing it every day and seems to be making progress.  She does have pain.  I suggested that when people ask how she is feeling she answer like our friend Don Mutter does.  When people ask how he is feeling Don says, "Better than I deserve."  Good answer for all of us!     

Tomorrow we go to Tampa for a quick trip and evaluation with Dr. Kirkpatrick.  This is the one month post coma visit where Dr. Kirkpatrick pokes on Melody with the "pain-o-meter"--my term for the little device that measures her pain levels by indicating how much pressure she can take on one point before it starts to hurt.  Please pray for smooth travel and a good visit.  Pray for the visit not to cause too much prolonged pain.  And, pray for the children to have a good time with our friends who are taking care of them.  We will be back on Saturday afternoon.   

The Latest

I've not posted many updates recently, largely because I was feeling redundant in my updates.  Habit is a wonderful thing, however, and once I let the updates go a week went by before I knew it. 

Melody is doing much better.  Her voice is nearly back to normal.  Her strength is increasing.  She feels different (in a good way) but not near 100%.  As you know by now, the doctors encourage you not to discuss pain too much because there is a desensitization process that needs to take place as the body learns to feel normal again.  We see very positive signs so we are encouraged.  The therapy pool is supposed to arrive tomorrow, and the water therapy will help a lot.  Hopefully it will be operational by Tuesday.

The family routine is still quite a challenge.  I am not sure whether I can sustain it.  So far we have been getting by, but I am feeling the weariness of doing everything.  I may explore some options for help just to see what is there.  Consistency and the right kind of person are key.

So, the gist of it is that we are thankful for what we do see and hopeful for the future.  We try not to talk much about pain.  I am very busy with trying the keep the household running, and Melody is already doing all that she should do under the circumstances.  Please pray for our family management as we continue to juggle it all.  Pray for the water therapy to help too.   

Melody and Mary Faith at La Tolnateca

Mary Faith wanted tacos, so we went to our local authentic Mexican
restaurant. It was authentic--so much so that it brought back
memories of the hospital for Melody. Melody continues to take only
Motrin for pain related to the coma itself. I am so encouraged at the
differences that I see in her even amidst the recent problems. Please
continue to pray for our plans to manage the family routine.

Melody at the Symphony

The Kiev Symphony Orchestra and Choir (the orchestra founded by Music Mission Kiev) visited our church last night (9/14/2010).  I was to welcome the crowd (about 450 came to hear them) and pray.  Melody said that she wanted to go.  So, we arranged to have a transport chair for her and she, Tabitha and Jacob joined me.  One of our elders and his wife was gracious enough to stay with the girls while we went. We only stayed for an hour, but Melody was glad to get out.  We left early, and caught one of the conductors (far right) with two of the players.  The young man on the far left played the bass drum.  Jacob loved the volume (we were on the front row) so we stopped and got a picture with these three men. 

Melody is trying to strike the balance between not doing too much and doing enough this first month.  The therapy pool is to be installed on the 27th of the month.  Near perfect timing (one month post coma) for her to begin with the water exercises.  There is some basic work to be done to the garage to make the space suitable for the higher humidity created by the water.  Also we have to move the electrical panel out of the garage. Somewhat unanticipated work, but things have fallen into place well.  Please pray for this work to be done well and quickly so that we can move forward with the pool with no problems.  This water therapy is very important.  Melody has tried it (5 minutes) and it already was a help to her. 

Busy Busy Day

We managed to get Tabith and Mary Faith off to school and there on time.  We all road together, which Melody enjoyed.  Tiring, but surviving.  I'm looking forward to preaching again.  And, I think the rest of the family is looking forward to that as well.  Melody's mom Phyllis is coming back this weekend, so it will be nice to see her again.  Lastly, we are working toward getting a therapy pool installed for Melody.  We are so thankful for this provision.  This is a major answer to prayer as water therapy is deemed essential to full recover by Dr. Kirkpatric and Dr. Cantu.  Thanks to all of you who continue to pray for us and follow Melody's progress.  

Great to be in Worship Today

We all went to church today. Wiped Melody out but she was glad that she went. It was good to lead the service and our Assistant Pastor Joshua Knott preached an edifying message from Isaiah 29:13 "And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men."  Melody is quite tired from attending, but is glad that she went.  Mary Faith asked last night, "Daddy, when are you going to preach again?"  Encouraging coming from a five year old...I didn't really know she noticed enough to miss it.  Answer: This coming Sunday.  Please pray for our continued efforts to run the household as Melody recovers.  We don't want anything falling to her too soon.  So far so good, so please keep praying.  We feel it! 

ENT Visit Went Well

He said there were no abnormalities and that things are improving.
Good report. Melody is talking more and eating more which is great.
Please pray for the transition now that Melody's folks are leaving on
Saturday. We will miss them.

Tough Nite

Melody's throat is not getting better. Onto another ENT on Friday.
The spasms return with any eating at all, no matter how soft the food
is.

Sent from my iPhone

Regaining Strength

Melody is regaining strength slowly but surely.  Dr. Cantu said that it would take a month.  She is still not able to eat solid food and had to get refills on her medication for her throat because it is still causing problems.  She is still able to sleep on her side though, which is a major encouragement every time I see it.   

Home

Arrived at the house about 1:00AM Sunday morning. Currently enjoying
large lunch with Marsha's pot pie and potatoes and Cathy's
applesauce. Melody is weak but getting better.

Sent from my iPhone

Hurry Up And Wait 9/3/2010 3:13PM

I'm postponing thinking about taking all these carry-ons PLUS our checked bags through customs in Houston. Yikes!

This Will Soon Be Us!

Heading to the airport at noon. Glad to be going home, thankful for the fine folks who took care of us here in Monterrey--a great city.

Eager To Return Home (9/2/2010)

Melody did some walking today. Throat is improving.  Her strength is improving.  We are happy about all this.  Jacob and Rob went to the water park with Priscila. Pray for a smooth trip on Saturday.  I am not sure I will have time to get the pictures together by Sunday morning, but we will find a time for that soon enough.   

Melody Saw and ENT Doctor Today

Melody saw an ENT doctor today. He looked in her throat and said it was terribly swollen through and through, most likely from a combination of factors. However, he said the crushed medication on top of the intubation probably played a major role in the irritation. He gave three medications to help her, a specific plan for eating and drinking, and an estimation of when it should go away. It is good to know that something was not damaged. As a former speech pathologist, Melody was glad to be able to peak in there via video and see for herself what was happening. The doctor also said he completely understood her complaints after looking at how bad her throat. He said that that much swelling would definitely make you feel like you couldn't breath well. Good to have someone put together an explanation and a plan for all this.

A New Day (8/31/2010)

We will see what today holds. Last night was tough for Melody, but she smiled at me this morning. Her body has had enough of all this and is not fond out outside stimulus. One reason that she decided to do the coma now rather than let the rsd get worse is because she didn't want to come to a place where she could not handle the coma physically. That was wise on her part. Melody is so grateful for all the notes, encouragement and prayer. My list of dos and don'ts was necessary preparation for the return home, but she has received nothing but helpful notes from you all sense we have come here. They are all part of her treasure chest of spiritual encouragement. I read them to her regularly and they often bring tears to her eyes.

I hope to put together some pictures for folks to view at the Fall kickoff breakfast at church this Sunday.

Difficult Night (8/31/2010)

Melody was able to eat today (some plain pasta that I cooked for her). So, this evening she decided to try to help herself along and gargle a bit to soothe and clear her throat. Her throat responded to this with spasms and feelings of the throat being dry and swollen. Too much trauma to the throat. I suppose it needs rest and that is it. (BTW-The email updates are on a major time delay for some reason. Maybe they go out every so often. They do not go out as soon as I post to the blog)

Moving Forward (Monday 8/30/2010 1:08 PM)

Melody reports this morning that she feels more "normally" congested and that her throat feels more "normally" sore.  She still has a nasty cough and a historical propensity for lung infection so I am concerned about that.  We are now working on the back at home plan.  We will need to make changes to allow her to progress.  The ketamine coma has put Melody's mind in a state that now requires retraining.  The ketamine stopped the synthesis of glutamate, thereby cutting the physiological problem at the root (sorry for the uninitiated).  However, A new foundation of thinking needs to be laid, and like any foundation it must be solid.  If this foundation is laid poorly, then all this could be for naught.  I am looking at the next year as the opportunity to lay a new foundation.  This foundation must be filled with wholeness, right thinking and love.  I made a vow to the Lord that if he returned Melody to me, then I would take the very best care of her for the rest of my life.  Right now this means understanding the importance of what she needs now.

People are already beginning to ask how to help. We are grateful for this, and I can share more specifics in the future.  Proper communication is foundational.  The following steps/guidelines are typical and not unique to her.  I've learned a lot just from watching Dr. Cantu and Ruth Garza for extended periods of time interact with Melody--Dr. Cantu because he is highly trained and gifted in working with pain patients and Ruth because she is Ruth.  Knowing how to care for anyone battling with/recovering from chronic illness takes knowledge and skill as well as good intentions.  Here are some guidelines to enable warm communication with Melody while not causing her difficulty: 

(1) Let Melody know that you love her w/o conditions.  In other words, don't say, "Hi Melody, can't wait until you are completely better so that you can be more involved in x, y, or z at church."  Such statements tend to be the "default," but they can be spirit crushing.  With four children of her own (and one with a chronic illness) she has loads of things (personal, family, ministry, etc.) that she already wishes she could do and cannot.  Theologically, such statements can reveal wrong theology: God does not work through those who cannot do x, y, or z like the rest of us.  I am always careful when speaking to the sick or disabled not to speak in ways that convey that God cannot be glorified powerfully in their powerlessness--the Bible says just the opposite.     

(2) Don't ask her how she is feeling.  RSD patients have been trained over time to focus on pain.  The pain was real and the problem was physiological and not psychological.  But now that the root problem has been addressed the thought patterns must catch up.  Asking her about pain is directing her in the wrong direction.  For example: You don't ask a sober alcoholic, "Did you want a drink today?"  Or, you don't ask a person who you know struggles with pornography, "Lusted after any beautiful women today?"  Likewise, with RSD people it's not helpful to set their minds on the pain that has dominated them for so long.  Just talk about something else. 
 

(3) Don't touch her.  She will touch you if she can.  If she is not touching it is because she cannot.  For people close to Melody, it will be helpful to train yourself to know that not touching her communicates love, while touching her communicates not thinking about her.  Honestly, this is my greatest fear after seeing some positive results from the ketamine coma: Someone running up to Melody in the Narthex at church and saying, "So glad you are better!  Let me give you a big hug!"  Melody tenses up in fear, receives this big hug, all the while with Susanna pulling at her leg.  She walks away hurting (but trying not to make a scene as the pastor's wife).  She walks away not sure whether she hurts because of the hug, the tensing up in fear, or the emotional shock of somebody just running up to her like that. To take it a step further: if you see someone about to do this please intervene and receive the touch in Melody's place, or "take the hug" as it were.

(4) Do continue to express her your love and prayers.  "So good to see you today!"  "We prayed for you often."  "We are so glad you are back."  "We loved hearing about your progress."  "We continue to pray for you."  And of course, "You look beautiful!"  These are all good things to say.  It is also encouraging to her to share your joys, struggles, etc.  It does not need to be all about her all the time.  Like with the touch, if she has time and it is appropriate she may bring up how she is doing.

We got our tickets to arrive late this Saturday night (11:30PM).  The time is a bit awkward, but was actually the best overall given all the factors we have to consider (shortest flight time and most convenient departure time physically for Melody and Jacob).  Please pray that Melody continue the current course of recovery so that she is well to travel.  Also, please pray for wisdom for me to plan well for the next year.  There are many things that need to be done, and many things that need to not be done, to follow Dr. Cantu's and Dr. Kirkpatrick's counsel.  God has been at work in so many ways throughout this ordeal, and I am eager to see how he will work in this next year.  I was nervous about it; now I have more of a sense of anticipation than nervousness.     

Sunday 8/29/2010

Progress is slow but steady. Dr. Cantu does not see anything out of the ordinary at this point. But, he said if her throat does not clear up to the point where she is comfortable traveling then he would send her to an ENT to have it looked at on Tuesday. As a former speech pathologist Melody knows what that entails. It's nothing in comparison to the coma but another procedure nonetheless. We will see. We stayed home today and listened to Sinclair Ferguson on the prodigal son. I encouraged Rob to take the day and enjoy time with our brothers and sisters here in Monterrey. Can't wait for the report from him this evening. Your notes, cards and words of encouraged have helped Melody a lot these past few days.

Thanks

For the prayers, notes and words of encouragement. Some instruction/
comments from some "old" (their words) ICU nurses have been helpful.
The Mexican nurses are good, but it's tough to comfort someone and
deal with these nuances in another language.

Sent from my iPhone

Melody says... (8/27/10 11:12PM)

"Please keep praying for me. I look better than I feel. I have sensations of not being able to breath normally or get a full breath. There are reasons for these sensations and they assure me that I can breath and will not die, but it feels that way at times. At times I feel so alone in this even with Jay helping out nearly 24/7. Please pray that I start breathing in normal patterns again soon and for endurance and perspective in the meantime. I am not sleeping and am exhausted. I feel numb most of the time because this has been much more of an ordeal for me than I expected. I have no energy for emotions. Please pray fervently for me." Melody

As We Left the Hospital Today to Continue Recovery at the Hotel (8/27/10 5PM)

Melody Up and Moving

Thanks for your prayers and encouraging words. Things looked rough, but through some serious effort at focusing on the Lord together, prayers of many and a good visit with Dr. Cantu Melody found the strength to start moving. She is up and drinking. She feared aspirating but was willing to drink with Drs. Cantu and Barrientos present because she knew they could help if something happened. She did o.k., and is up working on a Gatorade right now. Dr. Cantu talked through all the options and is still hopeful that Melody may be able to go to the hotel tomorrow--meaning that she will feel confident to go home. The trauma to the throat from the intubation is more than Melody had ever expected. The fact that she has a small throat with little to not extra padding in there cannot make it any easier. As one doctor friend told me, I am not surprised in the least by all this. Please pray that we can make it to the hotel--Jacob is eager to see his mom.

Pray For Melody

I hope all is better by the time you read this. Something happened with her throat. She took a med crushed and mixed with water and it led to a reaction. She feared for her life as she struggled to breath. They say that her numbers are good but she still feels she has trouble breathing, which is a terrible feeling. We know that they are doing all the right things, but it's an awful feeling to feel restricted in your breathing, even if the pulse ox monitor is in the mid to high 90s.

It seems there was some to some sort of reaction. My own thought is that perhaps her raw throat reacted to some caustic medication that came into contact with it. Please pray for healing for Melody and don't take for granted anything what God has given to you when you pray but thank him for it.

New Drug

Dr. Cantu put Melody on a nebulized steroid 4 times day. It helped a lot to loosen the congestion and reduce a bit of the swelling. Jacob seems fine.

Melody is Coughing More

Not sure we will make it out today b/c Melody has a very sore throat and is coughing. It hurts. Jacob did not keep down his breakfast but has no fever and kept down the second round. Hopefully just nerves in anticipation of seeing his mom. Rob says he is chipper now. Please pray for Melody's throat and chest to heal--very sore, tight and painful. Pray that Jacob will continue to be fine.

Melody Doing Well

It's been tough to communicate much during the recovery. The bottom line is that things look good. We are very grateful for your prayers and have every reason to be encouraged at this point. We are still putting everything together. I will post more on the path forward after we spend some more time with Dr. Cantu.

Currently Melody is making very good progress. It is too early to declare the full impact of the coma, especially given the trauma to the body of the procedure itself (maybe more on that later). However, Melody is not on any pain medication (first time in two years) and she slept on her side for the first time in two years. (Great signs!) Tomorrow she transitions to the hotel for continued recovery--a very fast pace. So, all in all we are very, very encouraged. Dr. Cantu said that the key is to take it slow and change your lifestyle accordingly (forever).

It is important to understand that a "cure" for Melody does not mean running marathons or doing what other people do, but means her being able to live a life free of debilitating pain. The continued spread of the pain, the acid-burning feeling, the bleeding lesions--this is the outcome that we hoped to avert when she was admitted to this coma study. So far we look to be on the path to avert those outcomes. Like any medical treatment, the patient has a role to play in the outcome. I am so grateful to have Melody back from this coma and see the signs we are seeing. Thank you for your prayers for us.

Buenos Dias (8/24/2010 11:20 CST)

The View From Melody's Room

Pray for Strength

Please pray for Melody to regain strength. She did not lose lots of weight but she feels week. She cannot walk without being supported.

Slow Going, But Steady (Monday 8/23/2010)

Melody has been moved out of the ICU. She is still very tired and weak. Dr. Cantu will come later and discuss the long term plan for therapy, injury prevention, follow up, etc. It's a process. We are grateful that things are going as planned. We will need great wisdom to maximize the benefits of this effort.

Ruth Garza has stayed the night with Melody. Rob has kept Jacob during the day. He truly has an amazing combination of gifts and spirit. A unique blessing to be able to care for a young person with complex medical needs, in a foreign country, while the child's mother is in a coma/coma recovery. Jacob has been very happy. And, in Jacob's case I actually don't think he takes it for granted at all. He knows what it takes to take care if him well. It does he that Jacob is loads of fun:). Lisette and Priscila continue to be a big help too--with all sorts of things.

Melody is Doing Well Right Now

Her voice is weak because of the intubation. She can talk and make notes with her finger. She has excellent recall as well. We have viewed lots of pictures.

Problem--Melody Pulled Out the Central Line

Melody reached up before I could stop her. They will have to place
another IV line.

Thanks for the prayers

She still has a long way to go. She may not talk for 24 hours. Definitely knows me, but is not feeling good right now.

Sitting With Melody Listening to The Getty's (Sat 8/21/2010 1:50PM)

Sitting by Melody holding her hand, listening to the Getty's most recent album. She mustered the strength to open her eyes, give me a kiss and smile. I know that she meant to do it because I asked her if she could give me a kiss. I gave her some water and she took it. Then she nodded her head when I asked her if she was ready to rest. Very nice to sit here with her and know that she knows I am here. Time is flying by...such a joy to know that she knows me.

Spoke To Melody

She managed to smile at me but is very, very, very groggy and out of
it. She developed some fever at the very end which they are
culturing. It was very good to see her smile. But, I suspect it will
be 24 hours before much normal interaction.

Melody Wakes Up This Morning (Saturday) at 11:00AM!

Very excited to see her! I'm going to pack some of he things in anticipation of an early move out of ICU and into the suite upstairs. These are large private rooms in the hospital. I may be able to stay up there with her.

Melody Wakes Up Tomorrow (Day 9 8/20/2010)

We are so thankful to have made it this far with no problems. I saw Melody this evening and can't wait to see her tomorrow morning. Andres and Ruth will go with me to the hospital at 10:30AM. She is to wake up at 11:00AM. I am eager to hear how everything went for her. We understand that the next 48 hours can be intense.

Day 8 (8/19/2010) 5:05PM

I just spoke with Dr. Cantu. He said that 11:00AM Saturday is the time scheduled to wake Melody. He also said that we made need to wait a month before seeing the impact of the ketamine. She looks much better now. However, the procedure takes a toll of it's own so that has to be factored in. Rob and Lisette took Jacob to the water park again. I hear they have stories to tell me back at the hotel.

Day 8 (8/19/2010) 3:15PM--Melody Seems Calm, My Anticipation is Building

Melody is calm right now. Her skin looks like it did pre-RSD. Please pray for her to remain peaceful. She will stop Ketamine tomorrow around 9:00AM and begin another drug until Saturday. She will wake up on Saturday, hopefully around noon. My anticipation is building for that time.

Day 7 (8/18/2010) 9:48PM CST--Prayer Requests Following a Busy Day

I just returned from the hospital.  Rob, Jacob and I were concluding a busy day.  Andres phoned this morning and said that he and Ruth wanted to go to the hospital with me and then take me to lunch.  Turns out that Ruth had tried to visit Melody on Monday but they would not let her in the room.  We explained that Ruth, Priscila and Lisette are as our family here and should be allowed at any time.  I think that is fixed now.  We had a nice lunch and discussed many things.  I asked about ministry plans for this area and Andres shared with me the desire of the church here to have a new church plant positioned between two of the top universities in Mexico.  Andres is a very gifted and godly man.  Providentially the Lord used him to encourage me in ministry prior to this episode, which only increased my comfort in coming here having already experienced his care and wisdom.  While I was with Andres and Ruth, Jacob was with Rob swimming at the hotel pool.  When I returned the three of us ventured all the way back to the airport to exchange our Dodge Journy (a small SUV) for a Nissan Sentra--we realized that we didn't need the SUV and it was twice as much.  After we got back we went out to eat and then walked in a mall for a bit.  On the way home we got lost and wound up in front of the hospital so I decided to visit again. 

Melody was moving a lot tonight; the resident said that she is probably dreaming.  So, please pray vigorously that she is having good dreams.  (What a picture of our true dependence on God.  There Melody is unable to ask anything for herself, dependent on the prayers of the saints and the mercy of God.  How often I forget the great privilege it is to be able to call upon God in prayer and seek his assistance knowing that he is eager to assist me because we have been purchased by the blood of his Son). 

One of Melody's concerns was being locked out of communication and not being able to wake up from having bad dreams.  So, please keep praying.  In fact some of the most critical days of prayer lay ahead.  On Friday mornign they will cut off the ketamine and begin propofol.  Then on Saturday they will wake her up. Ruth and her daughters will be helping me on Saturday and Sunday.  Please pray for Melody to remain infection free, have good dreams, to recognize me and the Garzas as husband and friends and to recover swiftly.  We are blessed by your care for us.  

 

Day 6 (8/17/2010)

I spoke with Dr. Cantu and he said that Melody has progressed perfectly normally. She had a low grade fever briefly, which he said always happens. That passed quickly. Complications can occur, so we are grateful for your continued prayers for Melody. Jacob was not able to see Dr. Provino today because he had to attend to a newborn that was critical. He will see Jacob tomorrow.

Sleeping Beauty

Day 6 (8/17/2010)--Pray For Jacob

Jacob developed a cough that was fairly consistent so we put him on Cipro. Today Dr. Provino, a pediatric ICU doctor who did his residency at Texas Children's Hospital, will come by the hotel to listen to Jacob. Everything is o.k. right now, but he and Dr. Cantu thought it would be good for him to get to know Jacob just in case something came up that required further attention. The medical people here have a real sense of calling with regard to what they are doing--its definitely not just a job. Jacob is in good spirits and, as I said, I don't suspect a long term problem. Nevertheless, please remember him as he sees the doctor today.

Dates and Times

I might not have been as clear as I needed to be on the blog regarding dates and times because more than one person has thought that it all began today. Sorry for that confusion, but thankfully the Spirit of God perfects our prayers in any case so your prayers were still effective. I am trying to put the dates in the heading. Melody went into the coma on Sunday morning. She will stop receiving Ketamine on Friday but will continue to receive another drug that will keep her unconscious until Saturday. Dr. Cantu will wake her up on Saturday--at least that is the plan as I understand it. I will send more information on Friday/Saturday about specifically when she will be awakened.

Good Visit With Melody This Evening (8/16/2010)

God has answered many prayers on my behalf, and I trust on Melody's behalf as well. This morning Jacob and I prayed together, submitted our concerns to God and re-entrusted Melody to God's care and not ours. (She was already in His care, but we needed to see that more fully.) We had a very good day today, and felt God's peace in all of it. We also had a nice time Skyping the girls back home.

This evening I visited Melody and spent some time with her nurses. Melody looks very peaceful. Before the coma, I would encourage her by saying that she was going to be able to catch up on lots of lost sleep over the years. The nurses take excellent care of her. They have a detailed protocol to prevent infection. They also keep her gown just right, her hair in a nice pony tail across the top of the bead, and her feet and hands regularly massaged with lotion. Melody looked so peaceful, and I think that the ketamine had visibly improved her swelling already. Her complexion was also more like her pre-RSD complexion. I went from being distressed that she was in a coma yesterday to being happy that she was in this peaceful state today. I think it is helping her and that makes me happy.

It seems that many of the doctors are fluent in English. There was a med student there who was fluent in English and he helped to get my medical questions sorted out. After I asked those questions I spoke more personally with the nurses. I have a translation program on my phone and I used it to talk to them. I told them that Melody had four children--they couldn't believe that and motioned with their hands indicating that she was so tiny to have had four children. I told them to keep Melody beautiful in the ICUl. They said that that would not be difficult with her. I showed them pictures of the children and told of their ages and interests. I explained what a good mother Melody is and how much the children missed their mommy. They were already taken good care of her but Mexican women are very family oriented and I thought they would appreciate knowing these details. They did, and I think it will make the whole experience more meaningful for them as they help Melody.

Thank you for your prayers. Please do continue to pray for Melody to be thoroughly healed, for the recovery to be smooth and for peace to abound for her and us.

Day 5 (8/16/10)--Waiting Patiently

Here is a picture of Melody just as they were about to put her into
the coma. We are waiting patiently and praying. I am glad that she
seems peaceful as she sleeps.

Visit with Melody On Sunday 8/15/2010

I saw Melody today around 3:00PM. I had some difficulty getting to the hospital. They have rerouted some of the roads to accommodate hurricane damage so the maps are not accurate. It was shocking to see my wife intubated and with all the monitors on her. Jacob was the last family member that I saw intubated and on monitors and that was when he was born. However, I think that the real shock was not being able to get to her, talk to her, draw on her wisdom or tell her that I love her--for a week I am by myself in a way that I have not been by myself since we've been married. This saddens me deeply in the good sort of way that reveals how much Melody means to me.

I didn't want to talk to anybody after being with her. I was glad to be there by myself in the ICU waiting room (thankfully they had nice large comfortable chairs). The mexican children in the waiting room stared at me the way children do--just briefly before they know you are looking. I smiled at one little girl and she smiled back. I'm not sure how I looked, but I was stare worthy for small children. I decided to call Priscila to meet me at the hospital so that I could follow her to the hotel. I didn't want to have to focus on finding my way back to the hotel. For 60 pesos I got a cappuccino out one of those coffee vending machines. I met Rob and Jacob at the hotel and we all had a nice supper together. Rob had kept Jacob occupied the whole day. That was a blessing as all of this could have been much less pleasant for Jacob. One of the ladies from church gave Jacob some legos as well, which he loves to use to build things.

I am grateful as I reflect on how Melody looked in ICU. She seemed very peaceful and not in any pain. I have not seen her face look so relaxed in a long, long time--she had continuous pain in her sleep so she truly is the most pain free ever. From what I understand, as the ketamine floods her brain it completely stops the synthesis of glutamate, thereby cutting off the RSD cycle at the root cause. The nurse was taking very good care of her. They obviously know what they are doing and are following all the protocols to prevent infection. Dr. Cantu has developed a technique to make recovery smoother. He lets the patients sleep one extra day by giving them propofol after he stops ketamine. This keeps the patient in sedation while the body eliminates the ketamine and that makes the side effects less prominent. I see why RSD patients come back to Dr. Cantu--he instills much confidence medically and is also very kind.

Melody Went in This Morning At 8:15AM

Dr. Cantu told me that they had no difficulty placing the lines. All
the staff was very friendly and competent. They wanted to wait a
couple of hours before I saw her. So, we went to church in
Monterrey. I'll be heading over shortly.

Everything Went As Planned

Melody is doing well and sleeping peacefully. Everything went
smoothly.

Day 4-Isaiah 26:3-4 and prayer

Please pray for the Holy Spirit to minister healing and peace to Melody as she sleeps.  Pray for an awareness of her Father's presence.  After she goes to sleep we plan to attend worship. Pray we can.  We prayed and thanked God this morning for you all (our local church and all our encouragers). We also prayed for God to be glorified in all the preaching that will happen today--in Newark, here and around the world.  

  

³You keep him in perfect peace
   whose mind is stayed on you,
   because he trusts in you.
⁴Trust in the LORD forever,
   for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

Tomorrow at 8:15 AM Melody Will Go to the Hospital

We had a very nice meeting with Dr. Cantu this evening.  He arrived at the hotel at 3:30PM and spoke with us for about 30 minutes.  Then, Andres and Ruth arrived with their two daughters Priscila and Lisette.  We learned something new, and are grateful that God had already provided for a need that we didn't fully appreciate until we heard from Lindsay Spengler.  Dr. Cantu said that Melody will likely need 24 hour assistance when she comes out of the coma from people that she trusts.  Ruth, Priscila and Lisette are very willing to assist me in that phase should I need it.  Please pray for Melody to have a rapid recovery. 

Dr. Cantu is a very capable doctor.  We have great confidence in him and are all the more encouraged about the choice we have made after having met him.  After our meeting, Adres prayed for him and Melody and the procedure.  Dr. Cantu left and then the Garzas, Rob and our family went out for a meal together.  Melody was very moved by the kindness of God in providing this family in Monterrey to help us before we even knew we had a need to help.

 

Day 3-Still Have to Meet With Dr. Cantu

Dr. Cantu had emergency surgeries yesterday so we did not meet with
him. We will meet with him today. Priscilla's older sister (and
maybe her mother) will join us as well. Melody is concerned to have
some women who understand what is happening when she is recovering.
Please pray for Melody's respitory health. She has a scratchy throat
and some congestion. We think it's allergies, but Melody is concerned
about it delaying the procedure. God is sovereign over it all.

Day 2-Meeting with Dr. Cantu

Your prayers were answered.  The trip yesterday went very, very well.  I had packed bags without regard to weight limits and thankfully the heaviest bags were all just under 50 pounds.  The security was kind but tight.  The opened all the bags with medical equipment and medicine and inspected it carefully.  Understandable when you have 10 carry on bags full of medicine and equipment.

This flight was the first for Jacob (that he can remember).  It was fun watching him look out the window.  While eating lunch he looked out the window and said, "Pretty neat being able to sit hear and eat while you look outside."  When we landed, the assistance at the Monterrey airport was the best of the three.  The young man pushing Melody's chair was very gentle.  Turns out he lived for a while in Birminghan. AL and spoke English with an Alabama accent.  He rounded up another young man who piled up our bags and carried them through customs.  Everyone was very friendly.  As our bags were being inspected one older Mexican gentleman spoke to the customs agent to make sure that she understood everything I had said about while we had all this stuff.  Helpful and friendly folks. 

Priscila, Rafael and Marta met us after we came through customs.  Rafael and Marta are the parents of the assistant pastor at Priscila's church (I do not know him, but the church is pastored by Jorge Alaman, who went to RTS in Charlotte.)  The last leg of the trip from the aiport to the hotel also went very smoothly.  It was about 45 minutes.  We arrived to very comfortable rooms that Priscila had already stocked with food.  Having food in the rooms was very helpful because we were too tired to eat out.  The body of Chris is truly amazing.  We closed our time with a prayer from Rafael.  I'd never met this brother and there he is helping us and genuinely caring for us because we are his brothers and sister in Christ.     

We spoke to the kids back home and all was well there, which was of course comforting (though not unexpected).  Today we meet with Dr. Cantu at 4:00PM.  I will also run a few errands to get us further settled in.



 

We Just Landed in Monterrey

Just hit the jetway in Monterrey. This next leg of the trip is the
one I'm most concerned about. The roads have been damaged by the
hurricane. The drive is an hour to the hotel. I'm driving.
Thankfully we ate in Houston already so that should help. I hope
customs is kind to us and the airport has a wheelchair ready. Thanks
for praying thus far. Melody had peaceful flights and the girls are
adjusting well too.

Sent from my iPhone

We Are About To Take Off

We made it through the airport o.k. with our six carry on bags.
Security was kind but thorough. They opened all the suit cases with
meds and swabbed them. Pray for the customs portion in Houston. That
leg could be tough. We had a good time of prayer before leaving with
the family, Roy Chadwick, Benjamin Harding (he drove us), and my
father in law. Peace was present.

Sent from my iPhone

Changing Email/Encouraging Words

I will activate my vacation responder for the trip.  So, if you want to reach me with a word of encouragement please use this email address: jayharvey3@gmail.com.  The words of encouragement are encouraging.  Melody has two gallon sized ziploc bags full of notes from the folks who have written her cards.  Lindsay Spengler suggested she make a spiritual survival kit with passages of Scripture to focus on.  Melody told me, "I have my kit already--all the notes people sent me with Scripture verses."   

 

Just Finished Packing

This is only Jacob's stuff!

Shopping Happening in Mexico

Our friends are meeting us at the airport tomorrow early evening. We have a car lined up. Hopefully I can navigate the city without too much difficulty. The roads are damaged do to the Hurricane. Its an hour from the airport to the Hotel, so please pray for that trip too. This leg of the trip could be very difficult for Melody.

Busy Getting All Together

We are busy getting ready for the trip. Melody has had a few RSD events that are actually timely as reminders of the importance if this trip. Some people have had trouble with the sound on the video. I think you need external speakers to rally hear it. Sorry about that. Please pray for a good parting with the girls on Thursday--joyful and upbeat is what I would prefer. We will have Skype which will be nice. Thanks for all of your well wishes, prayers and messages. They all mean a lot to us.

Lindsay Spengler, the most severe RSD patient treated in Monterrey, contacted Melody via email with a lot of helpful information and encouragement. (I hope to post some of her email.) It seems that it is normal for it to be very demanding on the caregiver when the patient comes out of the coma, with near round the clock care initially. So, please pray for me in that. And, that means I may not be able to post updates as easily as I thought I would be able to. But, I will try.

I think we have everything we need set up. Now its a matter of packing it all up. Melody's parents arrived today and it was wonderful to see our youngest little girl jump in her grandfather's lap--a comfort to Melody that she would adjust. The other children were happy to see them too.

Someone bought us a dinner ot Outback, so I am on the way to pick it up in hopes of not dirtying the kitchen (as much) tonight.

Wonderful Sunday

We had a wonderful final Sunday before leaving. There was an extended time of prayer lead by the elders during the service this morning. Then, there was a special time of prayer for Melody with the elders this afternoon. (Alistair Begg has a good sermon on James 5:23-16 if you are interested.). For those of you receiving email updates, you have to visit the blog to see Melody's video post. On blog subscriptions: We see who subscribes and that is very encouraging in itself.

Prayer and Video Post from Melody

Tomorrow we will have a time of prayer led by our elders in the morning service.  Then, tomorrow afternoon we will have a special prayer and anointing for healing for Melody and Jacob (James 5:13-16).  I have seen great things happen when our elders come together and pray, so I am eager for us as a Session to pray for Melody and Jacob tomorrow.  Melody will not be in worship tomorrow.  Its too much physically for her to be there.  She wanted to put something up herself so I attempted to play the cameraman.

Prayer and Pictures

We had a wonderful time of discussion and prayer tonight with two elders from our church--Roy Chadwick and Dennis Dietrich.  There is great power in prayer, and I have seen God do great things in prayer meetings with our elders.  I am almost finished uploading thousands of pictures to Picasa.  $5.00 a year bought me 21Gigs of storage--thank you Google.  Memory loss (or even complete amnesia) is a possibility.  So I want to be able to show Melody these pictures when she comes out of the coma.  I plan to put together some slide shows with Melody's favorite music.  The familiar pictures and the music can help counter hallucinations when she comes out of the coma.  Our friend Rob suggested that we make a video with Melody speaking to herself, noting that I am her husband, the children are her children, she really did come to Mexico for this procedure, etc.  I do not anticipate this degree of memory loss or amnesia, but it has happened before.  Its easy enough to make the video so we will.   

Busy Getting Ready

We are busy getting ready for the trip.  Melody is grateful for the many kind notes she has received.  Leaving our girls behind is tough.  We are a close family and enjoy being with one another.  We believe it is the best thing to do, but that doesn't make it easy.  I've instituted the "away plan" for things at church, with the exception of preaching on Sunday.  We are very grateful for our congregation, elders and staff.    

The Blog

I will be updating the blog regularly.  My goal is to update it daily once we leave.  I have removed some of the previous pages with a view to taking a lower profile while we are in Mexico.  If you need any of that information then feel free to contact me at pastorharvey@gmail.com.  I will be able to provide good daily updates.  I will probably not be posting many photos, at least not until the end of the trip. 

Headed to Monterrey Next Week

Dr. Cantu said that we are free to go to Monterrey on the 12th.  We have our tickets and are ready to go.  Yesterday was a good day of worship and was peace-instilling for me.  On Saturday the gravity of everything had set in for me.  By temperament I am not prone to worry, but the thought of the worst possible scenarios had crept into my consciousness.  Melody and I discussed one night what we should all do if she didn't wake up or had a terrible complication.  She of course had some good advice that I hope I will not need to recall.  We both believe that this is the right thing today, and statistics are on our side.  Of course with God there are no statistics, only a 100% that his Sovereign Will will come to pass.

I was uplifted by the singing of our congregation yesterday.  We sang one of my favorites: Jesus with Thy Church Abide.  It was good to be reminded that we worship a sovereign God and that our ultimate hope is guaranteed for us by the Spirit.  The New Heaven and New Earth, our new glorified bodies free from illness and pain, unhindered fellowship with God and one another--these ultimate realities have, by God's grace, entered into my mind as more than an ethereal future hope.  At times I have been able to imagine and feel these blessings as if they were just around the corner.  I am grateful to God for the inward testimony of His Spirit with our spirit.

We got a nice note today from a friend our age who is an ICU nurse.  She told us the latest protocols for patient care on a ventilator to prevent pneunomia from setting in.  Very helpful.  From what I gather, the Hospital San Jose follows these protocols.  But, its good to have them so we can be checking up on Melody in an informed manner.

We also had some important details fall into place today.  Our friends have been at work in Mexico investigating our hotel to make sure it is as good as it looks online.  One woman in particular will be helping us while we are there.  She super-fluent in English and will be a huge blessing.  She had already made plans to meet us at the airport with the assistant pastor from her church.  We will follow them to the hotel in our rental car.  Dr. Cantu will meet us there also.  Our friend is going to go shopping ahead of time so that we will have plenty of things on hand when we arrive.

Procedure Moved A Week

Dr. Cantu told Melody that she needs to wait another week because she is still congested.  He does not want to take any chances.  I have great confidence in him and trust his judgment.  Infection is the primary risk of this procedure.  While there will be some inconvenience, we of course welcome doing the right thing.  The date was approaching very fast.  Some extra time to prepare and pray is, in a way, welcome on my part.  Melody is a bit frustrated, largely because she is still sick and is not sure when she will be better.  Please continue to pray for her.  God has his reasons and his timing. 

Melody is Sick, Jacob has a doctor in Monterrey

Melody is sick.  She has a relatively minor bacterial infection which has produced a sore throat and a cough.  Our primary doctor didn't have an appointment available so we went to the Newark ER (an urgent care center which has served us well over the years).  They prescribed Amoxicillin which she began to take this morning. 

I just got off the phone with Dr. Cantu.  Turns out that he wants her clear of the infection for 15 DAYS!  He suspects that she will be clear by Friday.  So, providentially, we may be just in the nick of time.  Melody is scheduled to see our family doctor on Friday.  We are concerned, however, because these things tend to hang on with Melody.  She has always taken longer to recover from anything involving her lungs. 

Please pray for Melody to recover quickly.  This setback could be an inconvenience of some magnitude should she not recover quickly.   

Dr. Cantu also said that he knew several good English speaking specialists in Monterrey who could take care of Jacob.  His recommendation was to coordinate with a pediatric ICU doctor who was trained at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston (rated #4 overall in the nation as a children's hospital).  Dr. Cantu said that he would arrange for this doctor to see Jacob to get to know him and have a feel for him.  If something occurred, then this doctor would do the triage work and coordinate the care.  He said that they would coordinate with CHOP as well.  That's more than we expected.  Praise the Lord.

Very concerned about Melody.  Please pray for her complete recovery.

Prayer for Peace for Melody

Before we know it we will be packing for the trip to Monterrey.  As the time approaches Melody has waves of anticipation and anxiety.  She does not doubt that it is the right thing to do.  Its simply that the idea of being completely unconscious for five days is daunting.  I told Melody that I was going to ask for more prayer for her to have peace about everything.  She is not completely anxious all the time, but nevertheless has some pangs of anxiety.  I have my moments as well, though they tend to be more fleeting. 

God has brought together many, many details.  There has been no "frustration" in the process of arranging this trip.  While this is not a guarantee of any future result, the Lord has certainly provided for this need without difficulty at a time when large financial needs are difficult to meet (normally a need this large is always difficult to meet).

One overwhelming blessing has been the love and prayers of all of you people, and those with whom you share this information who pray for us.  God is sustaining us through your prayers.  This is his way with his people.  We depend on the love and care of one another and he gets the glory.           

New Help In Mexico

Our good friend (and fellow elder) Rob is going to join us in Monterrey to assist with Jacob's care.  Rob will be with us for the whole time.  He emailed me yesterday and said that, while he did not want to insert himself unnecessarily, if we still needed help he and his wife both felt that he should come along.  Rob has lots of experience with Jacob's routine.  He took care of all the children the morning Susanna was born and has been a mainstay of helping us with Jacob's early morning routine when Melody has had to go to Philadelphia for RSD appointments.  His offer brought huge relief to Melody.

When we mentioned Rob's coming Jacob he was very excited.  His first words were, "Good, be sure to remind me to pack my chess set!"  (Jacob is looking forward to honing his skills against a seasoned veteran.)  Andres and Ruth are still looking for someone to assist us in Mexico.  With Rob coming the number of hours needed is greatly reduced so I think that will make it easier to find someone.     

Presidential Hospital

In perusing the San Jose Tec website I learned that in 2004 the White House selected this hospital as the place to receive President Bush or any of his entourage in the event of a medical emergency.  Good endorsement. 

Probably Three Weeks in Monterrey

I spoke with a nice young man in the international office of the hospital today.  He said that of the 25 or so patients they have had in the ketamine coma study, only one person went home after only a week following the coma.  All the rest stayed in the hospital at least two full weeks after coming out of the coma, which means the whole trip is 3 weeks.  This trip is going to be long.  Please pray for our family.  I can't imagine being away from our children that long.  I will stay in a hotel as long is Melody is in the ICU.  Hopefully she will only be in the ICU a couple exta days after the coma.  Then we both stay together in a suite in the hospital.     

Gracious Church

Yesterday our Session voted to grant me the month of August as paid leave in addition to my vacation, should I desire to take it. This gracious act, initiated by the elders and not by me, is indicative of the love and care that we receive from our congregation.  It is also indicative of the relationship that I have with my fellow elders.  These brothers did not force me to take this leave.  Our elders know and appreciate that the difficulties that our family faces are not outside the will of God for our whole church.  They desire to give me the freedom to follow the Spirit's leading.  I will take this leave, but I suspect I will remain in frequent contact with the church.  How could I not?  The church is not my "job" but our spiritual family, our family's support, our friends.  To cut myself off from the church while in Mexico would not only seem odd but would indeed be foolish.  "Your wife is in a coma.  Now is the time to take a break from communion with the saints."  I don't think so; I have taught against that type of non-sense.  So, I'll be on leave, but I'll be in touch too.  I also look forward to renewing our friendship with Andres Garza, MTW's director of Northern Mexico.  Andres preached at our mission conference a couple of years ago and was a great encouragement to the church and to me personally.  Not surprisingly, he has reached out to us since learning that we are heading to Monterrey.

Childcare in August

Early on we considered bringing the children with us to Mexico.  However, the Cystic Fibrosis care team at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia strongly advised against taking Jacob out of the country for that long.  And, there were the other obvious considerations about having the four children out of the country while their mom is in the hospital.  Our plan now is for Melody's parents to stay with the children in August. Hopefully they will only have to be with them for a couple of weeks.  I am going to arrange some folks to provide breaks for them during the week so that they do not wear out over the two week period.  We are planning for the best case scenario, and will have some contingency plans in place for longer term scenarios.

The children will love being with their grandparents.  Mary Faith seemed relieved when we told her that we could skype one another.  She is also eager to receive her mother back from Mexico in better condition than she is now. 

Dr. Cantu

We spoke at length with Dr. Cantu last evening. He is a very kind and gracious person. Dr. Cantu said that for the week that Melody is in a coma I should stay in the hotel next to the hospital. When she comes out of the coma I will stay with her in the hospital. I was in Monterrey in 2005 and 2006 for missions trips. It is comforting to have a sense for where we will be. Monterrey is the financial capital of Latin America. Hospital San Jose Tec de Monterrey is highly respected. They have many patients from the US who go there for elective procedures. Here is their English language website: http://portal.hsj.com.mx/lwp/wcm/connect/HSJ/AREAS+GENERALES/ENGLISH/

Prayer Requests:

1) Please pray for good health. If Melody gets sick (cold, flu, etc.) she cannot go into the coma until she is well again. She will be intubated for one solid week, so her lungs need to be in good health.
2) Pray for Melody not to have hallucinations while in the coma. Monterrey has had very little trouble with hallucinations. I seem to recall Dr. Kirkpatrick saying that the dosing schedule for the medication in Monterrey helps curb this side effect.

Prayer Page

The information pages now contain a prayer page. I will move prayer requests to that page so that folks who are praying for us do not have to continually scroll through blog posts.

Beach Trip

Some friends invited us to stay with them
for a couple of days in Ocean City, NJ. Melody made the trip OK but could not be on the balcony or on the beach because the wind caused her pain. That was new. Thankfully they had a nice view and she could rest in the house while I took the kids to the beach.